1. Yin San Douzhi
(Source: Beijing News
https://baijiahao.baidu.com/s?id=1650987480794716273&wfr=spider&for=pc）
Yin San Douzhi has moved five times but remains in the vicinity of Jinyu Pond and Qinian Dajie (St). It is now located at the west entrance of Dongxiaoshi Jie (St).
Despite its small size, the shop is popular, opening at 5:30 am. Even before dawn breaks, loyal customers have arrived. For years, it is only open for half a day. To have a taste, one must come early.
Most customers are regulars who order without the menu. In the bustling kitchen, activities abound - from pressing douzhi and baking cakes to serving dishes. Despite its limited space with just around ten tables, the shop is always packed. Customers queue from the counter to outside the shop, carrying their food to find a seat. It is quite common for them to share tables with strangers.
In addition to Douzhi, old Beijingers also enjoy braised foods and those with soup. The braised meatballs and miantcha (seasoned millet mush) are particularly popular among customers.
After finishing the breakfast, loyal patrons head to the Temple of Heaven Park on 7 a.m. for walking, while grandparents have the task of accompanying their grandchildren to school. These vibrant days in Beijing start with a bowl of douzhi, braised meatballs, and miantcha.
Address: Dongxiaoshi Jie(St) No. 176, Dongcheng District, Beijing.
2. Dongsi Luzhu
Dongsi Luzhu is a decades-old state-owned shop locatedon the bustling Dongsi Dajie(St), serving a variety of traditional Beijing breakfast dishes.
Patrons savor shaobing (a type of baked, unleavened, layered flatbread) and zasuitang (a kind of soup with the chopped viscera of animals) in the morning while observing the street’s hustle and changes with time. The traditional Beijing lifestyle slowly flow through the symphony that resonates in this city.
Address: Dongsi Beidajie(St North) No.442, Dongcheng District, Beijing
3. Laociqikou Douzhi (Tiantan Branch)
“A bowl of douzhi and two Jiaoquan!” Such conversation can be heard every morning in this shop. Laociqikou Douzhi Shop is located just across from the Temple of Heaven Park. It has received numerous likes on social media, many claim it to be “the most authentic douzhi in Beijing” or “where authentic old Beijingers visit for meals.” Leveraging its prime location and excellent reputation, this shop always has a queue.
According to a netizen, “Its douzhi is more likely to be accepted by those who haven’t tasted douzhi before. After finishing a bowl, you might want more; it's a must to pair it with jiaoquan!”
Address: Tiantan Lu(Rd), Dongcheng District (opposite the North Gate of the Temple of Heaven Park)
4. Huguosi Snacks (Huguosi HQ)
This snack shop is located on Huguosi Jie(St), an east-west hutong stretching about 600 meters from Xinjaikou Nandajie (St South) in the west to Deshengmennei Dajie(St) in the east. In the 1950s, Huguosi Snacks was established opposite Beijing People’s Theater. If you want to taste authentic Beijing snacks, this is the place to be. Almost every traditional Beijing snack you can think of is available here!
A comment from netizens says, “I visited the shop from childhood to now. Besides douzhi, my favorites here are miantcha, tangyoubing, wandouhuang, and yangzatang. As I grow older, I’ve been farther and farther away from home... but every time I go back, I almost always go in to buy something.”
Address: Huguosi Dajie(St), Xicheng District (opposite Beijing People’s Theater)
