Beijing Food Guide: Top 6 Must-try Restaurants Recommended by Locals

Hear are the list of must-try restaurants recommended by Beijing Locals.

1. Si Ji Min Fu (四季民福)

Address: Nan Chizi Street (near the Donghua Gate of the Forbidden City)

Recommended Dishes:

• Peking Duck: with crispy skin and tender meat, filling the alley with its aroma;

• Skillfully Mixed Snow Pea Shoots: refreshing and delicious, just like the spring breeze caressing the tip of the tongue;

• Mustard Duck Webs: with a strong and pungent taste, perfectly blending the excitement and freshness;

• Honey-glazed Crispy Shrimp: sweet, fragrant and crispy, with tender and springy shrimp meat;

• Beile Roast Meat: where the aroma of cumin and meat intertwines, presenting the traditional imperial flavor.

Average Expense: 130 - 180 yuan per person

2. Xiyuanju Shuanrou (玺源居涮肉, Michelin Guide restaurant)

Address: Wangfujing Xiyue (Wangfujing Joy)

Recommended Dishes:

• Dry-aged lamb shank meat: it develops a unique and rich flavor through the passage of time;

• Fresh upper part of the beef brisket: with clear textures and melting in the mouth;

• Fish maw: soft, glutinous and nourishing, full of collagen;

• Fresh tripe: crispy, tender and smooth, becoming tender after being quickly dipped in the hot pot a few times;

• Sweet and sour pickled garlic: a perfect match for the hot pot meat, helping to cut through the greasiness;

• Pear soup: sweet and refreshing, moistening the lungs, like a gentle stream soothing the heart.

Average Expense: 160-180 yuan per person

3. Chatang Li （茶汤李，A century-old afternoon tea restaurant）

Address: No. 94, Gulou East Street

Recommended Dishes:

• Chatang (a kind of hot porridge): steaming hot, with broom corn millet flour dancing with supplementary ingredients like brown sugar, its sweet aroma warming the heart;

• Men Ding Meat Pie: shaped like door knockers, with a crispy and fragrant outer skin and juicy fillings inside;

• Imperial Milk Rolls: delicate, soft and smooth, with the milky aroma interweaving with the sweetness of the fillings in the mouth;

• Almond Tofu: crystal clear and melting in the mouth, with the aroma of almonds lingering on the tip of the tongue.

Average Expense: 50 yuan per person

4. Zhajiangmian at No. 69 Fangzhuanchang (方砖厂炸酱面)

Address: No. 45, Qianmen Street, Xicheng District

Recommended Dishes:

• Zhajiangmian (noodles with soybean paste): with rich meat sauce and chewy noodles, each bite is coated with the aroma of the sauce;

• Old Beijing Exploded Tripe Noodles in Soup: with crispy and tender tripe shreds, smooth vermicelli, and the spicy and savory sesame paste enhancing the flavor;

• Meatballs in Noodle Soup: with tender meatballs and delicious soup;

• Sour Plum Juice: sweet and sour, refreshing and icy, adding a touch of coolness to the culinary journey.

Average Expense: 40 yuan per person

5. Liuji Zhizi Roast Meat （刘记炙子烤肉）

Address: No. 85, Lazhu Hutong

Recommended dishes:

• Grilled Mutton: sizzling with oil, where cumin and chili peppers bring out the original freshness and aroma of the mutton;

• Grilled Beef: tender and juicy, with the iron plate grilling locking in the deliciousness;

• Pickled Chinese Cabbage: sour and refreshing, which helps to cut through the greasiness and enhance the flavor when paired with the roasted meat;

• Fish Tofu: elastic, soft and tender, becoming even more fragrant after being slightly charred by grilling;

• Deep-fried Steamed Corn Bread: golden yellow, crispy, and having a unique taste when dipped in stinky tofu;

• Mushroom Platter: rich in variety, presenting a natural fresh and mellow flavor after grilling.

Average Expense: 120 - 180 yuan per person

6. Nanmen Shuanrou (南门涮肉)

Address: Yongdingmen East Street

Recommended Dishes:

• Upper part of the lamb shoulder: with a proper mix of fat and lean meat, tender and without the muttony smell;

• Sliced Lamb: as thin as a cicada's wing, getting cooked quickly after being briefly dipped in the hot pot;

• Freshly Cut Yuanbao-shaped Lamb Slices: lovely in shape and firm in texture;

• Fresh Tripe: crispy, tender and refreshing;

• Laohucai (a spicy vegetable salad): refreshing and spicy, stimulating the taste buds;

• Sweet and Sour Pickled Garlic: sweet and sour, a perfect match for the hot pot mutton.

Average Expense: 120 - 180 yuan per person