Food

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In addition to the classic dishes mentioned above, Beijing offers many local specialties worth trying:

• 羊蝎子火锅 (Lamb Spine Hotpot)
  Lamb spine bones are simmered for a long time until the meat is tender and the broth is rich, perfect for sharing among a group.

  • Recommended: Commonly found in traditional Beijing-style hotpot restaurants and halal eateries, such as halal restaurants around 聚宝源 (Jubaoyuan) and some Beijing-style hotpot brands.

• 京酱肉丝 (Shredded Pork in Beijing Sauce)
  Shredded pork stir-fried with sweet bean sauce, typically eaten wrapped in bean curd sheets or spring pancakes, with a strong savory sauce flavor.

  • Recommended: Home-style Beijing restaurants like 菊儿人家 (Juer Renjia) and 河沿肉饼 (Heyan Roubing).

• 炸灌肠 (Fried Stuffed Intestine)
  Usually made by slicing and frying starch-based sausage, crispy on the outside and chewy inside, served with garlic sauce or chili.

  • Recommended: 门框胡同百年卤煮 (Menkang Hutong Century-old Lu Zhu) and 护国寺小吃总店 (Huguosi Snack General Store).

• 面茶 (Mian Cha)
  A thick porridge-like drink made from millet or yellow millet flour, sprinkled with sesame seeds on top, with a rich and dense texture.

  • Recommended: 护国寺小吃总店 (Huguosi Snack General Store) and some snack shops in 牛街 (Niujie).

• 宫廷奶酪 & 奶制甜品 (Imperial Yogurt & Dairy Desserts)
  Includes imperial-style yogurt and dairy treats like "nai pizi tanghulu" (milk skin candied hawthorn), combining traditional dairy products with candied fruits.

  • Recommended: 文宇奶酪 (Wenyu Yogurt, Nanluoguxiang 南锣鼓巷), 梅园奶酪 (Meiyuan Yogurt), and some hotpot restaurants such as 重八牛府之小有名气 (Zhongba Niufu Zhi Xiaoyou Mingqi, Dawanglu Store 大望路店) for their milk skin candied hawthorn.

• 京味家常菜组合 (Beijing-style Home-cooked Dish Combos)
  A table featuring dishes like shredded pork in Beijing sauce, Kung Pao chicken (though Sichuan cuisine, commonly found in Beijing restaurants), and sweet and sour pork tenderloin, suitable for visitors who prefer milder flavors without offal.

  • Recommended: 菊儿人家 (Juer Renjia), 河沿肉饼 (Heyan Roubing), and 北平食府 (Beiping Shifu, Wangfujing 王府井).

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As the national hub for dining, Beijing offers relatively authentic versions of all major Chinese cuisines. Below are some Chinese food types and areas that are tourist-friendly and well-reviewed:

• 清真菜 & 牛羊肉 (Halal Chinese)

  • Area: Niujie (牛街)
  • Recommendations: Jubaoyuan (聚宝源) (lamb hotpot), Baiji Niangao (白记年糕), Yueshengzhai (月盛斋), Hongji Snack Shop (洪记小吃店), Yibao He Ye Zenggao (伊宝荷叶甑糕), Imperial Crispy Beef Pie (宫廷香酥牛肉饼), Nailao Wei (奶酪魏), Ziguangyuan (紫光园), and others.

• 川菜/湘菜 (Sichuan & Hunan Cuisine)

  • Recommendations: For example, Xiaoxiangge (潇湘阁) offers dishes like stir-fried yellow beef, golden egg, and spicy chicken gizzards, leaning more toward Hunan flavors, perfect for visitors who enjoy spicy food.
  • Area: Widely distributed in commercial and residential districts; choose based on your itinerary.

• 重庆火锅 (Chongqing Hotpot)

  • Recommendation: Chongba Niufu Zhi Xiaoyou Mingqi (重八牛府之小有名气) (Dawanglu Branch 大望路店)
    • Highlights: Spicy and numbing hotpot base, various beef cuts and tripe, handmade beef meatballs, paired with a variety of shaved ice desserts (durian mangosteen ice, white peach milk ice, etc.).
    • Area: Dawanglu (大望路) commercial district.
    • Price: Around ¥100–150 (~$14–21 USD) per person.

• Comprehensive Beijing Flavor + Regional Restaurants
  Many Beijing-style eateries also serve Sichuan, Northeast, and other home-style dishes, suitable for groups with mixed tastes.

  • Recommendations: Juer Renjia (菊儿人家), Heyan Roubing (河沿肉饼), Beiping Shifu (北平食府) (Wangfujing 王府井), etc.

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The international dining options mentioned in the article are mostly atmosphere restaurants or Japanese and Western cuisines. While not traditional Beijing fare, they offer valuable references for visitors staying longer:

• 日料 (Japanese Cuisine)

  • Qingcheng Ting Sukiyaki (清橙町寿喜烧)
    • Highlights: Sukiyaki, salmon rice bowls, foie gras and caviar rice bowls, matcha curry udon, etc.
    • Area: No specific business district given; you can search for locations on the Beijing map.

• Western Food & Brunch

  • O'eat (万象城店, MixC Store)
    • Highlights: Handmade tiramisu, crepes, shredded chicken sandwiches, ideal for dates and brunch.
    • Area: Inside the MixC (万象城) shopping mall.

• Tea-themed Hotpot & Desserts

  • Hu·Tea House Hotpot·White Tea 24h (三里屯 Concept Store)
    • Highlights: Hotpot dishes infused with tea flavors (tea-scented beef tripe, osmanthus oolong layered tripe, etc.) and snow ice desserts like mangosteen durian ice.
    • Area: Sanlitun (三里屯).

Overall, Beijing’s international cuisine is concentrated in business districts like Sanlitun (三里屯), Guomao/Dawanglu (国贸/大望路), and Zhongguancun/Wudaokou (中关村/五道口), offering a wide variety of choices. However, if your stay is limited, it’s recommended to prioritize experiencing authentic local Beijing flavors first.

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Key Food Streets

• 簋街 (Guijie / Dongzhimen Inner Street)

  • Highlights: A representative of Beijing's late-night food culture, with many restaurants open 24 hours, specializing in spicy crayfish, hotpot, and bold-flavored dishes.
  • Transportation: Metro Line 2, Dongzhimen Station (东直门站) or Line 5, Beixinqiao Station (北新桥站).
  • Recommended Restaurants: Yaoji Chaogan (姚记炒肝), Hu Da Restaurant (胡大饭馆), Huajia Yiyuan (花家怡园), Beiping Three Brothers Hotpot (北平三兄弟涮肉), Pangmei Noodle House (胖妹面庄), Pengji Iron Pot Fat Intestines (彭记铁锅肥肠), Yudefu Hotpot (裕德孚涮肉), Meitan Village (梅潭村), etc.

• 牛街 (Niujie)

  • Highlights: A halal food paradise, gathering beef and lamb dishes along with long-established snacks.
  • Transportation: Metro Line 10, Niujie Station (牛街站).
  • Recommended Restaurants: Jubaoyuan (聚宝源), Baiji Rice Cake (白记年糕), Yueshengzhai (月盛斋), Hongji Snack Shop (洪记小吃店), Yibao Lotus Leaf Steamed Cake (伊宝荷叶甑糕), Imperial Crispy Beef Pancake (宫廷香酥牛肉饼), Nailao Wei (奶酪魏), Ziguangyuan (紫光园), etc.

• 护国寺小吃街 (Huguosi Snack Street)

  • Highlights: Concentrated area of authentic Beijing snacks, fewer tourists, strong local vibe.
  • Transportation: Metro Line 4, Ping’anli Station (平安里站).
  • Recommended Restaurants: Huguosi Snack Main Store (护国寺小吃总店), Fuhuazhai Bakery (富华斋饽饽铺), Baoguang Smoked Meat Shoe Sole Fire Bake (宝光熏肉鞋底火烧), Liuquanju Red Bean Paste Buns (柳泉居豆沙包), Meiyuan Cheese (梅园奶酪), Huifeng Mending Meat Pancake (惠丰门丁肉饼), Xinchuan Noodle House (新川面馆), Honghua Dim Sum Bureau (红花点心局), etc.

• 前门大街 & 大栅栏 (Qianmen & Dashilanr)

  • Highlights: Adjacent to Tiananmen, packed with old-brand shops, perfect for combining shopping with tasting authentic Beijing flavors.
  • Transportation: Metro Line 2, Qianmen Station (前门站); Line 7, Zhushikou Station (珠市口站).
  • Recommended Restaurants: Quanjude (Qianmen Branch) (全聚德(前门店)), Siji Minfu Roast Duck (四季民福烤鸭店), Duyi Chu Shaomai Restaurant (都一处烧麦馆), Tianxingju Chaogan (天兴居炒肝), Wuyutai Tea House (吴裕泰茶庄), Liubiju Sauce Factory (六必居酱园), No.69 Fangzhuanchang Zhajiangmian (方砖厂69号炸酱面), Donglaishun Restaurant (东来顺饭庄), Menkang Hutong Century-old Lu Zhu (门框胡同百年卤煮), etc.

• 南锣鼓巷 (Nanluoguxiang)

  • Highlights: Artistic hutongs combined with a snack street, great for strolling and snacking.
  • Transportation: Metro Line 6 or 8, Nanluoguxiang Station (南锣鼓巷站).
  • Recommended Shops: Wenyu Cheese (文宇奶酪), Qingyu Yogurt (青玉酸奶), Juer Renjia (菊儿人家), Beimen Hotpot (北门涮肉), Chatang Li (茶汤李), etc.

• 王府井小吃街 (Wangfujing Snack Street)

  • Highlights: A must-visit for tourists, combining traditional snacks with international dining options.
  • Transportation: Metro Line 1, Wangfujing Station (王府井站).
  • Recommended Shops: Zhilefang (芝乐坊), Xiyuanju Hotpot (玺源居涮肉), Huoshaoyun (火烧云), Tianfuhao (天福号), Beiping Shifu (北平食府), Daoxiangcun (稻香村), Heyan Meat Pie (河沿肉饼), Liyin Rice Noodle Rolls (荔银肠粉), etc.

Night Markets Recommendations

These night markets mainly feature snacks from various regions. While not purely "Beijing flavor," they offer a great way to experience local nightlife:

• Moon River Town Night Market (Yuelianghe Riverside Road, Tongzhou District)
• Panjiayuan Night Market (No.18 Huawei Li, Panjiayuan, Chaoyang District; antiques + snacks)
• Shunyi Hexi Night Market (near Hexi Village, Shunyi District)
• Tongli California Night Market (Mikai TOWN Park) (No.79 Xinhua South Road, Tongzhou District)
• Shenghuatun Night Market (Guta North Road, Wang Siying Township, Chaoyang District)
• Huazhao Street Night Market (Huazhao Street, Flower Expo Theme Park, Shunyi District)
• Pingdong Night Market (East Entrance of Pingdong Market, Pingguoyuan South Road, Shijingshan District)
• Baifu Night Market (near South Gate of Baifu Spring Park, Changping District)

If your time is limited, it is recommended to prioritize Guijie (簋街), Niujie (牛街), and Huguosi Snack Street (护国寺小吃街) for a more authentic taste of Beijing’s local food culture.

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Beijing's coffee and dessert scene is vibrant both in the hutongs and commercial areas, perfect for taking a break after a day of exploring:

• Hutong Coffee & Nanluoguxiang (南锣鼓巷)

  • Chengqiangli Coffee (城墙里咖啡): Located near Nanluoguxiang (南锣鼓巷), specializing in themed drinks like "Drum Tower Coffee (鼓楼咖啡)". The atmosphere is great for photos.
  • There are also many niche coffee shops nearby, which you can visit while citywalking around Nanluoguxiang (南锣鼓巷).

• Huguosi (护国寺) & Xidan (西单) Area Desserts

  • Honghua Dim Sum Bureau (红花点心局, Xidan Joy City Store 西单大悦城店): Chinese dim sum with creative desserts.
  • Jinyunzai Rose Ice Dew (津韵斋玫瑰冰露, Huguosi Street Store 护国寺街店): Focuses on icy treats and traditional-flavored desserts.

• Beijing-Style Dairy Desserts

  • Ziguangyuan (紫光园): Known for milk skin yogurt and steamed rice cakes (甑糕).
  • Wenyu Yogurt (文宇奶酪), Meiyuan Yogurt (梅园奶酪), Nai Lao Wei (奶酪魏): Specialize in imperial-style yogurt and dairy desserts.

• Creative Desserts & Snow Ice

  • Zhongba Niufu (重八牛府, Dawanglu Store 大望路店): Offers snow ice desserts like durian mangosteen ice and white peach milk ice, perfect for cleansing the palate after hotpot.

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How to Order

• Most popular restaurants support ordering by scanning a QR code, but menus are mostly in Chinese. You can:
  • Save common dish names with Chinese-English translations on your phone in advance (e.g., “北京烤鸭 Peking Duck”, “涮羊肉 Mutton Hotpot”).
  • Choose menus with many pictures and point to the dishes directly.
  • Useful simple phrases:
    • “这个” + point to the menu (This one, please)
    • “不要辣” (bú yào là / No spicy)
    • “少辣” (shǎo là / Less spicy)
    • “不要香菜” (bú yào xiāng cài / No cilantro)

Dietary Restrictions

• No pork / Halal:
  • Look for the “清真” (Halal) label and prioritize areas like Niujie (牛街), with restaurants such as Jubaoyuan (聚宝源) and Yueshengzhai (月盛斋).
  • Phrase to use:
    • “我不吃猪肉” (wǒ bú chī zhū ròu / I don't eat pork).
• Vegetarian / Vegan:
  • Traditional Beijing cuisine is meat-heavy, with limited pure vegan options. You can specify when ordering:
    • “我吃素，不要肉” (wǒ chī sù, bú yào ròu / I am vegetarian, no meat).
  • Order more vegetable dishes, cold dishes, and staples (e.g., stir-fried greens, cold cucumber salad, stir-fried seasonal vegetables).
• Allergies:
  • Common allergens like peanuts, sesame, and seafood are frequently used in Chinese food.
  • It’s recommended to prepare a written note in Chinese for the waiter:
    • “我对花生/芝麻/海鲜过敏，请不要放。” (I am allergic to peanuts/sesame/seafood, please do not add.)

Payment

• The main payment methods are WeChat Pay (微信支付) and Alipay (支付宝); most merchants also accept Chinese bank cards.
• Many tourist spots and traditional shops still accept cash, but change is usually given in RMB.
• Foreign visitors can:
  • Activate WeChat Pay or Alipay International Version that supports foreign cards before or after arrival.
  • Carry some cash for small vendors that only accept cash.

Price Ranges

• Street snacks / breakfast stalls: about ¥15–30 per person (e.g., Huguosi Snacks (护国寺小吃), small shops in Niujie (牛街)).
• Casual restaurants / Beijing home-style dishes: about ¥50–100 per person (e.g., Heyan Meat Pie (河沿肉饼), Juer Renjia (菊儿人家), Ziguangyuan (紫光园)).
• Peking duck, hotpot, and other shared meals: about ¥100–200 per person (e.g., Siji Minfu (四季民福), Quanjude (全聚德), Jubaoyuan (聚宝源), Chongba Niufu (重八牛府)).

Delivery & Queuing

• Delivery platforms: Meituan Waimai (美团外卖) and Ele.me (饿了么) mostly have Chinese interfaces. If you don’t understand Chinese and are staying short-term, it’s harder to use, so dining in is recommended.
• Queuing and ticketing: Popular places like Siji Minfu (四季民福), Jubaoyuan (聚宝源), and Huguosi Snacks Main Store (护国寺小吃总店) often require waiting:
  • Use queue apps like “Meiwei Buyong Deng (美味不用等)” to get a number in advance.
  • Try to eat off-peak (before 11:00, after 14:00, or between dinner times).

Food Safety

• Established restaurants and traditional shops generally maintain high hygiene standards.
• For street snacks:
  • Choose stalls with long queues and fast turnover.
  • Avoid cold dishes and seafood that have been exposed outdoors for a long time.
• Tap water is not recommended for direct drinking; buy bottled water or boil water at your hotel.

With this information and a few classic routes (such as the “Forbidden City – Qianmen Street – Dashilan Beijing Flavor One-Day Tour,” “Niujie – Huguosi Snack Half-Day Tour,” or “Nanluoguxiang – Drum Tower – Shichahai Hutong City Walk”), you can enjoy authentic, safe, and efficient dining experiences in Beijing.