When you come to Beijing, of course, you must first taste traditional Beijing cuisine. And the time-honored brands available here offer a wide range of choices: feasts offered by notable brands such as Quan Ju De, Kao Rou Wan, Dong Xing Lou, and Tan Jia Cai; traditional Beijing-style snacks by more reputable brand names like Xiao Chang Chen, Bao Du Feng, and Lao Men Kuang; and also drink & snack brands such as Cha Tang Li, Nai Lao Wei, and Dao Xiang Cun - all of which come with a taste of history. So it's worth taking some time to sample these foods to appreciate the inheritance of skills and history that has gone into them.
Beijing Roast Duck [Photo via tuchong.com]
In Beijing, you also have the opportunity to try regional dishes from all over China. Lu cuisine, from Shandong province, is salty, fresh, and authentic, highlighting the original flavors of its ingredients. Cui Hua Lou, a Michelin one-star restaurant, is a restaurant offering authentic Lu cuisine. The refined Cantonese cuisine, exquisitely served, combines many ingredients for a subtle taste. Michelin one-star restaurant Cai Yi Xuan, mainly offering Cantonese cuisine, should be your first choice for mid- to high-end business banquets, and important social events.
King's Joy [Photo via tuchong.com]
Jiangsu's Huaiyang cuisine uses mostly aquatic products for its ingredients, for a fresh and slightly sweet flavor. For authentic Huaiyang cuisine in Beijing, the Michelin one-star Huai Yang Fu should be at the top of your list. Hunan cuisine features searingly spicy, fresh, soft, and tender tastes, and is well-known for varied cooking methods including simmering, stewing, smoking, steaming, and stir-frying. If you like super spicy food, check out Xiang Ai on Gongti East Road, also a Michelin one-star restaurant.
Looking to find out what Shanghai dishes are like? Then we recommend Michelin two-star restaurant, Wu Li Xiang. Slightly salty, Shanghai cuisine preserves ingredients' original fresh flavors, presenting a feast for the taste buds. If you prefer vegetarian food, head to the Michelin three-star King's Joy for a delicious and healthy meal. Delectable foods from all over Chinaare waiting for you to discover and indulge.
Spaghetti [Photo via tuchong.com]
In an international metropolis like Beijing, there is no shortage of food from all corners of the earth. If you like light flavors, try Japanese cuisine; for spicy food, Korean cuisine is worth a try. While strolling along the streets of the city, its exotic charm of global delicacies such as beef Wellington, Mexican chicken burritos, spaghetti, Indonesian fried rice, pizza, and various salads can be found all over.
And of course, there is no shortage of restaurants offering local home-style dishes and fast food on the streets of Beijing. A variety of choices of fulfilling meals are there for you at affordable prices even if you're in a rush.
