Beijing cuisine is famous for its hundreds of dishes with special flavors that are unmatched by any other cuisine. Beijing cuisine does not emphasize strangeness or uniqueness, only delicious food made from common ingredients with tastes that are very agreeable. It is China's most typical cuisine.
Cuisines from many different cultures permeate the Beijing dining deeply. For example, people from Shandong had opened many famous restaurants in Beijing in the recent history, including the renowned Tongfengtang, Fushoutang and Tongheju. The quick-fry technique and it’s emphasizing on using onions greatly influenced Beijing cuisine. The famed quick-fried mutton is a typical Beijing dish which uses the cooking skills and flavoring methods of the Shandong cuisine.
Manchu and Han banquets, which gradually became popular during Emperor Qianlong's reign, included nearly 200 cold dishes and dozens of refreshments and pastries. The main courses were Manchu style roast dishes, shark's fin; edible bird's nest, sea cucumbers, jellyfish, and abalone served southern style. These were supplemented by traditional Manchu pastries and Huai'an – Yangzhou or Jiangsu – Zhejiang style dishes that precisely reflected the cooking skills and flavors of Beijing cuisine. Peking duck, which has become a favorite of people outside Beijing and even with foreigners, is prepared using force- fed ducks. The duck is roasted in Huai'an and Yangzhou style to emphasize the color and taste, then seasoned with fermented flour sauce, and eaten with onions and pancakes baked Shandong style. This typical dish reflects the origin of Beijing cuisine.
With literally thousands of restaurants available, dining choices in Beijing are practically unlimited. （添加）And the best part is that you can splurge at a fancy restaurant or dine supremely well (any much more cheaply) at any of the smaller family-run operations located all over the city.
Beijing is also famous for its imperial court food and snacks. There are many characterized snack streets in Beijing and fancy Beijing snack is a must in tasting the authentic Beijing flavor.
The following are some of the top snack streets we recommend you to visit:
Wangfujing Snack Street (王府井小吃街)
You can find numerous featured stands selling a dazzling array of snacks from all corners of China in Wangfujing Snack Street. The majority of diners here are foreign, and the cost is not low. However, for a comfortable and relaxing meal, Xin Dong An Restaurant comes highly recommended.
Location: South of Haoyou Department Store, Wangfujing Business Street, Dongcheng District
Donghuamen Snack Night Market (东华门夜市)
Tourists can find the most natural and simple flavors of Old Beijing in Donghuamen night market. Located at the northern entrance of Wangfujing Street, Donghuamen Night Market is the most famous snack street in Beijing, popular with both locals and tourists as well. When the night falls, the assortment of tasty treats from both northern and southern China, plus the bustling crowds and the rhythmical huckstering is another attraction in Beijing you shouldn't miss.
Location: north of Donganmen Street, Dongcheng District
Recommended Restaurants
Quanjude Roast Duck Restaurant
Hepingmen Branch (和平门店)
Location: No.14, Qianmen Xidajie (前门西大街), Xuanwu District
Tel: 010-63023062, 010-63018833
National Toll-free Telephone: 400-700-1864
Wangfujing Branch (王府井店)
Location: No.9, Shuaifuyuan Hutong (帅府园胡同), Wangfujing Dajie, Dongcheng District
Tel: 010-65253310, 010-65228384
National Toll-free Telephone: 400-700-1864
Asian Games Village Branch (亚运村店)
Location: No.309, Huizhong Beili (惠忠北里), Chaoyang District
Tel: 010-64801686, 010-64801685
National Toll-free Telephone: 400-700-1864
Featured Halal Restaurants:
Nanlaishun Restaurant
Chinese name: 南来顺饭庄（nán lái shùn fàn zhuāng）
The restaurant is one of the three most famous Muslim restaurants in Beijing. It is opened in 1937 and the time -honored brand restaurant is well liked by the locals with its genuine Muslim table delicacies.
Average Cost per Person: CNY55
Recommended Dishes: Tofu Pudding, Fried Cake with Cream, Pea-flour Cake, Kebabs
Location: No.12, Nancaiyuan Jie, Xuanwu District
Bus Route: 59, 102, 122, 819 (get off at Daguanyuan Stop)
Xilaishun Restaurant
Chinese name: 西来顺饭庄（xī lái shùn fàn zhuāng）
It is another time honored brand Muslim restaurant which is well known for Muslim fried dishes.
Average Cost per Person: CNY50
Recommend Dishes: Ma Lianliang Duck, Fried Sheep Fillet Slice, Mutton with Boiling Oil
Xilaishun Restaurant (Fuchengmen Branch)
Location: No.194, Fuchengmennei Dajie, Xicheng District
Bus Route: 102, 103, 44 (get off at Fuchengmen Stop)
Xilaishun Restaurant (Hepingmen Branch)
Location: No.116, Xinhua Jie, Hepingmen Bei, Xicheng District
Bus Route: 4, 7 (get off at Hepingmen Stop)
Xinjiang Restaurant
Chinese name: 新疆饭庄（xīn jiāng fàn zhuāng）
Average Cost per Person: CNY50
Recommended Dishes: Kebabs, Saute Spicy Chicken with Potato, Acidophilus Milk, Pulling Noodles, Rice Eaten with Hand
Location: No.1, Chegongzhuang Dajie, Beili, Xicheng District
