Best of Beijing Food Guide: Local Restaurants & Traditional Dishes
Food is a huge part of travelling through China, not only for the history and culture of Chinese cuisine but also for the day-to-day of Chinese people’s life.
The Best of Beijing Food Guide will take you through a journey of local Chinese cuisine, and where to go in Beijing for best eats. This guide is written with huge *saudade* (the Portuguese word for missing something or someone) despite not expecting to like Beijing as much as I actually did, at least not for the food – Dive in, because it has honestly, blew my mind!
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The Best of Beijing Food Guide: All You Need to Know About the Beijing Cuisine, What to Eat and Where
I knew Beijing was huge on culture – having loved Chinese dramas since 2019 and dreaming about visiting the Forbidden City – what I didn’t expect was to fall in love with the cuisine-culture of this part of China. Interestingly, every province of China will offer something authentic from the region, and in Beijing’s the most traditional dish is the infamous Peking Duck. However, it doesn’t stop with the fried duck. If you are visiting other parts of China, I’ve shared everything you need to know before travelling to China here.
Beijing is located in the north of China. Actually, ‘Bei’ means north and ‘Jing’ means city, so together it’s ‘Northern City’. Beijing is located quite close to Russia and you can feel the proximity of the two countries – from the general feel around the capital, the buildings, and even the colours around the city.
When it comes to the cuisine, Beijing’s delicious dishes also contrast with those from, for example, Shanghai. Beijing dishes are heartier, wheat-based (noodles, dumplings, pancakes) compared to the rice-heavy south.
Beijing food is very varied from a cultural perspective. As the Imperial City, where for centuries emperors and empresses lived within the Forbidden City, Beijing brings plenty of imperial dishes passed down from generation to generation.
I was first exposed to Beijing food through a great Chinese drama called “Royal Feast”, suggested to me by a Chinese cultural foodie – the drama did not disappoint!
Beijing’s cuisine is also influenced by several different seafood cooking techniques – from quick frying (with or without cornflour), to roasting and steaming, as well as the brilliant Huaiyang cuisine style, traditionally known for “knife work” dishes that often involve delicate embroidery in foods like tofu and vegetables, where beautiful art is designed on a plate and combined with the most exquisite flavours of China.
If Beijing is the hearty, cultural, imperial face of China’s culinary scene, Shanghai is its sweet, multicultural, and delicate counterpart — I’ve shared my top Shanghai food finds here.
What do Eat in Beijing: A Local’s Guide to the Best Beijing Food & Restaurants
Going to China is an adventure – from the historical buildings, language barrier, technology, and of course the food.
There’s a saying that goes “it is at the dinner table that the best decisions are made” and this couldn’t be more accurate, especially at a Chinese dining table. I have gathered local Beijing food and all the traditional Chinese food that you need to try when in Beijing. All these were either recommended by my Chinese friend when I was in China or tried myself last time I went – like all the hot pots!
Beijing’s Peking Duck & Restaurants
It can be a little bit overwhelming choosing a restaurant for this iconic dish. When choosing your Peking Duck restaurant consider factors such as waiting time for a table (some places you need to wait up to 2 hours or more), whether you can make a reservation, and the price you want to pay.
Da Dong – 大董
Locals regard Da Dong as the best restaurant for Peking Duck in Beijing. It’s a blend of traditional dishes as well as some modern Chinese cuisine. Definitely somewhere to try for the architecture and the feel of the place.
Address – Floor 6, Donghua Gold Street Shopping Centre, 301 Wangfujing Street, Dongcheng District (东城区王府井大街301号东华金街购物中心6楼)
Siji Minfu Kaoya – 四季民福烤鸭店
Recommended by a friend as a great place to go and one of her favourites too. You are not able to reserve a table so I would recommend going early and allowing extra time during public holidays.
Address – 四季民福烤鸭店(东四十条店) Siji Minfu Kaoya Dongsishitiao Branch
It’s quite hard to have a personal Peking Duck favourite, when I only tried Peking Duck twice in Beijing, once in Shanghai, once in Hong Kong and three times in London’s Chinatown. I can say that both Da Dong and Siji Minfu Kaoya were recommended by locals and the atmosphere of the restaurants matches the traditional imperial feel of the dish itself. I personally love the Peking Duck from both restaurants and my mouth is watering just thinking of going back to Beijing for crispy Peking duck.
Other restaurants for Peking Duck that unfortunately I didn’t try but were recommended:
Quan Jude – 全聚德 – Beijing’s symbol of Peking Duck
Address – 32 Qianmen Street, Chongwen District (崇文区前门大街 32 号)
Jingzun – 京尊烤鸭店 – Good food, nothing too fancy and not a long wait
Address – 京尊烤鸭店JINGZUN(春秀路店) 春秀路太平庄南里6号楼北侧)
Bianyifang – 便宜坊 – The first Beijing restaurant serving roast duck. Authentic and traditional experience. Address – Xianyukou Street No.65–77 (Qianmen Subway Station Southeast Entrance & Exit G, Pedestrian 350 metres), Dongcheng, Beijing
Beijing’s Hot Pot & Restaurants
Right, now we are talking. You might associate Beijing with Peking Duck (and you are not entirely wrong), but Hot Pot is a thing in Beijing and to be honest the whole of China – so much so, that almost every meal I had involved some sort of Hot Pot.
Hot Pot is a sharing dish, normally a big pot with boiling water and vegetables, and then you add your meats, seafood, and more vegetables. Once boiled, you can take it to your plate, soak it in your pre-made sauce (sesame-based in Beijing Hot Pot) and into your belly – it is so good!!
I absolutely love Hot Pot, especially traditional Beijing Hot Pot – you can order lamb, beef, vegetables, and/or shrimp – but make sure the sauce is sesame-based to balance the palate. The Beijing Hot Pot pot is different from all other hot pots – traditional Beijing Hot Pot is served in a charcoal chimney-shaped pot.
In more modern restaurants it will be served in a small electric pot, mainly for hygiene reasons. Most of the time people order the bigger charcoal pot and share it in the centre of the dining table, and then make decisions, ahah!
Dong Lai Shun Restaurant – 东来顺火锅店
Dong Lai Shun restaurant is a chain of seven restaurants around Beijing. The most central restaurant is located in Tiananmen Square.
This restaurant serves traditional Beijing Hot Pot in the charcoal and copper chimney and the food is fresh. The best part of this restaurant is that there are other dishes on the menu apart from Beijing Hot Pot.
Address: No.44, Dongjiaominxiang Road, Dongcheng District, Beijing (300 metres south of the National Museum).
Koufuju Hot Pot Restaurant – 口福居火锅店
Designed to bring back the feel of old Beijing Hot Pot. The hot pot at Koufuju Restaurant is served with a copper chimney pot. Koufuju has been serving hot pot since 1985. It is famous amongst Chinese locals and celebrities. The price can be on the expensive side – but it makes a great first stop for your Beijing Hot Pot journey.
Address: 1st Floor, No.9, Huayuan Street, Zhidixingzuo Commercial Centre, Xicheng District, Beijing.
Haidilao – 海底捞
Probably one of the biggest hot pot chains in China and interestingly, in London there are two Hai Di Lao Hot Pot restaurants (one in Piccadilly Circus and another at the O2).
They are perfect if you want to try Hot Pot and play it safe with the language and food as well. As it is a chain, you are likely to have the same experience in any Hai Di Lao. They are very clean and orders can be made via the app or screen by the table with translation.
Haidilao is great for a variety of food and meats, and if it is your birthday you will definitely want to celebrate there!
Other Hot Pots to Try in Beijing
As the capital, Beijing offers other cuisines, dishes from other countries, and – as China is a huge country – it even brings together hot pots from other regions.
Chaoshan Hot Pot
Chaoshan is a city in Guangdong province. Guangdong is the province closest to Hong Kong (just so you can locate it on the map). Guangdong food is known for freshness and being cooked with fewer spices. Different from Beijing Hot Pot, Chaoshan Hot Pot is known for the freshness and tenderness of its local beef – a personal favourite! My friend suggested going to a restaurant chain that she tried in Guangzhou (the closest city to Hong Kong) and loved so much that she ate there for lunch and dinner two days in a row! You can tell how much it was appreciated.
Restaurant to try in Beijing: 潮汕八合里牛肉火锅
Traditional Beijing Snacks and Street Foods
Noodles – Zhajiangmian 炸酱面
Zhajiangmian is thicker than the mainstream noodles that you are probably used to in Western countries. Simple yet authentic and served cold. The main ingredients are noodles, soy sauce, and croutons, fresh shaved cucumber, and optional peanuts.
You can find these in all small restaurants and street food stalls in Beijing.
Bing Tang Hu Lu – 冰糖葫芦 – Desert
Bing Tang Hu Lu is a winter delicacy of northern China. It consists of fruit that honestly I don’t know the name of in English or Portuguese, but it is similar to a sugar-coated small plum and served on a stick.
I first tried this snack in the Gubei Water Town village next to one of the sides of the Great Wall of China – it is absolutely delicious, especially if you have a sweet tooth.
Jianbing – 煎饼 – Savoury Crepe
This is actually sold everywhere in China, not just in Beijing. Jianbing is a salty crepe, super thin and crispier than traditional sweet French crepes. Inside it normally has black sesame seeds, coriander, and spring onions, and then two sauces: one sweet and sour, and another one similar to hoisin sauce, followed by a thin, fried crispy cracker.
Street Food in Beijing
Street food in Beijing used to be huge – every popular area of the capital would have little carts selling all the above snacks and more!
Nowadays, street food has become more controlled, due to hygiene factors, and authorities are really tightening the existence of street vendors in the capital.
There is one place full of street food but it is known locally for being a tourist trap – I personally didn’t go, but I remember reading in travel blogs that it’s a great place to hang out for street food. When I mentioned it to my Chinese friend, she quoted: “Don’t go Wangfujing, it is a red flag.” Whatever she meant by that, I followed religiously.
However, if you are feeling adventurous, the place for street food is called “Wangfujing”. It was actually quoted by another blogger as the place that you “must visit at least once… Beijing snack street sells all the weird stuff that locals don’t really eat” – I think it is a great place to check out, but if you could avoid eating here, I probably would. Also, why would you eat things that locals don’t eat themselves?
If you are planning a street food adventure, read my “Everything You Need to Know Before Going to China” – there are tips on payments with Alipay, what to always bring with you on a day out, and the apps that you will need for your trip.
How to Be Food Curious in China
English is not widely spoken in China. You will probably find more English speakers in Shanghai as it is a more multicultural city with a bigger percentage of expats. But this is not an excuse not to be curious about food in Beijing. Trying all the dishes in this post is possible in several ways:
- Join a food tour – This is the best way to get explore the city, know what to eat in Beijing and get involved with the culture. Beijing is full of food tours and in different languages apart from English. I would say the priority second language is English.
Tours that will let you taste a great amount of Traditional Chinese dishes, including Beijing Street Food:
Lost Plate Food Tours offer great service, passion and knowledge on foods! You will visit Beijings’ oldest neighbourhood and visit off the bitten path restaurants – this is a very authentic experience!
Hutong Culinary Walking Tour is definitely worth if you have more time in Beijing: come with appetite because you will try more than 15 local dishes. This tour was highly recommended by other travellers. - Get a private Chinese guide – This would be my recommendation if you want to do a specific itinerary and not be dependent on anyone else. I only did a private food tour in Shanghai, and I would really recommend it if you don’t have much time to explore the city and you want an authentic experience as well.
- Meet up with local expats – If you are solo travelling and you want to explore the local lifestyle of Beijing and you know someone who knows someone in China, don’t hesitate to ask for tips or to meet up! The majority of expats do, at some point, miss home and connect with people from back home – and can also be a great help when escaping “tourist traps”.
Planning Your Restaurant Visit in China: Beijing
In a country where English is not prioritised, how do you even read a food menu? Or order a Hot Pot?
Well, if you are not eating with a local guide or part of a group tour, and are trying to eat in traditional restaurants, then forget that you even know English.
Learn some basic Mandarin first, like the numbers, how to ask “how much” and how to say “I would like this or that”.
Learning pinyin is easier to memorise – pinyin is Mandarin sounds written in Western letters.
My biggest tip is to take with you Apple Translate or try to translate via WeChat. Apple Translate is very good and works everywhere in China unless you don’t have data.
I’ve written a post about everything you need to have to be “China ready”, including how to access data and internet.
Apple Translate lets you take a picture and automatically translates it to your chosen language – isn’t this the best?!
TIP: Google Translate doesn’t work in China.
Thoughts: Similarities Between Chinese and Portuguese Cuisine
When I first went to China I was very obsessed with all things heritage, language, history and food. I knew that the Portuguese had a big influence in Macau, Shanghai and had passed through other neighbouring countries such as Japan and Taiwan. I had heard that there were similar dishes from one place to another – and although in completely different parts of the map, somehow there was heritage left behind, for example Macau’s Portuguese street names and Portuguese-style stone streets.
One day whilst embracing all things China, I came across their local snack of egg tarts. Funny enough, this was also everywhere in Taiwan. To my surprise, they looked very similar to Portuguese tarts – the famous pastel de nata. Although not quite the same (Portuguese pastry is way more crispy), it made me think – did the Portuguese bring the recipe to Asia way back when or could this be just a coincidence?
Then, during one of my exploring-the-local-cuisine breakfasts, I came across the ‘congee’ dish: a boiled watery rice, sweet or salty (normally sweet) with the option to add boiled chicken, also known to be great for when one’s feeling under the weather. Funny enough, in Portugal there’s a similar dish named ‘canja’, known for its curative properties and normally given when feeling unwell – could this be another coincidence?
Throughout my trip through Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu other similarities kept appearing – for example, the way in Portugal we call tea, in Chinese/Mandarin is exactly the same: chá 茶.
Then during a day working with the Tourism Board of China, I met Miss Lu, who had just come back from a long holiday in Portugal, that my list of coincidences became more of a quest.
Miss Lu said that she felt very much at home, especially in the north of Portugal – Porto, Guimarães and Trás-os-Montes – because in these regions the dishes are very similar to the ones from the north of China, where you eat everything from an animal, including the tripe and all.
And this couldn’t be more true! I personally am not a fan of tripe and all the other parts an animal gives us, but I understand that there is a taste for it, and coincidentally or not, Portuguese local cuisine on the western side of Europe shares some of the same recipes almost to the tee with Chinese locals in the north of Asia.
Moral of the story: I guess we will never know exactly how both countries share such distinctive cuisines, so if there is anyone reading this and has an idea, feel free to comment below your own thoughts!
Final Thoughts
Beijing was a great place to enjoy traditional Chinese food, some Beijing street food and local cultural dishes. I wished I had stayed longer to enjoy more of the food. If you can only try two dishes, make sure to try the Peking Duck and the Hot Pot (any Hot Pot – the experience is amazing), and if you feel adventurous, try frog legs in your Hot Pot.
I am sure you will have a great time in your next adventure through China and its delicious food!
I hope that the Best of Beijing Food Guide helps you exploring more of the cuisine of Beijing as well!
Let me know in the comments your favourite Chinese food!
Safe travels!
Miri
