10 Best Places to eat with Locals in Beijing

Outdoor restaurant by Pexels – Pixabay

10 Best Places to eat with Locals in Beijing

With China’s role on the global stage expanding, much of the nation’s culture and cuisine continues to find appreciative audiences everywhere. There’s such delectable diversity across the country and there are only a few cities in the world where you can access it all. Beijing cuisine, also known as Jing cuisine, Mandarin cuisine, Peking cuisine, and formerly Beiping cuisine, is the local cuisine of Beijing, the national capital of China.

As Beijing has been the capital of China for centuries, its cuisine is influenced by culinary traditions from all over China, but the style that has the greatest influence on Beijing cuisine is that of the eastern coastal province of Shandong. Beijing cuisine has itself, in turn, also greatly influenced other Chinese cuisines, particularly the cuisine of Liaoning, the Chinese imperial cuisine, and the Chinese aristocratic cuisine.

Here are the 10 best places to eat with Locals in Beijing.

1. Siji Minfu

Siji Mingfu is a Beijing locals’ favorite, using old roasting crafts, giving a classic Beijing flavor. If you want to experience the locals’ dining atmosphere and eat like a local, Siji Mingfu is the option for you.

Their address is 11 Nanchizi Street, Dongcheng District, near the east gate of the Forbidden City. Their website gives directions on making reservations. They open daily from 10:30 am to 11 pm. 

All ducks are selected carefully and hooked up in the stove over flaming fruit-tree wood. The meat tastes tender and crispy. Their recommended dishes include; specially selected crispy and tender roast duck, Beijing-style noodles with soybean paste, and imperial snack combinations.

2. Quanjude Roast Duck Restaurant

A meal of fish by Wow_Pho – Pixabay

Quanjuede is the most well-known Beijing duck restaurant in the world. It is located at 9 Shuaifuyuan Hu Tong, Wangfujing, Dongcheng, Beijing. They open every day, except Wednesday between 10:30 am to 10 pm.  They require reservations made in advance through their contact line.

Having been in operation for over a hundred years, they have mastered the art of roasting the duck and selecting the ideal condiments and dishes to be paired with it. 

Its mid-range pricing has helped to make Quanjuede the classic duck restaurant of the city. Their recommended dishes include;  Quanjude roast duck, roast duck bone soup, fried mushroom, and shrimp balls.

3. Najia Xiaguan

Featuring traditional Manchurian cuisine from Northeast China, Najia Xiaguan delivers a definitive Beijing experience, from its courtyard to the signature dishes and its carved menus.

The restaurant is located at XFQV+2GR, Jiuxianqiao N Rd, Chaoyang, Beijing. They open daily from 11 am to 10 pm. They recommend reservations be made via their website  3 to 4 days in advance. 

Nanjia has long been a destination for locals, but knowledge of the caliber of the establishment’s food continues to spread. The signature dishes include the deliciously tender ox rib and fatty, melt-in-the-mouth ox hoof; these are best sampled in small doses. They equally provide their English menu.

4. Qing-Feng Steamed Dumpling Shop

A chef in the kitchen by binmassam – Pixabay

Qing-Feng, a stuffed bun shop, has remained a firm favorite among Beijing residents since its opening in 1948. It is located at WC59+X75, Dongdan N St, Wangfujing, Dongcheng, Beijing. They open daily from 10:30 am to 10 pm. 

The interiors are simple, and the service is hands-off. However, the main attraction here is the steamed dumplings, which are stuffed with a range of fillings from juicy pork and fennel to egg and chives. 

5. King’s Joy

King’s Joy is a Vegetarian-Friendly restaurant, adjacent to Yonghe Palace. It is located at 2 Wudaoying Hu Tong, Dongcheng, Beijing next to the Confucian Temple and other cultural centers in the old city of Beijing. They open daily from 11 am to 10 pm. 

The ingredients are carefully selected, to ensure their freshness. The interior is finely designed, and the environment is comfortable and elegant. The dishes are also carefully presented and it tastes good, too. It is highly recognized by people from all walks of life for its organic and healthy vegetables.

The overall design of the restaurant is natural and tranquil, creating a relaxing and peaceful courtyard environment in the bustling downtown area. Their specialties include; mushroom stewed rice; Diamond tofu; rice fried Asparagus tip; Mung bean cake; Nine-layered eggplant; Shouwu Taoren soup and Matsutake soup.

6. Country Kitchen

Sushi by Adamsov – Pixabay

Rosewood Beijing’s Xiangwei Xiaochu Chinese Restaurant has won a one-star list in the 2021 Beijing Michelin Guide. It focuses on the hometown cuisine of northern China, and re-presents the lost classic dishes loved by old Beijingers. It is located at the Rosewood Beijing at Jingguang Center, Hujialou, Chaoyang District, Beijing.  Make reservations via their website. 

Taste your way through an impressive variety of regional Chinese cuisines in this restaurant. Chef Leo Xin Chai has recreated a number of forgotten imperial recipes and makes full use of a wood-burning duck-roasting oven. Highly recommended is the memorable roast pork, based on ancient texts and traditional techniques.

7. Juqi

This chain restaurant specializes in Beijing cuisine and is a current favorite among the local people. Juqi is located in Xicheng District, Taipusi St, 21 Beijing. They open daily from 11 am to 9:30 pm. Ju Qi means equity, impartiality, behaving oneself, and pursuit of rules, as well as justice, generousness, and frankness in the Beijing dialect. 

The crispy-skinned Peking duck comes inscribed with a character of your choosing, and the special fried rice is in the form of “honeycomb” coal and lit at the table. The decor is suitably old Beijing and reflects the food’s authenticity. 

8. Huajiayiyuan

Drinks by bridgesward – Pixabay

Huajiayiyuan is a famous courtyard restaurant, which serves mainly Beijing food. It not only meets the apperHuajiayiyuan (Hua’s Restaurant) is a famous courtyard restaurant, which serves mainly Beijing food. It not only meets the appetite of local Beijingers, but also the different tastes of people from other regions.

The restaurant is located at 235 Dongzhimen Inner Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing. They open daily from 10:30 am to 10:30 pm. 

They incorporate folk music performances, the stunning acrobatics performance, the tea art performance, and the Sichuan Opera performance into their restaurant activities. All the performances, traditional Beijing cuisines, and the quaint courtyard make your dining process a wonderful enjoyment.

9. Dadong Duck

Da Dong, the recognized personality behind his eponymous roast duck restaurants, is giving fast food a go, and the duck burger is nothing short of impressive. Their address is China, Beijing, Dongcheng, Jinbao St, 88, 100005. They open daily from 11 am to 10 pm. Their website is open for reservations.

A hunk of roast duck is carved out and sandwiched between halves of a sesame seed bun. Other options include truffled spaghetti that stays in great shape despite being packaged. 

10. Donglaishun Restaurant

The restaurant is located on the First Floor of the Qinian Hotel, 91 Tiantan Road, Dongcheng District, Beijing. Donglaishun mainly serves Beijing Halal food and the special copper stove Beijing hot pot is what made its fame. They open daily from 11 am to 10 pm.

 After decades of development, the instant-boiled mutton has become the second most representative food in Beijing after Peking duck. Beijing instant mutton as most of the Beijingers would like to go.