Capital Bites: Yes We Mexican, Flo Wows and A Gaggle of New Openings

Yes, a gaggle. Get ready to eat and drink well this summer because we don't have enough fingers and toes to count the number of promising venues popping up, from a new Mexican place (Q Mex) to new wine bars, more locations for prize-winning beef noodle soup, dim sum and Japanese, and lots lots more. Curious? Read on!

Before we get too far along, we had a chance to try the new Brasserie Flo last night and are excited about the new digs. Beautiful, stately dining room and a sense that you’re traveling back in time when you walk down the path to the restaurant’s front doors. It makes their months-long break seem well worth it. We'll have a full review for you in our June issue, but we definitely recommend a visit. And, by the way, those are their oysters up top.

Now, on to news. Those who complain that Beijing’s Mexican food still misses the mark of what one can get in Mexico (or Southern California, or Texas ... ), you’ll have one more venue to size up soon, and this one sounds promising. Q Mex is opening up right under the Sanlitun Kro’s Nest location (behind The Bookworm, near dlounge, Salsa Caribe, etc.) this June, with soft opening starting the end of May. The plan is for Echo Sun of Q Bar fame to ply customers with a great Tequila selection while the restaurant serves up “gourmet Mexican food.” Are we talking fancy tacos or molecular guacamole? Stay tuned.

Between this and the rumors of a hutong taco bar afoot (by way of Lumdimsum), Mexican food snobs might soon be a little less grumpy in this city. In the meantime, if you haven’t caught Saddle Cantina’s taco happy hour (10 kuai tacos from 4-6, weekdays), it’s one of those best-kept secrets around town. Just order loads of their Baja fish tacos (yep, breaded and fried) or – for the Taco Bell-loving types – try their Nacho tacos.

Chef Hung, the Taiwanese beef noodle soup champion, has opened another shop at the WFC (we reviewed their Wangfujing mall location here). A colleague tells me the new spot is smaller and more built for take-out, but I’m not complaining that a good niuroumian is now accessible by hopping off my bike between work and home. Now the question is, how do I keep that fried chicken crispy on the ride home?

Cake fiends who’ve had the pleasure of enjoying the desserts at Cafe Bros in Wudaokou or Wangjing (yes, they’re Korean-owned) will be happy to learn they’re opening a branch in the Shimao basement. Their cakes are heftier than other Asian bakeries, and I mean that in a good way. From my samplings in Wudaokou, I'd say their chocolate cake, cheesecake and custard pie are all worth a go.

On to wines. First, there’s ByLace. They seem to specialize in wine, cupcakes and oysters – all good things – and have set up shop in Wudaoying, Guanghua Xili and Nanluogu Xiang.

Good ol’ Boyce has been poking his cherubic head around and updated us on three wine bars opening in Sanlitun soon: 1) Everwines up the street from The James Joyce, 2) Veloce in 1949: The Hidden City and 3) California Grapes International at Sanlitun Soho.

Speaking of Soho, we’re told (by Boyce again) that iF Juice is moving in, while the old Tonton & Tata space across from Moment Cafe will soon be occupied by a new Cafe Flatwhite. We hope this spells good momentum for the excellently located but disparately managed Soho development. Fingers crossed that this summer will be the turning point, kicked off by our Reader Bar & Club Awards on May 19.

Other openings, closures and the like: The arty Waiting for Godot cafe in Jiaodaokou has changed names, to Beetle in a Box. Less existential, more insectial. (I know, that’s not a word.)

Punk in The Opposite House is closing down, and will be replaced by “something yummy.” We’ll keep you posted.

There’s an intriguing new burger joint called The Angry Burger (see photo, above) at Wangjing Novo. So far there’s a Dianping profile and one photo on foodie app Foodspotting. We’ll sniff it out some more and get back to you.

In food news of a less Western variety, the cozy but still relatively unknown Japanese spot Suzuki Kitchen is opening up a second location at Maoer Hutong, while underrated dim sum restaurant Hengshan Hui is opening up a branch on the 5th level of the LG twin towers at Jianguomenwai.