First Glance: Habanero, Fangjia Hutong

Summer brings with it more restaurant openings in Beijing's back alleys, and nowhere is more abuzz than Fangjia Hutong. The newest addition, plopped down in Fangjia 46 Courtyard (think Aimo Town, Hot Cat) is Habanero, which marks one more late-night dining option for the friendly drunkards of Gulou and your buddies. Yes, you.

Outside is adorned with two small tables, which actually proves quite spacious considering the cramped circumstances of the courtyard. This is probably where you'll want to dine as the bar itself has a total of three seats, meaning that we won't be eating in there anytime soon unless all hell freezes over and we suddenly get thrust back into winter.

Habanero basically functions as a hole-in-the-wall burrito shop and stocks four options, setting you back between RMB 30-35: chicken, beef, vegetarian, and pork. We settled for the chicken (apologies for the photo, I'm not a burrito photographer and burritos aren't photographic at the best of times). This takeaway wrap was having trouble keeping it together and was clearly experiencing the worst of times.

Looking past presentation, the burrito really wasn't bad, and the ingredients were fresh. However, some serious work has to be undertaken with the wrapping. While burritos are generally round and full, this came more like a folded-over mound of aesthetic misery. Additionally, we would love it if they added some much needed guac.

We just hope they can stay open because the owners are particularly friendly and a burrito is always a welcomed option and midnight snack, whether messy or not.

Habanero
Daily 11am-midnight. A105, 46 Fangjia Hutong, Dongcheng District (136 7113 2230, 136 8148 0248)
东城区方家胡同46号A105

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Photos: Margaux Schreurs