15 Restaurants You Must Try in Early 2016
If the Beijinger Restaurant Awards teach us anything each year, it’s that a) we have some pretty darn good restaurants in our fair city and b) people are pretty set in their ways when it comes to new restaurants. As such, we decided to come up with an edible agenda of the restaurants that have opened in the past year that you absolutely must try if you want to consider yourself any kind of dining expert in 2016. From regional Chinese to swanky fine dining, this list has you covered, whatever your tastes.
1. Beijing Pie 河沿肉饼
Beijing Pie doesn’t look like much but once you take a bite of their roubing (the eponymous Beijing pie) or spicy homestyle gong bao chicken thigh, you’ll realize this is no ordinary hole-in-the-wall joint. A clean, inviting atmosphere and English-speaking staff/menus show what can be done with local street food. Reason enough for us to venture towards the Forbidden City.
Daily 10.30am-10pm. 159-2 Beiheyan Dajie, Dongcheng District (6528 2187)
东城区北河沿大街159-2号
2. Just Fun 家范儿
It seems like everyone and their uncle is leaving the corporate world to open up a restaurant these days, but few are as successful as Just Fun (ignore the name), the Shuangjing restaurant set up by a former designer. The homestyle Guizhou dishes (try the chicken with fresh chilies) will have your taste buds dancing and the rough-hewn interior is clear evidence of the owner’s design background.
Daily noon-2.30pm, 5.30-10pm. A4, 66 Guangqu Lu, Chaoyang District (5712 4712)
朝阳区广渠路66好远甲4号底墒
3. Ling Er Jiu Noodles 零贰玖
Time was, we used to frequent Gongti’s Yellow River for our late night noodle needs, but now our doughy hearts belong to Ling Er Jiu. From the original branch on Xingfucun Zhonglu, Ling Er Jiu has since expanded to four locations around Beijing, all serving up lip-smackingly spicy versions of Shaanxi’s famous youpo noodles. Don’t sleep on the roujiamo either – these are drunk snacks to be savored.
Daily 10am-4am. Xingfucun Zhonglu, near the crossroads with Chunxiu Lu, Chaoyang District (5745 4029)
零贰玖油泼面：朝阳区幸福村中路（靠近春秀路十字路口）
4. Rouge Restaurant 石塘嘴
It’s a bold choice to open a Chinese restaurant in a location more known for its Western dining options, but faithful renditions of classic Hong Kong-style comfort foods make Rouge a top choice for dinner in Courtyard 4. The roast squab in particular keeps us going back for more – each mahogany-skinned bird carved into four sections, the head proudly displayed on the edge of the plate.
Daily 11am-10pm. 1/F, Bldg 10, Courtyard 4, Gongti Beilu, Chaoyang District (8587 6866)
朝阳区工体北路4号院10号楼1层
5. The Southern Fish 鱼芙南
Dazhalan restaurant The Southern Fish shows what can be achieved at the intersection of food and interior design. The small yet perfectly formed space is almost gallery-like in its simplicity; it is in the menu of spicy Hunan dishes that the fireworks really start. Try the face-meltingly spicy mashed green chilies with preserved egg – be sure to have a glass of water at the ready. Hunan food in Beijing is often just a Sichuan peppercorn-free version of Sichuan food, but this is the real deal.
Tue-Sun 11am-2.30pm, 5-10.30pm. 166 Yangmeizhu Xiejie, Xicheng District (8315 2539)
西城区杨梅竹斜街166号
6. Bottega
Bottega reminded us that there’s more to pizza than mounds of toppings and masses of cheese; a good quality base doesn’t need much more adornment. Bottega’s Salvo brothers should know a bit about dough – their family has been in the Naples pizza business since the 1920s. With a bustling dining room and reliable menu, Bottega has fast become one of our favorite casual dining choices.
Daily noon-3pm, 5.30-11pm. 18 Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang District (6416 1752)
朝阳区三里屯路18号
7. Happi Sake
Sake Manzo, Happi Sake … it’s easy to guess what the owner of both is passionate about. An unassuming single story building on the east Third Ring Road, Happi Sake serves up a wide array of sake and Japanese cuisine. The yakitori is the star of the show and, since the restaurant is open until 2am, offers a solid alternative to the usual late-night chuan’r. With so many sakes on offer too, it makes for the perfect place to learn about the underappreciated spirit.
Daily 6pm-2am. 2A Tuanjiehu Beilu, Chaoyang District (6582 8216)
朝阳区团结湖北路甲2号
8. Molly Malone's Gastropub & Grill
Molly Malone’s was the first big move for Beijing’s celebrity chef Brian McKenna after he moved on from The Courtyard … until he sold his stake two weeks after the opening, that is. Nevertheless, Molly Malone’s seems to have managed to maintain at least a bit of the momentum created by McKenna – the fried chicken sandwich is to die for. It’s a beautiful space, too.
Daily 11.30am-1am. 90 Jinbao Jie, Chaoyang District (6522 7258)
朝阳区金宝街90号
9. Napa
Recognition for organic and farm-to-table dining in Beijing is still growing, and among those leading the charge is Napa, a California-inspired restaurant and café from enthusiastic team Andrew Hsu and Colin Smith. Smith’s cooking makes the best of produce from local suppliers like Little Willow Organic Farm in dishes such as vibrant fusion salads and hearty soups.
Tue-Sun 11am-8pm. 20 Liulitun Zhonglu, Chaoyang District (20m east of the junction of Yaojiayuan Lu and Tianshuiyuan Dongjie) (6595 9181)
朝阳区六里屯中路20号（姚家园路和甜水园东街交口往东50米）
10. The Georg
None of Beijing’s independent fine dining establishments could hold a candle to TRB until The Georg crept quietly into being at the end of 2015. Set in a transformed hutong building, The Georg (from Danish silverware brand Georg Jensen) serves modern Danish cuisine – simple ingredients immaculately presented. More proof that fine dining has a place in the hutongs.
Mon-Sat 6-10.30pm. 45 Dongbuyaqiao Hutong, Di’anmen Dongdajie, Dongcheng District (8408 5300)
东城区地安门东大街东不压桥胡同45号
11. Xi Yi Lang 喜一郎
We’ve got some pretty good options in Beijing when it comes to Japanese food, so much so that many have started to specialize. Geba Geba’s new specialty tempura restaurant, Xi Yi Lang, shows that the delicacy of Japanese food is not reserved for slices of sashimi. 70-year-old Asano Kiichiro has been frying tempura for decades and his expertise shows in every morsel. Get the set menu and let him work his magic.
Daily 11am-2pm, 5-10pm. 101, Bldg 20, 5 Vanke Park, Tianshuiyuan Jie, Chaoyang District (6501 4377)
朝阳区甜水园街万科公园5号20楼101
12. N'Joy, Nuo Hotel Beijing
Inspired by the voyages of Chinese Admiral Zheng He, the buffet counters at Nuo Hotel’s all-day dining destination N’Joy present offerings from 10 different cuisines (don’t miss the British Sunday roast or the Indian curries). This globalized offering makes N’Joy a cut above many other buffets around town, particularly on Sundays, when you can complement your meal with a choice of four free-flow Champagnes.
Mon-Fri 6.30-10am, 11.30am-2pm, 5.30-9.30pm, Sat-Sun 6.30-10.30am, noon-2.30pm, 5.30-9.30pm. 1/F, Nuo Hotel Beijing, 2A Jiangtai Lu, Chaoyang District (5926 8888)
朝阳区将台路甲2号北京诺金酒店1层
13. The Meatball Company
Starting off as a WeChat-only delivery service, The Meatball Company showed that is it possible to successfully make the transition from online to offline. With quirky marketing, a focused offering (meatballs, duh), and a new range of take-home sauces and spices, The Meatball Company is doing craft food right. We love that the Beijing market still has space for this kind of small, idiosyncratic business.
Tue-Sat Noon-10pm, Sun 11.30am-9pm. 27 Dashibei Hutong, Dongcheng District
东城区大石碑胡同27号
14. Red Bowl, Rosewood Beijing
For those who are tired of the usual rough and ready hotpot experience, Red Bowl is a breath of fresh air. The Sichuan soup base may be authentic but the vibe is anything but – think sleek concrete, dramatic lighting, and Balearic-style beats. The menu of Beijing-inspired cocktails doesn’t hurt either – try the Hutong Daiquiri with Plantation 3 Stars rum, strawberry, and Sichuan peppercorn.
Daily 5.30pm-1am. 1/F, Rosewood Beijing, Jing Guang Centre, Hujialou, Chaoyang District (6536 0066)
朝阳区呼家楼京广中心北京瑰丽酒店
15. Rong Xiao Guan 荣小馆
A spinoff from subtly elegant fine dining restaurant Xin Rongji, Rong Xiao Guan embodies the trend of big name restaurants launching cheaper, “popular” brands (see also: Da Dong Duck). Rong Xiao Guan might be a casual restaurant, but they aren’t resting on their laurels when it comes to the quality of the food – the Jiangsu-style dishes sing with sweet and savory flavors.
Daily 11am-8.30pm. F1-B50-51, Yintai Center, 2 Jianguomen Waidajie, Chaoyang District (8517 1699)
朝阳区建国门外大街2号银泰中心F1-B50-51号
Photos: Ken, Uni, Joey Guo, courtesy of Rosewood Beijing, courtesy of The Southern Fish
