Xingfucun Thaw: Frost Returns With Comfort Food for a Troubled Neighborhood
Though we Beijing foodies unfortunately lost many of our favorite Xingfucun area hotspots this past spring, we can all at least breathe a sigh a relief that some of the street's most popular venues withstood the siege. Case in point: decade-plus veteran American comfort food haven Frost, which not made it through but also opted to wait out the turmoil and do some serious revamping in the ensuing months.
READ: The 4 Best Noodle Joints Near Xingfucun Following the Bricking "Renovations"
Now they've reopened with polished digs and a very different menu. The restaurant has taken over the space that used to belong to now defunct neighboring bar BBC (though that popular cocktail haven is rumored to reopen soon). Frost has now filled the space with booths that boast a ruggedly retro aesthetic. The rest of the decor carries on that vibe, with cogs and gears, along with flowers sprouting from their front door logo, all which remind us of the logo for the popular recent podcast S-Town.
That aesthetic makes sense, considering Frost has long been known for its downhome American comfort food. Many of those popular items remain, like their famous eponymous burger with the English muffin bun (RMB 49; if you haven't yet tried you've seriously been missing out).
However, several new Stateside-style dishes with healthier ingredients are now available, like a range of RMB 39 bowls like the power bowl (loaded with kale, steamed millet, rotisserie chicken, toasted pumpkin seeds, raisins, and curry yogurt dressing); sesame crusted ahi (made with seared ahi tuna, mild red chilies, cucumber, radish and miso vinaigrette), along with Cesar and salmon bowls.
More indulgent, but all the more irresistible homestyle newbies include a pillow-soft pizza bagel (available in five varieties that each cost RMB 49, the best of the bunch being the avocado and bacon option); a RMB 39 bagel and cream cheese served with a side of delectable salmon; as well as a salmon BLT (RMB 59).
For dessert, try their housemade cheesecake (RMB 38) and their thick and creamy Oreo milkshake (RMB 39).
More interesting still: the addition of Asian items that are rare to Beijing, including tamagoyaki (RMB49), a spongy Japanese folded omelet flecked with ham and flavorful bonito fish flakes, as well as the more conventional, but equally satisfying, options like Japanese udon (RMB 39) and Singaporean curry noodles (RMB 39).
Together, these dishes have helped Frost retain its core barbecued options while also serving up some fresh new creations that should keep its ravenous longtime regulars coming back.
More stories by this author here.
Email: kylemullin@truerun.com
Twitter: @MulKyle
WeChat: 13263495040
Images courtesy of Frost, Cool Materials
