TripAdvisor Rankings Gone Wrong: What Do Tourists Think of Our Favorite Restaurants?

Have you ever thought about how tourists visiting Beijing feel about its many dining establishments? How do their brief forays into Beijing life and food compare to our longer, arguably more rounded views of the capital? To find out we decided to dig into the mountains of funny, weird, and downright misinformed comments left on TripAdvisor by people passing through the city and its eateries. 
 

The Top Three

Although 'Garden at Lama Temple' appears to be a dumpling cooking class, the fact that it is regarded as the top food establishment in Beijing is a bit odd. Thankfully the #2 is a better-known favorite and winner of many prizes in our 2015 the Beijinger Reader Restaurant Awards earlier this year. Number #3 is also understandable, especially as TripAdvisor's reviewees are mostly tourists: Black Sesame Kitchen with their highly-acclaimed cooking courses and hutong-located dining environment.
 

#1 Garden at Lama Temple (5 ranking 83 reviews) 
#2 TRB (4.5 ranking 640 reviews)
#3 Black Sesame Kitchen (4.5 ranking 388 reviews)
 

12 Restaurants We Know and Love

The rest of the list is made up of establishments either unknown to us, or bafflingly, those known to be not that good. Fortunately, many of those ranked were on our radar. We pasted in some reviews that either are so, so true, or ones that went against everything we believe in.
 

#6 Haidilao (Wangfujing) (4.5 ranking 140 reviews)
#11 Palms LA Kitchen and Bar (4.5 ranking 26 reviews)
#14 Little Yunnan (4.5 ranking 64 reviews)
 

Little Yunnan scores generally well. One diner from London left this burning review, which actually left us feeling sad because we love Little Yunnan and its beef and mint salad:

"I really don't get why this is No7 on Tripadvisor. I couldn't eat my food. The beef and mint was a bowl of fat in a tasteless sauce with some mint leaves floating about unit. The chicken salad included bits of dubious chicken and bone which one should not eat and the prawn dish was good but hard to eat with chopsticks as the prawns came whole. I accept that dining solo and eating Chinese food can mean you don't get the full experience but couldn't help feeling diners; mainly xPat or tourists were deluding themselves that this was the real Yunnan experience because ... why?The service was poor? The food was mediocre to poor? They believed the reviews?

Don't get me wrong I probably ordered badly and the crayfish did look amazing but I left feeling queezy and disappointed."
 

#16 Dadong Roast Duck (4.5 ranking 1,266 reviews)
#17 Din Tai Fung (Yuyang) (4.5 ranking 239 reviews)
#24 King's Joy Beijing (4.5 ranking 45 reviews)
 

King's Joy is fairly easily but fairly summed up by this review, which basically brings it as it is. King's Joy has been a solid restaurant, and a winner of many prizes in our 2015 Reader Restaurant Awards. 

"This restaurant I must admit has been one of the most elegant vegetarians i have visited. The food is exquisite and finely done. The place is also beautiful. This is a must if you are vegetarian.

Just note a little pricey we paid about USD 200 for 2 adults full course set meal."
 

#27 Great Leap Brewing #12 (4.5 ranking 106 reviews)
 

This review of old-time favorite Great Leap Brewing cracked us up, as the reviewer apparently didn't realize that you're not supposed to give somewhere a bad review if it didn't have what you were looking for (but didn't actually ever advertize that they did have what you were looking for). Anyway, it'll all make sense once you read it. Some awesome advice for us all, don't go to Great Leap Brewing for good authentic Chinese cuisine:

"My wife and I attended this Brew Pub on the advise of our hotel staff. After we went in and got a seat and menu, we realized it was just a brew pub with similar western food. We had a late flight into Beijing so we were hungry and we ordered food and a couple of drinks. The beer was expensive for Beijing prices and the food just average. We had came to China for great chinese food and now after spending two weeks eating amazing chinese food throughout China, we know the food we had at the brew pub was just average western style food. Would definitely not recommend it if you are looking for good authentic chinese food!"

#32 Huajia Yiyuan (Hua's Restaurant) (4.5 ranking 202 reviews)
#33 Ganges Indian Restaurant (4 ranking 161 reviews)
#35 Eatalia Carpe Diem (4.5 ranking 84 reviews)
 

Eatalia has grown in popularity throughout the city, with three locations currently in operation. This review was left by someone who sounds like they know what they're talking and confirms one seperate element that makes Eatalia's dining experience popular:

"What struck me first was the staff greeting the customers as soon as they walk in through the door. It is dimly lit with candles and has Italian jazz/fusion/big band music playing, perfect for a dinner with a lounge like ambiance. 

The food and wine selection is also worthy to note. I have been to Italy and tasted fine Italian cuisine firsthand, and the food here brought me back to the tastes and smells of the many small trattorias that you can find all over Italy. From the antipasto, to the primo and secondo piatto, to the digestif at the end, everything is savory, tasteful, and worth going back for. The presentation of the dishes and the friendly service won me over.

I recommend anyone who wants good Italian food to have a meal at EATALIA. You will not be disappointed!"
 

#39 4corners (4.5 ranking 12 reviews)
#40 Dali Courtyard (4.5 ranking 228 reviews)
#42 Mr Shi's Dumplings (4.5 ranking 278 reviews)
 

Mr Shi's Dumplings has been around for a long time, and recently expanded their dumpling emporiums to both Cheniandian Hutong and Sanlitun. At the same time, Mr Shi, a bit of a Beijing legend, also opened a noodle spot opposite the original dumpling location. We generally appreciate this restaurant as a clean and solid dumpling joint, great for if you have visitors. However, we can also appreciate this review, except we don't believe everyone can make dumplings, so we might take him up on his offer!

"The taste maybe so so. But should it be that expensive? Every Chinese can make dumpling. Theirs can't be as good as my mum made. There are many dumpling restaurants in Beijing which face locals. For example: Dong Fang Jiao Zi Wang, Lao Bian Jiao Zi. Shun Tian Wang. contact me on facebook, let me show you."

And so the tourists march on into the night, fighting the good fight for all future visitors. Let's just hope they're not all as confused as some of the people above.

More stories by this author here.
Email: margauxschreurs@truerun.com
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Photo: travelcentermaldives.com, Great Leap Brewing, Little Yunnan, tripadvisor.com, Eatalia