Dim Sum Classics and Sensational Seafood Lead the Menu at Wan Li Restaurant

Wangfujing is a reliable stop on any Beijing visitor’s itinerary but unfortunately, it also has a lot of reliably mediocre restaurants. Rather than taking a risk on a restaurant brand that you’re unsure of, instead, go for a safe bet and head to Wan Li Restaurant in the Renaissance Beijing Wangfujing Hotel to enjoy delicious food in a relaxed-yet-upscale environment.

Walking into the restaurant on the second floor of the hotel, guests are greeted by classic Chinese furniture and reclaimed artifacts juxtaposed against a backdrop of contemporary wood and stone. There are also a number of private rooms if you are looking for a space for a business meeting or family get together. 

The menu is predominantly Cantonese with a smattering of regional influences. For example, a cold starter of chilled jizong mushrooms scented with black truffle features seasonal produce from Yunnan province (often referred to in China as the “kingdom of wild mushrooms”) presented in a modern fashion. A dish of drunken prawns in Shaoxing rice wine is equally as striking, appearing at the table atop a towering mound of crushed ice.  

This being a Cantonese restaurant, dishes featuring ingredients such as prawns, crab, and lobster feature widely across the menu. A highlight of the most recent winter menu is the soft tofu with crab meat sauce. If you’re afraid of eating whole crabs (or just too lazy), this is a great way to experience their rich umami flavor with none of the hassles of getting your hands dirty.  

The most crowd-pleasing dishes, however, are likely to be the dim sum selections. Classics like har gow (steamed shrimp dumplings) are competently executed or presented in a fun, eye-catching way, such as the pan-fried pork dumplings with crispy crepe, each cut into a perfect triangle. 

Speaking of crowd-pleasing, one of the restaurant’s most popular dishes, and one not often seen among dim sum selections, is the strawberry napoleon, featuring super crispy layers of puff pastry filled with lightly sweet crème pâtissière and fresh strawberries. If you want to double up on dessert, order a basket of the steamed custard buns, which are filled with super silky custard with just a hint of savouriness from a high proportion of egg yolk. 

Wan Li’s excellent dim sum buffet lunch deal is currently on offer on Dianping for RMB 158 per person from Monday-Friday and RMB 188 at the weekend. This deal gets you an unlimited selection of dim sum dishes, including the aforementioned pork pot stickers and strawberry napoleon. Click here to find the deal.

Wan Li Restaurant
Daily 11.30am-2pm, 6-10pm. Renaissance Beijing Wangfujing Hotel, 57 Wangfujing Dajie, Dongcheng District (6520 8888 ext. 8847)
东城区王府井大街57号北京金茂万丽酒店

This post is paid for by Renaissance Beijing Wangfujing
Photos: Robynne Tindall, courtesy of Renaissance Beijing Wangfujing