Classic Yunnan Dishes in the Open Air at Courtyard 73

Yunnan, known for its rolling mountains, diverse ethnicity, and unmatched cuisine, roughly translates to “south of the clouds.” It’s appropriate then that Courtyard 73 is the latest restaurant to represent that province on the once-again thriving Wudaoying Hutong, because diners will find themselves literally under the clouds in the open-air courtyard – one of the main draws of the venue.

Of course, the other draw is the food. Many dishes on the menu will be familiar to those who frequent Yunnan establishments, but in terms of quality it’s among the top of the town at its price point, and we left with a few key recommendations.

First and foremost is their signature house-recipe mixian noodles (RMB 58), served in a flavorful soup that verges on addictive – fortunately, there’s enough in one bowl to go around the table. If there’s one dish that will have the whole party fighting over the last bit, however, it would be the sour lemon shrimp (RMB 78), served on a bed of papaya strips. Packing a punch, this is a must-try for spicy and seafood lovers alike.

Speaking of seafood, another popular choice is the freshwater bass (RMB 98), which is split open, topped with a liberal amount of pepper and other spices, and comes with green onion sauce.

They also offer just about any other Yunnan dish you can think of, from beef with mint leaf to bamboo worms. Personally, I’m partial to the rubing, the goat cheese of the Yi ethnic group, which is a dish that’s easy to get wrong, but that Courtyard 73 does justice. Their rubing is pan-fried rather than steamed, and the mala powder is a bit spicier than one might expect.

To wash it all down, you can’t go wrong with mixing Yunnanese cuisine with Yunnanese chunniang wine. Special at the courtyard is the rainbow flower wine that lands powerfully on the palate, though at 12 percent ABV it is no stronger than a Western wine.

The restaurant also has some indoor seating on either side of the courtyard, with one side privileged with a view of the fish tank presenting lovey blue and pink fish. Nevertheless, it would be wise to get out and try this spot while the weather is still nice enough to dine in the courtyard.

READ: Roasted and Fried: Coffee and Jianbing Festivals Coming Sep 11-13

Courtyard 73
73 Wudaoying Hutong, Dongcheng District
东城区五道营胡同73号

Images: Joey Knotts, Dianping