Beijing is the capital of China and its capital of good food as well. When you're in Beijing, you can rest assure that the food you get will be twice what you expected and most certainly not like your regular take-out back home.
If you want a fine dining experience like no other; try The Courtyard, located on Donghuamen Avenue. Probably one of Beijing's most famous restaurants and with reason going beyond just food, this restaurant's setting in courtyard style is housed next to the Forbidden City, giving one of the most spectacular views in Beijing. This restaurant serves mostly fusion food but you'll still taste some of the old oriental style mixed together with the food. Enjoy a pre-dinner drink from an extensive wine list or get it to go perfectly with your main course as you get unequalled views of the Forbidden City from the comfort of your very own chair. Opens from 6 – 10pm daily, and priced from $18 - $35.
If you have a budget but still want quality food, try out Kejia Cai Restaurant, located on the southeast bank of Qian Hai. This restaurant serves impeccable Hakka cuisine which seems to be the new rave in Beijing. Though their cooking styles are pretty much similar when you watch them make their dishes, the taste of their food seems to be greatly different. Try their specialty; mizhi zhibao luyu, which you'll see most patrons happily placing many orders for. Food goes from $10 - $18 for two and it opens from 11am – 2pm and then again for dinner from 5pm to 10pm.
Try out Taipo Tianfu Shanzhen next, located on the southern end of Er Qi Juchiang Lu. This simple restaurant is famous for its Hot Pot, with its very own delicious broth recipe that would make you an immediate fan, especially if you love mushrooms and chicken. A meal for two ranges anywhere from $15 - $20 and they open daily from 11am to 11pm.
The most famous dish in Beijing would be its renowned Beijing Roast Duck – Pecking Duck. This dish is most famous for its thin and crispy skin and in Beijing they mostly serve the skin as the main dish, with little meat. There are many places all over Beijing that sell this, but if you want the authentic Beijing Roast Duck head for the two places that have been around for decades, Quanjude and Bianyifang. The only difference between the two is in the methods they use with regard to roasting duck but their both equally a must-try when in Beijing.
Orson Johnson writes for Holiday Velvet, a website providing Beijing accommodation rentals and world vacation rentals.
