Beijing Restaurants

With such a large cosmopolitan population, the cuisine in Beijing does not fail to impress. There are cuisines from all areas of the world and whatever food you like there is sure to be something that tickles your taste buds in this vibrant city.

Whether money is no object or you have a tight budget, there are dining options to suit you, and overall food in Beijing is much cheaper than the US or European equivalents meaning you can dine very well for a lot less.

A popular dish in Beijing, as well as in Chinese food restaurants around the world, is roast duck. And there is no better place to have it than in the place where it became famous. There are dozens of places around the city where you can try a perfect dish of this succulent and tender roasted meat. Two of the most popular places for it are Quanjude and Bianyifang.

Another signature style of cuisine in Beijing is the Beijing Imperial Court food. It is a style of food that originated in the Imperial Palace, and is based on the foods that were served to the Emperor and his court. The ingredients in the food was carefully selected, and once completed the food is decorated in beautiful, colorful fruits and vegetables cut into ornate shapes and placed around the dish. Most the dishes are given a name relating to the Imperial Palace, and many have stories surrounding them. This popular type of food is relatively expensive, but definitely worth a try as it is only native to Beijing. The best places to try it are at Fang Shan in Beihai Park and Ting Li Guan inside the Summer Palace.

If you really want a taste of authentic Beijing flavor, you must sample some of the Traditional Beijing Snacks, that are a prized delicacy in the city. They are small yet ornate dishes. There are dozens of restaurants where you can taste them, or for a snack on the go, you can not fail to miss the hundreds of street stalls around the city. The restaurants and stalls usually offer snacks from Beijing as well as from other regions in China. Many snack stalls are open late and often get very busy with both residents and tourists. The main street for snacks is the Donghuamen Snack Night Market in the Dongcheng District. This comes alive at night, and there are a large range of snacks coming from all areas of China, as well as live music and entertainment.

All areas of China have their own signature cuisines with distinctly different flavors and styles, and all of these can be tasted in restaurants around Beijing. If you would like to experience a luxurious past-time, you must try some of the eight Chinese cuisines. These have all been developed over a long time and have a unique regional flavor that varies depending on the area it was from and the ingredients chosen. Some of the eight cuisines include: Anhui, these are dishes that originated in the Anhui province; Cantonese - a well known branch of Chinese cuisine based on seafood; Fujian, which is also seafood based; Hunan - this food is notoriously spicy and uses spices and ingredients and has a very distinctive taste; and Shaanxi that is regarded as the oldest cuisine in China with a history of over 3,000 years.

For those who like to stick to what they know, there are plenty of western style restaurants, with cuisines varying from American, French and Brazilian through to Italian, Russian, and Swiss. Some of the most popular western dining venues are Justins at the Jianguo Hotel that serves French food; Danieli's, which serves great Italian food; and Hidden Tree that has an impressive Mediterranean menu. For typical American food, the restaurant 'Courtyard' is a popular option as it is located close to Forbidden City. The price is quite high, but the food and setting is very good and has a romantic atmosphere to it.

For those that love their fast food, you can satisfy your craving at one of the many branches of most of the world's most popular fast food chains. You won't have to walk far to find yourself a Big Mac at McDonald's, a Zinger burger at KFC, or a Whopper at Burger King. There are also several Pizza Huts, and A&W root beers. There are also Chinese and Japanese fast food chains as well.

There are plenty of options for vegetarians too, and this is increasingly becoming a fashionable option. One of the largest and most famous vegetarian restaurant in Beijing is the Merits and Virtues Vegetarian House, and there are several branches across China. The first one was opened in Shanghai in 1992 by a disciple of a famous Buddhist rabbi. The Beijing branch is situated in the Chongwen District and it is open from 10am until 10pm every day.