Where to Eat in Beijing and Recommended Restaurants

When traveling in a foreign country, it can often be difficult to decide where to eat.  You want to get a sense of the cuisine of the place you are visiting, and also make sure you’re going to one of the top establishments.  But there may be language barriers and unfamiliarity that make it hard to know where to go.  This can even be true when on an organized tour, like a Trippest Mini Day Tour because where you eat is largely left up to you, the traveler. Fortunately, we’re here to help!  One of our most popular tourist destinations in the megacity of Beijing. 

The Chinese capital city is home to nearly 22 million people and sees upwards of 140 million domestic and 4-5 million foreign tourists visit each year.  With hundreds of tours completed in Beijing, Trippest presents the following guide to finding the best restaurant in Beijing for you to enjoy on your trip.  Whether you are looking for Chinese cuisine, western-friendly options, or have special dietary considerations, our list includes a cross-section of some of the best restaurants in Beijing for every taste!

Tips for Choosing Where to Eat in Beijing

Regardless of whether or not you choose a restaurant from our list, there are some basic tips for choosing where to eat in Beijing that every foreign traveler should know.  These apply regardless of the format of the eatery, and can even be applied outside of China.  They are good tips to live by for any foreign travels when you are looking to choose where to eat.

1. Most tourist areas and hotels either have western-style cuisine offerings or are located near one or more restaurants that offer western-style cuisine. This is always a good fall-back plan for a taste of “home” or for picky eaters.
2. Major western chains have a presence in Beijing and elsewhere in China, including McDonald’s, Pizza Hut, KFC, and similar. While we don’t recommend them – there’s so much local flavor to try – again, these are good fall-back plans.
3. Night market vendor stalls can be excellent to explore, but you have to pay the most attention to safety and health here, as there are far fewer standards than formal sit-down restaurants.
4. Find the restaurants that are busy – this is generally a sign of quality. If lots of locals are flocking someplace, there’s a good chance the food is excellent.
5. Do a quick inspection of the restaurant when you enter – especially if you can get a glimpse in the kitchen, but even the seating area is a good indicator. If conditions are filthy and food safety doesn’t seem to be a priority, then it’s best to look elsewhere.
6. Most restaurants, even those in tourist areas, do not have waiters who come to your table on their own. You need to either call out or raise your hand for service.  Don’t let this be a turn-off.
7. Understand that dishes in China are typically ordered for the table and shared in most cases.
8. Regardless of where you pick, it is best for travelers to avoid the water. Instead, order a beverage in a bottle or can for the most safety from unfamiliar microorganisms in the water.
9. Use guidebooks, or ask English-speaking hotel staff for tips as to the best restaurants in Beijing
10. Many higher-end restaurants that seek to attract western visitors will likely have an English version of their website (or you can always automatically translate with most modern browsers), so you can usually do some research before visiting.

With all of that said, let’s take a look at 10 of the best restaurants in Beijing! 

Choy’s Seafood Restaurant

• Location: 2/F Marriott Hotel, Haihang Mansion, No. 26 Xiaoyun Road A, Chaoyang District
• Cuisine: Chinese – Cantonese, and Sichuan
• Special Diets: Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan and Gluten-Free Options
• Cost: Moderately Expensive (4/5)
• Top Dishes: Dim Sum Lunch, Dumplings, Spicy Beef, Lobster Sashimi

Review:  "Choy’s Seafood is located inside the Marriott Hotel, meaning there’s a great deal of non-Chinese language support and tourists.  This makes it especially attractive for many, as it is a bridge between their comfort zone language and local cuisine.  And that cuisine is amazing!  This is an up-scale restaurant, offering Cantonese and Sichuan style cooking.  As the name implies, the menu is heavy on seafood, with many fresh local dishes.  However, there are lots of other choices as well, including a vegetarian-friendly menu."

The Horizon at Beijing Kerry Hotel

• Location: Beijing Kerry Hotel, No. 1 Guanghua Road, Chaoyang District
• Cuisine: Chinese – Cantonese
• Special Diets: Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten-Free, and Halal Options
• Cost: Moderately Expensive (4/5)
• Top Dishes: Peking/Beijing Duck, Dim Sum, Chinese Pancakes

Review: "The Horizon at the Beijing Kerry Hotel is renowned for its wood-fired Peking Duck, which has to be ordered in advance it is so popular.  There are plenty of other options worth ordering, too, including the dim sum menu, Chinese pancakes, and much more.  They offer options for various dietary restrictions, in a smart casual atmosphere.  One note for tourists, however – finding a waiter or waitress that speaks English can sometimes be a challenge.  When in doubt, point to menu items for clarity.  The food is worth it!"

Haidilao Hot Pot

• Location: No. 2 Huayuan East Road, Haidan District
• Cuisine: Chinese – Hot Pot Style
• Special Diets: None
• Cost: Average (3/5)
• Top Dishes: Many hot pot style table dishes

Review:  "Haidilao Hot Pot has several locations throughout China, offering visitors a taste of traditional, fresh Chinese hot pot style cuisine.  It can be thought of as similar to a fondue restaurant in the west, though not exactly.  A wide variety of meat, vegetable, and other choices, along with delicious sauces are always on the menu.  You order for the table as a whole rather than the individual.  As always, English may be hit-or-miss, so do your research, but this is definitely one of the best restaurants in Beijing for an authentic meal and experience."

Hatsune

• Location: No. 19 Sanlitun Road, Chaoyang District
• Cuisine: Japanese, Sushi
• Special Diets: Vegetarian Friendly
• Cost: Average (3/5)
• Top Dishes: Sashimi, California rolls, salads

Review:  "For something a bit different, check out Hatsune, which has several branches in Beijing and Shanghai.  They offer new takes on classic Japanese cuisine, including amazing sushi, as well as salads and vegetarian-friendly options.  They have become a true institution, and locals describe Hatsune as their go-to location for Japanese food and California-style sushi in Beijing.  The presentation and flavors are amazing and well-reviewed by most visitors, with affordable prices, too, compared to some of the other top entries on our list.  Considered by many to be one of the best restaurants in Beijing for sushi and sashimi!"

Mama de Weidao

• Location: 6-110 Zhongguo Hong Jie Building, 2 Gongti Dong Lu, Chaoyang District
• Cuisine: Chinese
• Special Diets: Vegetarian Friendly
• Cost: Affordable (2/5)
• Top Dishes: Sweet and Sour Short Ribs, Hongshaorou, Pork-Stuffed Eggplant

Review:  "Mama de Weidao is a home-style eatery featuring northern Chinese cuisine, much in the way a Chinese mother would prepare it for her family.  It’s a great alternative to some other small-scale restaurants, which can often have dodgy sanitation or a smoke-heavy environment.  While not up-scale in price, the quality of food and restaurant environment is definitely evocative of a much more expensive restaurant.  They offer home-style specialties that you don’t want to miss, with some of the best flavors of northern China encapsulated in their dishes.  Mama de Weidao is one of the most authentic and best restaurants in Beijing to eat like a local."

Mosto

• Location: 3F, Nali Patio, 81 Sanlitun Beilu, Chaoyang District
• Cuisine: International – South American, European, Mediterranean
• Special Diets: Vegetarian, Vegan, and Gluten-Free Options
• Cost: Average (3/5)
• Top Dishes: Eggs Benedict, Risotto, Wagyu Beef Burger, Salads

Review: "For a bit of international flavor, look no further than Mosto.  Fusing Latin influence from South America with European and Mediterranean staples, this unique restaurant packs amazing flavor into every dish.  With fresh ingredients, rotating specials, and a wide-ranging menu, there’s something for everyone here.  They offer vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options, and modern twists on classic dishes, presented in a fun and dynamic manner.  What’s more, the price is very reasonable, giving you great value for the money.  Mosto is an excellent choice if you need a break from Chinese-style cuisine, but don’t want to fall back on American fast food or similar choices."

Black Sesame Kitchen

• Location: 28 Zhong Lao Hutong, The Courtyard Institute
• Cuisine: Chinese and Pan-Asian
• Special Diets: Vegetarian and Vegan Options
• Cost: Average (3/5)
• Top Dishes: Red-braised Pork Belly, Kungpao Shrimp, Chong Qing Spicy Chicken

Review: "Black Sesame Kitchen is an amazing dining experience, in addition to great food.  The staff is very friendly, and they offer cooking classes and live demonstrations.  There are set menus of many courses, as well as a la carte dining options.  The food is mostly Chinese with some pan-Chinese and pan-Asian influence as well.  The communal dining with live cooking demonstration is highly recommended by many visitors.  Black Sesame provides a fun evening with great food and flavors, in a friendly, hospitable atmosphere.  It’s also very English-friendly, so that’s a plus for foreign travelers.  It is considered by many to be a can’t-miss, both for the food and the experience, and therefore one of the best restaurants in Beijing."

Jing-A Brewpub

• Location: 57 Xingfucun Zhong Lu, Chaoyang District
• Cuisine: American Bar Food, Texas BBQ, Small Plates
• Special Diets: None
• Cost: Average (3/5)
• Top Dishes: Brunch Plates, Burgers, Brisket

Review: "The Jing-A Brewing Company is one of Beijing’s up-and-coming craft beer producers.  Their brewpub features their beers, along with other drinks and cocktails, paired with a wide-ranging menu of American-style bar food, focusing on Texas barbecue and other small plate-style dishes.  But, you can’t help but notice the Chinese influence as well, creating a bit of a fusion bar food with exceptional craft beer.  This is definitely not the typical Chinese cuisine restaurant, nor the same thing you’d find in an American bar, and is worth a visit – especially if you are a beer lover!"

Bottega

• Location: No. 20 Xinyuanli West Jinshang Building, 1^st Floor
• Cuisine: Pizza, Italian, Mediterranean
• Special Diets: Vegetarian and Vegan Options
• Cost: Average (3/5)
• Top Dishes: Pizza, Salad, Calzones

Review: "For a true taste of Naples-style pizza in Beijing, look no further than Bottega.  The Salvo family who owns Bottega have been pizza makers for nearly a century.  Here, you’ll find classic high-quality pizza, calzones, salads, and Italian and Mediterranean dishes.  They’re all packed with flavor and simple, yet refined, in a casual environment.  Many reviewers, both domestic Chinese and foreign travelers, claim that Bottega has the best pizza in China.  For a change of pace from Chinese cuisine, and to experience this true taste of Italy in Beijing, definitely stop in at Bottega, one of the best restaurants in Beijing!"

Moka Bros

• Location: Nali Huayuan B101b South Building, No. 81 Sanlitun Beilu, Chaoyang District
• Cuisine: International
• Special Diets: Vegetarian, Vegan, and Gluten-Free Options
• Cost: Average (3/5)
• Top Dishes: Brunch, Wraps, Salads, Desserts

Review: "Moka Bros is an English-friendly international cuisine style restaurant, featuring a lot of choices for every meal of the day (even snacks).  While they have several locations, we recommend the Sanlitun location, open 8 am to 10:30 pm every day.  What’s more, almost all of the dishes focus on fresh ingredients and healthy choices, while not skimping on flavor.  The salads and wraps are highly praised, along with a selection of healthy yet decadent desserts.  A great way to finish a day in Beijing!"

Summary

We hope this guide has given you a better idea of some of the best restaurants in Beijing, and how to go about finding them.  Even if you choose other options not highlighted here, the tips we’ve provided should serve you well.  There are over 100,000 places to eat in Beijing, covering many cuisines, so you’re bound to find something that suits your tastes and your budget!

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