The best things to eat and drink in Beijing, from duck to donkey burgers.
Eat Peking duck
This is the ultimate 'must-have' dish of the capital – and for good reason. Traditionally roasted over Chinese red date wood,the crispy skin and ultra rich meat of Beijing kaoya are surefire crowd-pleasers. Options abound in the capital.
More expensive versions can be relied on for a top-notch duck, though you don’t necessarily have to break the bank. Made in China at The Grand Hyatt is an excellent option if you have your eye on the prize and go there for duck only. For an upscale hutong atmosphere, Duck de China can’t be beat. The Opposite House’s Jing Yaa Tang is a solid choice in Sanlitun,especially for broader pan-China cuisine to accompany your roast duck.
To bring it way back, try the old-school Li Qun,tucked into the winding hutongs of Qianmen.
Try a donkey burger
Sea cucumber, abalone, bird’s nest, scorpion – it’s old news, right? Even if your local business associates haven’t strong-armed you into these Chinese 'specialities' yet, we’re guessing your palate isn’t quite refined enough to fully appreciate their worth (ours aren’t either).
Donkey burgers on the other hand? Let’s take a moment to savour those bad boys. Lürou huoshao (驴肉火烧) are Beijing’s most unsung street food heros. Tender, flavourful meat, chopped and tossed with green pepper and fresh coriander is jammed in a warm, flaky bun – all for under 10RMB a pop. Any hole-in-the-wall will do, but we particularly like the 24-hour Wang Pangzi chain.
Make a jianbing
Ah, the noble jianbing. Translations fail to capture its true beauty. 'Chinese crepe'? 'Egg pancake'? Yes, but it’s so much more. A grain-based batter poured onto a hot griddle with two eggs,a crispy wafer and some sauce sounds easy enough, but our Bucket List kitchen goal is making one ourselves. While there aren’t regular classes available in town, Sue Zhou Does Food offers personalised classes on request. Or you could always just be an apprentice to your local street food vendor. Read more about cooking in Beijing.
School yourself on local spirits
Admittedly, there’s not much to know about Beijing spirit Erguotou that can’t be learnt in one regrettable blur of a night. Still, an evening at your local hole-in-the-wall throwing back the fiery stuff is an experience worth having at least once. The guys behind Capital Spirits argue that baijiu is another story. Stop by and try a flight to see if you agree. We haven’t even started on the milder rice wines of south western provinces like Yunnan – there’s a lot to learn.
Eat a bowl of zhajiang mian
We don’t mean the low-brow kind made with instant noodles, pre-packaged sauce and little in the way of anything green – that’s just sad. Head to Beijing Noodle King for this old Beijing classic. Zhajiang mian (炸酱面, literally ‘fried sauce noodle’) is a heady combination of thick wheat noodles topped with a fermented, salty yellow soybean and minced pork paste. Toppings like sliced watermelon radish, cucumber, scallion, white onion and fresh soybeans come in small dishes to be mixed in at the last minute.
Beijing has gone craft beer crazy over the past few years. If you haven't tried at least a few pints from home-grown brewers like Great Leap, Jing A and Slow Boat you're missing out. The breweries' bars themselves are also well worth seeking out: seek out Great Leap Original #6 or Slow Boat if you fancy a hutong hideaway or go to Jing A or Great Leap Brewing #12 Brewpub in Sanlitun for a slice of American cool.
Take the the view with a cocktail at Capital M
If you're after a 'noon with a view', then look no further than Capital M. When the air is clear and the weather is warm, sit back and relax away from the hustle and bustle and take in the sights that this beautiful city has to offer.
Beijing definitely is a "delicious" city, go take a bite!
Source: http://www.timeoutbeijing.com
