Chi fan le ma ? Have you eaten already? Did it sound strange to you the first time you were greeted this way? Every foreigner, I guess, was a bit surprised when asked. I noticed and remember it for different reasons.
First because being French the love of food is something we share with the Chinese people - I do not know any other people who care so much about food and are able to talk about food even while eating. The great diversities of China makes its cuisine of great interest. A great number of variables influence the cuisine - different climates (Xinjiang, Beijing, Hainan, Tibet etc), diverse ethnicities (56 minorities - Dai, Naxi, Uzbek, Mongolian, Hui Kazakh, etc), diverse religions, belief (Taoism, Muslim, Buddhism etc). And no doubt it can provide “food for thought” and conversation for hours!
Another reason was that I have been asked just after a lunch I had with some Chinese friends and I thought it was a funny joke. Why? Because, being new to China, I had to face a culture shock - using chopsticks and sharing dishes with Chinese people whom chopstick abilities are a lot better than yours and I end up with empty stomach so the question was pretty sensitive!
This issue, about recommended restaurants across China will guide you through a culinary journey from Beijing Duck to Sichuan Mapo tofu, Cantonese Dim Sum, Uyghur specialties and many other Chinese specialties but also to some of the best western restaurants in China, we don’t want you to starve!
This issue has been brought together by many people, so many thanks to our readers, viewers, colleagues and partners! To have a more exhaustive list of restaurants in each city we recommend you to visit our partners’ websites.
BEIJING
Huajia Yiyuan
Located on Guijie, it’s worth taking a walk there - the street is lit by a garland of lanterns and a multitude of restaurants open all night long. You will recognize Yiyuan by its traditional door, and enjoy the atmosphere of the main courtyard where some concert of Chinese traditional music will accompany your dinner. Try if you dare their green draft beer.
Fan Shi Gang
(“Food is essential” in English) Hotpot Restaurant is located in a residential area near the northern 3rd Ring road of Beijing. The restaurant inhabits a stylish and comfortable space where clientele enjoy the traditional Chinese hotpot. It is well known for its traditional hotpot dishes and its specialties such as pure shrimp balls, Crystal Cucumber and Crispy Sesame Butter Bread. Its varieties can satisfy both meat eaters as well as vegetarians.
Alameda
Sanlitun Beijie (in Nali shopping centre), Chaoyang District(10) 6417 8084
Located in Sanlitun, Alameda offers a relaxed environment away from the bustling shopping. The Brazilian restaurant is offering western food rather than strictly Brazilian food. But go to Alameda to enjoy great food and wine, as well as the décor and good service. Try the fillet of pork, the tuna, the tilapia, and the almond pave. It’s without doubt a “must go.”
DALIAN
Zhongshan Hotel Indian Restaurant
3-5 Jiefang Road, Zhongshan District (411) 8281 2888 Ext 8502
Located on the 5th Floor of the Zhongshan Hotel just a few minutes from Dalian Station, this restaurant provides a wide range of north Indian cuisine. The manager and chief cook are both from New Delhi, and every evening the food and live Indian dance performances attract an interesting mixture of clientele. In addition to regular Indian diners, it is common to see tables of Europeans, Americans, Russians and Japanese guests. The food is also becoming increasingly popular with local Chinese.
Set lunches are priced at RMB45 with a selection of curries, nan bread or raita, biryani rice, yoghurt, fruit and a cup of Indian tea. For dinner, a meal for four people with a bottle of wine costs around RMB250.
A recommendation from the manager would be chicken curry, mutton vindaloo, vegetable curry, vegetable rice, garlic nan bread, vegetable samosa, bottle of Catai wine.”
Cafe Igosso
45 Nanshan Lu, near the Kunming Jie Intersection on east side of Labour Park
Great Italian food in the heart of Dalian. Nice food, an amazing drink menu, and impeccable service. There are places more expensive than Igosso, in terms of overall value and quality - they can’t come close.
Generally agreed to be one of the top Chinese restaurants in Dalian. Great place to get your Peking Duck fix, as well as tons of other stuff.
Thanks to Adam Livermore, Senior Associate, Dalian office, Dezan Shira & Associates for his help.
To know more about restaurants and bars in Dalian, you can always consult our partners’ websites Pandapassport, Dalian Forum and blogs: http://www.pandapassport.com/dalian
QINGDAO
La Luna
29 Shanghang (west of Hong Kong Garden Square) (532) 8588 9791 (532) 8588 1960
In Qingdao for the weekend, we were advised by a friend of mine, a real “bonne vivante” to go to La Luna. We did not expect to find this quality restaurant in Qingdao. The atmosphere, the nice soft light, the sofa .. great amazing food and at a very reasonable price !! We still remember the Foie Gras and salmon salad and it was some months ago now.
Bahama Grill
2F Sunshine Department Store
38 XiangGang Zhong Lu (532) 8667 7191
Are you in search of a good burrito? One of the best burritos, soft tacos, and nachos can be found at the lunch or dinner buffet at Bahama Grill.”
Lao Zhuan Cun
158 Minjiang Lu (532) 8577 2776
You have to try Lao Zhuan Cun Shandong specialties.
To know more about restaurants in Qingdao please visit our partners websites: http://www.thatsqingdao.com; http://www.qingdaoexpat.com
SHENYANG
Strollers
36 Bei Wu Jing Jie, Heping District (24) 2287 6677
Great small restaurant atmosphere frequented by mostly foreigners. A favorite thing about Strollers is the fact that they will let you into the kitchen to teach them how to make your favorite dish. If it’s workable, they add it to the menu. Specialties include French onion soup, chili con carne, olive salad, Philly cheese steak sandwich, German steak.
Hua Xia Min Zu Qun Wu Ma Lu by Tai Yuan Jie St (24) 2383 2173
Features foods from all of China’s minorities, including great Pot stickers. Restaurant is decorated in country minority themes.
To know more about Shenyang specialties have a look at our partner’s website: http://www.helloshenyang.com/
TIANJIN
Harvest Coffee and Bookstore
191 Yingshui Dao, Nankai District (22) 2373 3461
Drinks tend to range in the RMB15-30 range for coffees, lattes, and so on, food goes from RMB5-6 for light snacks up to RMB30 for full blown meals. This place does excellent coffee and baked goods. One of the best places in the city for authentic, coffee-house feel. It’s a Christian-owned business, and as such is closed on Sundays. A little out of the way if you’re downtown, but worth the journey if you’re craving some good java, grilled panini sandwiches, or banana bread.
Sicily Sunshine
Xinhua Lu near Tianjin International Building
Sicily Sunshine is a relative newcomer to the Tianjin Restaurant scene, but has managed to make a name for itself as the first “authentic” Italian cuisine in Tianjin. It can be a little pricey, but the atmosphere and setting are great, with live violin and piano music on a nightly basis.
Yuanman Vegetarian Restaurant
112 Suzhou Dao, Hexi District (22) 2302 2618
This is a nationally award-winning Chinese Buddhist Vegetarian restaurant, which has been around for quite some time. Meat lovers beware: they serve veggie versions of just about any kind of meat you can think of, and the results might turn you off of the real thing. The best thing about Yuanman’s is that all this tasty goodness comes pretty cheap: you can probably eat and drink your fill for under RMB35 if you really want to.
Delights Restaurant and Bar
Corner of Second Avenue and Huanghai Road, TEDA (22) 6620 9874The prices here are expensive, but in reality, the food is a bargain. Not only is it some of the best Western food you will have anywhere in China, but the portions are absolutely gigantic. If you ate there once a day and didn’t eat anything else, you’d still soon put on weight. Delights is also one of the main bars in TEDA, with a live great band. So, even if you aren’t hungry, you should go and check it out.
Hank’s Sports Bar and Grill
Yujingyuan 183, Second Avenue No 10 (22) 6621 8549
Hank’s is owned by the same couple that brought Tianjin its first sports bar, The Upper Deck. Unfortunately, the Upper Deck is with us no longer, but for all the folks out in TEDA, you can still get your sports fix at Hank’s. Hank’s also regularly hosts community get-togethers and other events, including their weekly golf outing.
For a more exhaustive listing please visit our Tianjin Partner website, the listing is divided into 3 categories: Western Restaurants, Chinese Restaurants, Asian Restaurants - non Chinese. http://www.tianjinexpats.net/index.php?module=subjects&func=listpages&subid=4
