There are few foods that I love more than Sichuan, Yunnan, Hunan, Xinijang, or any one of a million kinds of Chinese--for lunch or dinner. Unfortunately I have never warmed up the Chinese breakfast. I find it heavy and unappealing.
This is part of what makes Saturday and Sunday brunch such a treat here. It's t
he only time I can really get the breakfast that I love. I have my own favorite spots, but am always looking for more. Also I travel a lot, so if people have favorites in other cities (I'm in Beijing but frequently travel to Shanghai, Chengdu, Dalian, Shenzhen etc) I'd love to find out the secret spots around the country. Nothing's better than getting a cheese omlette with a big mug off coffee, rye bread and a side of bacon Sunday morning! I'm hungry just thinking about it.
How could you not be excited about this?
Comments
Grandma's Kitchen
There are bunch of Grandma's Kitchen locations in Chengdu and at least one in Beijing near the American Embassy. That is some seriously good food. Plus, if you go for dinner or lunch they have Dr. Pepper. Who has Dr. Pepper in China!!?? So good!!!
The Beijing one also has another diner place next door, which is, well, just like an American diner.
Sanlitun
There are also some nice spots on Sanlitun north of 3.3 in Beijing. Dalian you pretty much have to go to one of the high-end hotels or I-55 (actually that's a good option now that I think about it).
Grandmas Kitchen has to be
Grandmas Kitchen has to be one of the best. But I think we need to define what is a good brunch. There's the classic fry-up, sausage bacon eggs over easy, juice and coffee, or the hotel brunches which tend to be all you can drink champagne boozy affairs with a huge buffet.
I actually often eat at The Brasilian restaurant Almeida in Sanlitun. Thats hardly a brunch, but I often hang out there with Mrs. Devonshire-Ellis on Sundays. That's usually a good excuse for me to have a kir royale to absorb the Sunday morning hangover caused by Saturday nights excesses, and to butter me up so I don't mind being dragged around antique furniture stores and getting my wallet out from 3pm onwards.
Best of all though is the Scottish brunch, sadly which is not available here until I get around to dumping some of my salary into a Scottish restaurant in Beijing:
Black Pudding (bits of gristle and dried blood)
White Pudding (pressed fruit and oatmeal)
Grilled wild field mushrooms
Fried Sweetbreads (lambs testicles)
Fried tomatoes
Fresh made Elderflower cordial
Plenty of coffee
Now THAT is a Sunday brunch. Either that or grilled fresh sea trout if I've been fishing early morning and got lucky.
Wow I just had lunch and now I'm both hungry again and homesick.
l
Good brunch
I think I can speak for all the non-scots by saying "good brunch" means no food with blood in it.
If I wanted that I could have Chinese breakfast
:-0
Will definitely check out Almeida though. Any Shanghai ideas?
Dim Sum Brunches
Someone else can comment about Shanghai. Hong Kong has GREAT brunches though. Dim Sum. Wow. All those rice pastries filled with goodies like steamed prawns, or pork balls, or all sorts of other snacks. Hell, I'll even try the chicken feet if the sauce is good and I have to impress Mrs. Devonshire-Ellis's parents. All washed down with steaming pots of fresh green jasmine tea.
Best Dim Sum in HK ? The Chinese restaurant (forget the name) on the 9/f of Number 1, Canton Road, in Tsimshatsui. A great view over the harbor, brilliant food and reasonable prices. Fantastic.
Dalian Brunch
Correct, I-55 is the best spot in Dalian for brunch unless you want to go super high-end hotel.
Dim Sum
I'm with you on the brunch thing. There's nothing better than pancakes and eggs on the weekends, but Dim Sum is not a terrible option for dealing with a hangover.
;-0
dim sum
ok, i juz had lunch at fu lin men cantonese restaurant in jianguomen nei dajie !!! not bad at all! check it out!
tel 65129883
it's in beijing international hotel...
thanks.
Going to dim sum next weekend. I'll definitely check it out.
What about western brunch?
Near Yonghegong
I just remembered there's a great place to get English style breakfast/brunch down a little alley just west of the lama temple at Yonghegong. It's run by the same people who do Hutong Pizza, which is also good.
Name anyone?
Vineyard
The place near Yong He Gong is called vineyard and I really like it except the service is HORRIBLE. Oh well, can't have everything I guess.
Good Brunch
gypsys restaurant in Shekou, Shenzhen has been doing brunches for close on 5 years. All the eggs you want in the style you want with bacon, sausage,fried potatoes, tomatoes, baked beans, with bottomless coffee in addition to bottomless OJ or apple juice, served with toasts and jams. Omelettes also available as is a health breakfast of Muesli, croissants, jams. all with the bottomless coffee and juices. check it out. available all day, everyday, but particularly popular on week-ends.
hi
That looks delicious! I must tell my mom the recipe. Since she got new dining room furniture she's been cooking all day long just to see her new dinning table with food on it.
Brunch in Beijing
I think the best place to go in Beijing for Brunch is Cafe St. Laurent. Its Sunday and I believe Saturday at Alfa. Apparently they are also doing lunches from Monday to Friday. Try the pancakes, french toast or Eggs Benny for brunch. Its located at 6 Xingfuyicun, Chaoyang District
Best Brunch in Dalian Nikko
I would like to add my noted in regards of a very nice brunch served at the restaurant on the 2nd floor of the Nikko Dalian.
The food is fresh and nicely presented, tasy and priced very reasonably and like all classy brunch include Champagne and Mimosa cocktail.
They do have a kids corner and you could even enjoy and afternoon tea in the lobby after your brunch with your family and guests.
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