City Eating Guide: Beijing

So some of you would ask for restaurant recommendations when traveling to China. We've been giving out some spots we like, and now we decided to compile a list of each city we been to (or we have trustworthy friends for information). 

Let's start with Beijing.

So being the country’s capital, Beijing has the advantage of having all the provinces’ (and sometimes cities’) offices(驻京办/zhu4 jing1 ban4), which basically always have their own restaurants making their regional food. These locations would be great places to try authentic regional food. And here’re some recommendations:

Sichuan: 

Yibin City’s Office in Beijing (宜宾招待所)

http://www.dianping.com/shop/2363059

Add: 西中胡同28号（宁波宾馆南门斜对面）

Phone: 010-66069934

Great food, very tasty, and…super spicy. 

Must try: 宜宾燃面(Yibin Noodles, Yi2 Bin1 Ran2 Mian4), 辣子鸡(Spicy Chicken, La4 Zi2 Ji1), 燃抄手(Wontons, Ran2 Chao1 Shou3), 李庄白肉(Poached pork slice with special sauce, Li2 Zhuang1 Bai2 Rou4).

Remember to make a reservation if you don’t want to wait in line.

The original location of E’Mei Jiujia (峨嵋酒家总店)

http://www.dianping.com/shop/18768923

One of the oldest Sichuan restaurants in Beijing and supposedly one of the spots that popularized Kung Pao Chicken. Classic Sichuan fare. Reservation would be safer as it IS a super famous restaurant.

Two Sichuan Provincial Offices’ Restaurants in Beijing (成都驻京办餐厅/新川办餐厅)

成都驻京办餐厅 (Chengdu’s Office)

http://www.dianping.com/shop/513399

Add: 沙滩后街30号（景山公园东门斜对面）

Tel: 13520537161

新川办餐厅 (Sichuan’s office)

http://www.dianping.com/shop/513812

Add: 小红门路312号

Tel: 010-87695711

Sichuan’s old offices in Beijing, got some reports that it was really good but now the quality varies (meaning it may be down to the level of regular Sichuan restaurant outside). 

Yunnan:

Yunnan Province’s Office in Beijing (蝴蝶泉宾馆中餐厅)

http://www.dianping.com/shop/511631

Add: 西单北大街西斜街55号蝴蝶泉宾馆1楼

Tel: 010-66156583

Pretty authentic Yunnan food, focuses on the Kunming style and not so much ethnic food from Yunnan. 

It’s hidden inside a quiet lane on the first floor of a hotel. Here you can try Yunnan cheese (乳扇/乳饼), ham(火腿), rice noodles(米线), and their tofu(doufu). The mixed diced veggie stir-fry (红三剁/黑三剁 hong san duo/hei san duo) seems to be most people's favorite too.

There're still a couple more in Beijing, but gotta sleep now, jet lag makes me feel like fainting...I'll update the lists from time to time.