Beijing Food Guide
What to eat, where to find it, and how to order like a local
🥢 Must-Try Dishes
Peking DuckBeijing Roast Duck
Peking duck is China’s most famous dish—a culinary art with a 600-year history. The duck is roasted over fruitwood, resulting in crispy skin and tender meat, which the chef carves into 108 slices right at the table. It’s traditionally eaten wrapped in thin pancakes with sweet bean sauce, cucumber strips, and shredded scallions.
Where to Eat
The king of value for money. The Forbidden City branch offers seats with views of the corner towers. The lines are incredibly long; pick up a number at 10:30 or 16:30.
High-end, creative roast duck; 300–600 yuan per person.
Noodles with Fried SauceZha Jiang Mian
The ultimate home-style noodle dish for Beijingers—hand-rolled noodles served with diced meat in fried sauce and shredded fresh vegetables. Every household has its own unique recipe.
Where to Eat
25 yuan per bowl, made with authentic Liubiju yellow bean paste.
Boiled DumplingsDumplings
Dumplings—a must-have for Northerners during the Lunar New Year. Hand-rolled wrappers, made and cooked to order, served with vinegar and chili oil.
Where to Eat
Generous fillings in thin wrappers, with over 50 varieties of fillings.
🍽️ Restaurants
Beijing-style lamb hot potBeijing Lamb Hot Pot
Beijing-style copper pot hot pot is completely different from Chongqing hot pot—it features a clear broth in a copper pot, hand-sliced fresh lamb, and a sesame paste and Chinese chive blossom dipping sauce. The focus is on savoring the natural flavor of the meat.
Where to Eat
Always has a long line. Hand-sliced fresh lamb is the signature dish.
🛒 Street Food
Braised FirebreadBraised Pork Offal
Beijing’s most authentic street food—pork intestines, pork lungs, and dried tofu simmered for hours in a rich, traditional broth.
Where to Eat
A time-honored establishment.