modernleifeng's Profile
Christmas in China
If you're looking for a traditional, luxury holiday experience unfortunately one of the best choices tends to be the five star hotels. I particularly like Raffles or one of the two Westins. The meals aren't in ballrooms but in the regular hotel restaurants.
Beyond that, Maison Boulud would be an excellent choice. For slightly cheaper options, I'd consider Blue Frog or Nola, but neither of those will be very lux or have a real "seasonal" feel.
Beijing breakfast?
It's not even as hard as ycyc describes as a lot of the breakfast foods like jianbing (sort of a crpe with a crunchy fried piece in the middle) or "egg sandwiches" are sold from street carts. Near the Westin are plenty of small restaurants, walk out of the hotel and walk down one of the streets (if you're staying at Westin Chaoyang, walk down the side street that also has the Kunlun) and you'll find small restaurants serving breakfast food or the carts.
In China, there are some specific breakfast foods like youtiao (fried dough), but things like steamed buns, porridge, and noodles are eaten all day long.
Going to Hong Kong and have a 5 hour layover in Beijing, what to do?
Here's how I'd do it:
-Get on the airport express and take it to Dongzhimen
-Switch to Line 2 heading south and get off after one station later at Dongsi Shitiao
-Leave out of the northwest exit, walk west for a few minutes (away from the 2nd ring road) and get on bus 42 (or grab a taxi)
-Take bus 42 one stop to Zhangzizhong (or take a cab to Dongsi Liutiao)
-Walk south to the restaurant 馅老满 (Xian(r) Lao Man) for dumplings
Before/after dumplings, you can roam around (very briefly) Dongsi and the hutong areas by the restaurant looking for different snacks and stuff. This would be easily doable in six hours and is also okay for a single diner. These aren't the best dumplings in Beijing, but they're pretty good, easily found, and the area around it (all hutongs) is interesting. I've never thought of Beijing as a "street food" city, but there are enough places in this area where you can try some different foods.
Going to Hong Kong and have a 5 hour layover in Beijing, what to do?
6 hours is a tough layover as its enough to make you want to leave the airport, but not enough to really do anything. klyeoh brings up a good point, its unlikely you have a visa for China, if you want to leave the airport, you have to go through customs and need a visa. There are plenty of anecdotal stories of tourists in your situation who can prove they have a flight later that day getting through customs without a visa, but it could be a hassle, so it is likely to cut into your time both coming and going. If you still want to do it, my advice is below.
I would completely avoid taxis, they are for sure cheap, but if your driver doesn't know where you're going, it can be an issue since you don't speak the language. There is the airport express which can get you to the city in a half hour or so, I'd take that. If you can give more information of what you're looking for, I could help suggest which of the two stations you should get off at. You don't mention what time of day you're coming in at, which could be an issue getting into a restaurant. If you do go into the city, you're probably looking at just enough time for a meal and briefly walking around the area you eat at.
One Night in Beijing!
What would you consider moderately priced? Personally, unless you haven't really been outside of Harbin, I wouldn't waste time at the Donghuamen Food Street (what I believe the other poster is referring to), it is very touristy, not very good, and could get pretty expensive fast.
I'd say why not splurge since its your last night, Da Dong is a really good choice for an excellent duck meal and if you're only a pair, you can keep it to just the duck and a veggie dish and not have it be too pricey.
The other option is to go down market, head to a place like Kuan Dian or Chuan Fu and have a lot of chuanr (kebabs) of lamb, chicken wings, and pretty much anything else you can think of with a couple of cold dishes and beers (you could also do this at a lot of street spots for a very "local" experience).
Beijing for Two Checklist
They claim it is beef or lamb, its just you get really small pieces of lamb, very different from RMB5 kabobs which have large chunks of meat.
I would be very wary of "halal" places. Just because there is some arabic script and the people outside are wearing the white hats doesn't make it halal. Many places do that to lure in more customers as many Chinese, when in an unfamiliar area, will choose a place that looks "halal" over other little restaurants as these are often cleaner. A true "halal" place won't have pork anywhere on the menu, and sometimes won't even serve alcohol.
The food scandals are another matter entirely. If you follow all of them, there's almost nothing that is safe to eat, so it may be best just to ignore most of them, close your eyes, and hope what you're eating (be it in a hole in the wall or a fancy restaurant) is safe.
Beijing for Two Checklist
really tiny kabobs for 5 kuai or 5 mao?!? At most "hole-in-the-wall" spots kabobs will cost 1 kuai for regular lamb or beef ones. While these are okay, especially if you are ordering lots of different kabobs or want other dishes too, sometimes the more expensive, better quality, and meater kabobs are really worth it.
Beijing for Two Checklist
This is hard for me to say because I don't find Dali "nice and cozy" because tables seem to be crammed really tightly and make it sort of uncomfortable to have a nice, private conversation.
There are 2-4 outdoor tables (depending on number of big parties that night), 10 or so tables in one room, and 1 private room. Lighting depends if you are dining inside or outside.
The location is in a hutong off of Chaoyang Nan Xiao Jie.
Beijing in 5 Days - Peking Duck?
I would second Da Dong, though also consider Made in China and, possibly, Xi He Ya Yuan. I would stay far, far away from Quanjude and Li Qun.
Beijing for Two Checklist
I highly doubt they follow this list, but its a popular expat place as they have an english menu, large servings, and prices aren't too bad. It's not the best Xinjiang food in the city, but it is good and its in an easy to get to location. Plus it would be boring to only eat at the rep offices.
Not sure about the "lao beijing", but there is xian lao man in that area, which is very popular. There isn't a lot of good dining on Nanluoguxiang itself, its more a bar strip.
Personally, I'd highly recommend Dianke Dianlai over Dali Courtyard as I'm not a big fan of the atmosphere at Dali (tables are too packed together) and the food (mediocre during past few visits). Dianke is also in a hutong, but the food is excellent.
Haidilao has a sauce bar and the great thing about it is that you can order half portions, so if you are a smaller group, you can order more. The service is also amazing, there's a reason its arguably city's most popular hotpot place.
I don't think you should be too concerned about eating for 2 people. While single dining can be hard, sometimes very hard, in China, a couple should rarely have a problem. Usually can order 1 cold dish, 1 meat dish, 1 vegetable, and rice/noodles/mantou/etc is okay for 2 diners.
Beijing for Two Checklist
Not sure what you mean by "authentic experience". Da Dong and Made in China are both very good ducks, I think Da Dong is the best you can get in Beijing, but Made in China is a close second. If you are worried about it being "too much" for 2, you can always just order half a duck and then order dishes off the menu.
There are countless number of options in this city, it really depends on what you (and your boyfriend) are interested in. I've done this list before, but...
Sichuan - Chuan Ban, Mala Youhuo
Xinjiang - Crescent Moon
Hot pot - Haidilao, Xiang Cao Xiang Cao
Dongbei - Dongbei Ren
Zhejiang - Kong Yiji, Wahaha
Gansu - Yan Lan Lou
Northwest - Xi Bei You Mian
That gives you some ideas, you can also talk to friends for recs or check out the Beijinger.
Best Food in Cangzhou
dianping is more like yelp/zagat, a must check resource for foodies when traveling in China.
In Harbin, I'd definitely check out Eastern Dumpling King (there are branches all over the city) and I'd usually say check out a Russian restaurant, but you're headed to Russia. You can also check out some of the places that Anthony Bourdain visited on his show there, while I'm not always a fan of his stops, the Manchu restaurant is really good and an interesting setting and the bar, USA BUCKS is worth a quick stop when the owner is around, plus its not going too far out of your way ( its on the main shopping street, you should definitely stay near that area).
Must eat places in Beijing and Shanghai
Don't do dim sum in Beijing or you'll probably end up disappointed. I wouldn't do 2 duck meals either, unless you absolutely love duck or have to compare between the 2, its 2 pretty expensive meals and you'll be eating the exact same thing, kind of a waste in only 4 days....
Look at some of the old threads on here and you'll get plenty of ideas. For dumplings I'm a fan of Eastern Dumpling King, but there are lots of choices. I would suggest the Yonganli branch of Na Jia Xiao Guan too, but that's already 3 of your 4 days, there are tons of good choices out there.
Lan Zhou Zheng Zong La Mian 兰州正宗牛肉拉面 – Interesting Chinese Muslim Hand Pulled Noodles
definitely not a chain, though they tend to all have variations of the same poster on their wall and typically have similar menus.
Shanghai, Hangzhou and Beijing
Da Dong is a good choice over Made in China, better duck and the other dishes are far more creative. In Hangzhou, Grandma's Kitchen is a must, and Dragon Well Restaurant (龙井菜馆), not to be confused with Dragon Well Manor (龙井草堂) which is Dai's restaurant, is well worth a try. I think both are better than Manor, but its worth it to have the experience once, the setting is amazing for a meal.
For Sunday brunch, this is where I'd highly recommend checking out some of the hotels and especially those with buffet offerings. The Shangri-La would be a good choice in Pudong. You could also head to the Super Brand Mall and use this as a time to check out Din Tai Fung, or one of the many other restaurants in the mall. Lei Garden is also in Pudong and worth checking out.
Shanghai, Hangzhou and Beijing
I've never been to those New Jesse's, but have been to the one in Xintiandi and the menu was the same. There are actually 2 branches in Pudong, but for whatever reason, neither can match the dianping score of the original. Then again, the Xintiandi one is also below the original, but the food was identical, at least to me.
Shanghai, Hangzhou and Beijing
Aman is probably within walking distance (and definitely a short cab ride) away from a subway stop, you can quickly and easily get into the city center from there. If its on the weekend, you could always just take a cab ride to areas in the city center. Plus, Haidian has a ton of branches of popular city restaurants (Na Jia Xiao Guan, Xiao Fei Yang, Qiao Jiang Nan, etc) so there are options within a short cab ride.
In Shanghai, the main Jesse location can be hard to book, if you're worried about the trip, there is a branch of New Jesse in Pudong. The same is true with Yang's, there are branches all over the city, I haven't been to the Wujiang Lu one since renovations, so I'm guessing its no longer the hole in the wall it was, but maybe it still is. The last time in Shanghai I went to their location on Nanjing East Rd and it was pretty close to the Wujiang experience, just a little more sanitized.
Your list seems really heavy on hotel restaurants, Made in China's decent if way overpriced for everything other than the duck. From my experience, very few hotel restaurants are worth it and if you're just doing it for English menus/convenience, there are plenty of good places which offer them.
Bo Innovation - do people seriously rate this?
I've been to Bo twice, the last was about a year ago (both times Alvin was there), and both times the experience was good. I agree that the techniques aren't innovative, nothing done at Bo is completely new, but nobody else is taking Chinese food molecular and its one of the few spots in HK using this style. Okay, the xiaolongbao copies Adria, but its an amazing dish. The meal did have a few too many misses considering the price, but there were also some really excellent courses.
Beijing Imperial Cuisine - Is it worth it?
With such little time, its hard to say what is a must hit and what should be missed. Some of its dishes toe the line of fusion, though most are very Chinese, with a focus on high quality ingredients and presentation. Chengfu is far from touristy, very few know about it and considering the cheapest set menu is RMB500/person, few make the trip. That said, with only 3 days, I'd skip it.
Yunnan would be good and its definitely not something you'd get in the US. South Silk Road is pretty average, I would highly recommend Dianke Dianlai, which is easily one of my favorite spots in the city, though Yunteng is really good too.
For hotpot, I'd consider heading to Haidilao, its not as "authentic northern", but its by far the most popular spot in the city for hotpot. That or one of the Ghost Street spots (especially Xiao Fei Yang).
Beijing Imperial Cuisine - Is it worth it?
Li Jia Cai is a tourist trap and definitely not worth it, Fangshan is okay, there are a few truly unique dishes, but overall, its more the setting than the food that impresses. I have mixed feelings about Tan Jia Cai, the "buddha jumps over the wall" was amazing, as were a few other dishes, but overall it felt like a REALLY expensive feast of high end ingredients rather than an "imperial banquet". Personally, I would save my money and just go to Na Jia Xiao Guan, which has some really unique manchu/imperial dishes and is in a really cool setting, and consider spending the savings at Chengfu Courtyard, the only place in the city outside of Zhongnanhai where you can dine on what China's Communist "emperors" eat.
2010 Beijing Restaurant Reviews by ALEDM
You offered a very comprehensive report, I'd just add 2 things. Having been to a number of restaurants you were at, almost all of them offer free tea, you simply have to request it (免费茶水) and you'll get it. They all have more expensive tea options for those who want it, but its rare that no free tea is offered. Also, while you may hate dishes coming out at different times, that is how Chinese restaurants serve things.
Tipping in China?
Nobody in China is "conditioned" to accept tips and the vast majority of people, even westerners, read the guide books and understand that there is no tipping in China. Some will still tip, either out of habit or because they think its proper or "necessary", but that's up to them. It's not like in the US where you're seen as breaking a social custom if you don't give the waiter their 15%, in China nobody is expecting a tip.
Tipping in China?
The answer is that tipping isn't necessary, you won't offend anybody by not tipping and unlike in the US, all these people are receiving a salary and don't rely on tips at all. As el jefe points out, a lot of non-Americans won't even bother with tipping.
The bell man answer is simple, don't tip him, most won't, and even if you decide to do so don't give US dollars as this is useless to him. The tour guide presents a more difficult situation, are you going on a private tour? If its not private, then either talk with your fellow travelers and see what they're doing or just wait and see if they tip. Be mindful that domestic tourists never tip their tour guides in China and that not all foreigners (especially Asian and some Europeans) will give tips.
So again, its simple, there's no need and no expectation, its just your own feelings and "guilt" invovled. If you feel the guide did a great job and you want to reward them, do so, but if you don't, you won't be remembered and hated forever because of it.
Da Dong - different locations?
It's located in a complex that used to be an imperial grainery and is a nice little area inside a compound. Its a massive restaurant and has a modern feel to it but is also a little easier to get in than Tuanjiehu because the Tuanjiehu branch is the smallest of the three. The food at all 3 branches is identical.
Tipping in China?
It's simple DON'T TIP ANYONE! The custom of tipping simply doesn't exist in China and there is no need to do it.
If you look like a "foreigner", the bell boy may linger in your room hoping you'll give him something, and tour guides typically suggest tipping the driver as a way to also remind you to tip them, but you don't need to do it. If they go above and beyond, then slip them a little something, but if you do nothing, you won't be considered a jerk at all. They've been conditioned to know that they may receive tips from westerners, but they don't expect it.
Da Dong - different locations?
There are 3 branches in Beijing, one at Tuanjiehu, one at Nanxingcang (Dongsi Shitiao) and the third and newest at Jinbao Jie (Wangfujing). Tuanjiehu is the closest location to your hotel, though the Dongsi location is more interesting and is only slightly further away from your hotel. You could also check out Xihe Yayuan, which is in the mall right next to your hotel.
Solo Dining in Beijing
Sorry to say but you're in a tough situation. Chinese food isn't designed to be eaten alone and at most restaurants and at most places you'll be the only person eating alone. Smaller spots for noodles or dishes over rice are often better for solo diners, but these kind of spots will rarely have English menus and it will get boring after awhile.
My Rest. Choices for Shanghai + Beijing
which hotel are you staying at?
With only 3 open nights its kind of tough, so much good food and spots that shouldn't be missed. Peking duck is a must, so I would do Da Dong or Made in China one of those nights for sure. The other night, I'd consider Na Jia Xiao Guan (Manchu/Imperial), Dianke Dianlai (Yunnan), or if you're up for a splurge Chengfu Courtyard.
My Rest. Choices for Shanghai + Beijing
Thanks, I'm really glad you found the website helpful. My recommendations above were for "chic"er than the typical Chinese spots, they all offer decent food, but they aren't necessarily my favorites for each of these types of food. It's only been in the past 10 years (less than that even) that interior design and the whole dining "experience" has been emphasized in China, most people really don't care what the room looks like, as long as its relatively clean and the food is good. So if you're willing to get a little more "down and dirty" my recommendations might change a little. Feel free to pm me or ask any other questions you may have on here.
Are there any Michelin rated restaurants in Beijing? If not, what would you say are your top three?
Beijing isn't really known for seafood and Cantonese is really the only style of cooking that the food really lacks in, but there are still some spots that have fresh, good offerings. Jin Bao mentioned above is a decent seafood spot, the fish tends to be fresh and the atmosphere (and building) is really over the top. I like Weihai Yin Tan (威海银滩渔家菜), but its out of the way and definitely lacking on environment, but the clams and other seafood is fresh and cheap. Qin Xiang Ge (清香阁) is a pretty good bet and has a few locations around town that are more central, quality is good and the price is still on the affordable side.
Dianke Dianlai offers the traditional Yunnan grilled fish as well as an awesome spicy shrimp appetizer as part of their RMB98 set menu, the RMB198 one has even more seafood offerings (and the shrimp is upgraded to lobster). As for western seafood, Terra just opened up in Sanlitun and is a really good cevicherie, something you don't find every day.
To me, Duck de Chine and especially Green T. House are a lot like Red Capital Club, the emphasis is on the theme and the decor (and the price) with food being an afterthought (and it usually shows). Da Dong's dongsi shitiao location is interesting, as well as the one at Jinbao Rd, they're both huge, but well decorated. Xihe Yayuan (羲和雅苑) also has a really interesting decor and serves up a duck that's probably just behind Da Dong and Made in China for best in Beijing.
