Hi there! I’m Emma Lee, a foreign food blogger living in China. I’m passionate about China’s rich and diverse culinary culture. From hunting for street food to exploring high-end restaurants, I love sharing my food adventures. In this article, I’ll take you on a journey through Beijing’s food scene, where tradition meets modern flavors. Whether you’re looking for authentic Peking Duck or hidden street snacks in the city’s hutongs, I’m here to share my favorite food experiences with you.

Summary

Traditional Chinese Food in Beijing

Beijing Duck (Peking Duck)

Beijing roast duck served with thin pancakes, scallions, and hoisin sauce.

Beijing Duck is one of the most iconic traditional Chinese foods. It has a rich history dating back to the Northern and Southern Dynasties. This dish is famous for its crispy skin and tender meat, roasted over fruitwood for that perfect smoky flavor. The best place to enjoy this dish is at the renowned Siji Minfu restaurant. If you’re in Beijing, it’s a must-try!

  • Chinese name (pinyin): 北京烤鸭 (bei jing kao ya)
  • Main ingredients: Duck
  • Best time to eat: Lunch and dinner
  • Recommended season: All year round
  • Recommended restaurant:
    • Siji Minfu Roast Duck (Forbidden City Branch)
    • Address: 11 Nanchizi Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing
    • Price per person: 151 RMB

Zhajiangmian (Beijing Noodles with Soybean Paste)

Traditional Beijing Zhajiangmian noodles with fresh vegetables and minced pork sauce.

Zhajiangmian is a staple in Beijing cuisine. It consists of hand-pulled noodles topped with a rich, savory soybean paste sauce, often accompanied by crunchy vegetables like cucumbers and bean sprouts. It’s a hearty, flavorful meal that’s loved by locals and perfect for any time of day.

  • Chinese name (pinyin): 炸酱面 (zha jiang mian)
  • Main ingredients: Noodles, soybean paste, bean sprouts, cucumber, pork belly
  • Best time to eat: Anytime
  • Recommended season: All year round
  • Recommended restaurant:
    • Fangzhuanchang 69 Zhajiangmian (Qianmen Branch)
    • Address: 45 Qianmen East Road, Dongcheng District, Beijing
    • Price per person: 56 RMB

Copper Hotpot (Lamb Hotpot)

Traditional copper hotpot with thinly sliced lamb and vegetables.

Copper hotpot is a beloved winter dish in Beijing, featuring thinly sliced lamb cooked in a traditional copper pot over charcoal. This dish is not just a meal but a warming, cultural experience, perfect for cold days.

  • Chinese name (pinyin): 铜锅涮肉 (tong guo shuan rou)
  • Main ingredients: Lamb
  • Best time to eat: Lunch and dinner
  • Recommended season: All year round
  • Recommended restaurant:
    • Nanmen Shuanrou (Dongdan Branch)
    • Address: 26 Jianguomen Inner St, Dongcheng District, Beijing
    • Price per person: 128 RMB

Shredded Pork in Sweet Bean Sauce

Stir-fried shredded pork with sweet bean sauce and spring onions.

Jingjiang Rou Si is a Beijing classic, made from thin strips of pork stir-fried in a sweet bean sauce. It’s typically served with spring onions and thin pancakes or tofu skins, creating a balance of sweet and savory flavors.

  • Chinese name (pinyin): 京酱肉丝 (jing jiang rou si)
  • Main ingredients: Pork, sweet bean paste, spring onions
  • Best time to eat: Lunch and dinner
  • Recommended season: All year round
  • Recommended restaurant:
    • Dongsi Minfang Restaurant (Chongwenmen Branch)
    • Address: 7 Dongdamochang St, Dongcheng District, Beijing
    • Price per person: 97 RMB

Lamb Spine Hotpot (Yang Xiezi Hotpot)

Spicy lamb spine hotpot with fresh vegetables and herbs.

Yang Xiezi Hotpot is a lamb spine hotpot that’s perfect for colder months. The rich, flavorful broth and tender lamb spine make this a popular dish, particularly during autumn and winter. Its high protein content and warming effect make it a must-try during your Beijing food journey.

  • Chinese name (pinyin): 羊蝎子火锅 (yang xie zi huo guo)
  • Main ingredients: Lamb spine
  • Best time to eat: Lunch and dinner
  • Recommended season: Autumn and winter
  • Recommended restaurant:
    • Laocheng Yiguo Yang Xiezi Hotpot (Qianmen Branch)
    • Address: 81 Dashilar West Street, Xicheng District, Beijing
    • Price per person: 81 RMB

Luzhu (Stewed Pork Intestines and Lungs)

Beijing-style stewed pork intestines and lungs with tofu and crispy bread.

Luzhu is a famous traditional snack from Beijing. It’s a hearty stew made from pork intestines and lungs, combined with crispy bread called huoshao. This dish originated in the southern part of Beijing during the Qing Dynasty. Due to its strong flavor, it’s not for everyone, even many locals can find it challenging. But for those who appreciate offal dishes, it’s a must-try.

  • Chinese name (pinyin): 卤煮 (lu zhu)
  • Main ingredients: Pork intestines, pork lungs
  • Best time to eat: Anytime
  • Recommended season: All year round
  • Recommended restaurant:
    • Menkuang Hutong Century-Old Luzhu (Qianmen Branch)
    • Address: 19 Menkuang Hutong, Xicheng District, Beijing
    • Price per person: 53 RMB

Douzhi (Fermented Mung Bean Soup)

Fermented mung bean soup, a traditional Beijing specialty.

Douzhi is one of the most iconic yet divisive traditional Beijing snacks. It has a history spanning over 300 years and is made from fermented mung beans. The drink has a distinct sour taste that not everyone enjoys. In fact, even many locals shy away from it, but for those who love it, douzhi is known for its digestive benefits.

  • Chinese name (pinyin): 豆汁儿 (dou zhi er)
  • Main ingredients: Mung beans, water
  • Best time to eat: Anytime
  • Recommended season: All year round
  • Recommended restaurant:
    • Yin San Douzhi (Temple of Heaven Branch)
    • Address: 176 Dongxiao Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing
    • Price per person: 16 RMB

Chaogan (Stir-Fried Pork Liver and Intestines)

Stir-fried pork liver and intestines in a thick garlic sauce.

Chaogan is a traditional Beijing snack made from pork liver and intestines, stir-fried in a thick garlic sauce. The dish is known for its rich and savory flavor, with the perfect balance of tender liver and chewy intestines. It’s a popular dish at lunch or dinner.

  • Chinese name (pinyin): 炒肝 (chao gan)
  • Main ingredients: Pork liver, pork intestines
  • Best time to eat: Lunch and dinner
  • Recommended season: All year round
  • Recommended restaurant:
    • Yaoji Chaogan (Gulou Branch)
    • Address: 311 Gulou East St, Dongcheng District, Beijing
    • Price per person: 32 RMB

Lvdagun (Glutinous Rice Rolls with Soybean Flour)

Traditional Beijing snack made of glutinous rice rolls with soybean flour.

Lvdagun, also known as “rolling donkey,” is a classic Beijing snack made from glutinous rice flour rolled in roasted soybean flour. Its name comes from its appearance, resembling a donkey rolling in the sand. The filling is typically sweet red bean paste, making it a chewy and sweet treat.

  • Chinese name (pinyin): 驴打滚 (lv da gun)
  • Main ingredients: Glutinous rice, soybean flour, red bean paste
  • Best time to eat: Snack
  • Recommended season: All year round
  • Recommended restaurant:
    • Baiji Nian’gao Halal Pastries (Niujie Branch)
    • Address: 1st floor, Niujie Muslim Supermarket, Xicheng District, Beijing
    • Price per person: 44 RMB

Fuling Bing (Tuckahoe Cakes)

Thin herbal cakes made of tuckahoe and rice flour.

Fuling Bing, also known as tuckahoe cakes, are light and delicate pastries with a medicinal history. Made from tuckahoe powder and rice flour, these cakes are not only a sweet snack but are also believed to have health benefits. They’re a great example of how traditional Beijing snacks blend flavor and wellness.

  • Chinese name (pinyin): 茯苓饼 (fu ling bing)
  • Main ingredients: Tuckahoe powder, rice flour, sugar
  • Best time to eat: Snack
  • Recommended season: All year round
  • Recommended restaurant: Available in most supermarkets.

Tanghulu (Candied Hawthorns on a Stick)

Candied hawthorns on a stick, a traditional winter snack.

Tanghulu is a popular winter snack in Beijing. It consists of hawthorn berries skewered on a stick and coated with hardened sugar syrup, creating a perfect blend of tart and sweet flavors. It’s a nostalgic treat often associated with childhood memories for many Beijingers.

  • Chinese name (pinyin): 糖葫芦 (tang hu lu)
  • Main ingredients: Hawthorn berries, sugar
  • Best time to eat: Snack
  • Recommended season: All year round
  • Recommended restaurant:
    • Dianmen Tanghulu
    • Address: 147 Dianmen East St, Dongcheng District, Beijing
    • Price per person: 10 RMB

Wandouhuang (Sweet Pea Cake)

Sweet pea cake, a traditional Beijing spring snack.

Wandouhuang is a smooth and sweet snack made from mashed peas. It’s traditionally eaten in spring, but today it can be found year-round in Beijing’s snack shops. The light and sweet flavor, combined with its melt-in-your-mouth texture, makes it a popular treat among locals.

  • Chinese name (pinyin): 豌豆黄 (wan dou huang)
  • Main ingredients: Peas, sugar
  • Best time to eat: Snack
  • Recommended season: All year round
  • Recommended restaurant:
    • Huguosi Snack Street
    • Address: Huguosi St, Xicheng District, Beijing
    • Price per person: 10 RMB

Aiwowo (Sticky Rice Balls)

Sticky rice ball filled with sweet fillings, a traditional Beijing snack.

Aiwowo is a popular Beijing snack made from glutinous rice and filled with sweet ingredients like walnuts, sesame, or red bean paste. Its white, soft exterior and delicious fillings make it not only a tasty treat but also a festive food that adds color to celebrations.

  • Chinese name (pinyin): 艾窝窝 (ai wo wo)
  • Main ingredients: Glutinous rice, sugar, sesame, walnuts, red bean paste
  • Best time to eat: Snack
  • Recommended season: All year round
  • Recommended restaurant:
    • Huguosi Snack Street
    • Address: Huguosi St, Xicheng District, Beijing
    • Price per person: 10 RMB

Dalian Huoshao (Fried Dumpling)

Fried dumpling-like snack with a golden crispy exterior.

Dalian Huoshao is a crispy fried snack that dates back to the 1800s. It’s made from dough filled with meat or vegetables, then pan-fried to golden perfection. Shaped like long, folded pockets, this snack has a rich, savory flavor, making it a great street food option.

  • Chinese name (pinyin): 褡裢火烧 (da lian huo shao)
  • Main ingredients: Dough, vegetables, pork, lamb
  • Best time to eat: Snack
  • Recommended season: All year round
  • Recommended restaurant:
    • Jingwei Xiaoguan Dalian Huoshao (Guangqumenwai Branch)
    • Address: 1 Guangqumenwai St, Dongcheng District, Beijing
    • Price per person: 38 RMB

Zhizi Kaorou (Grilled Meat on Iron Griddle)

Grilled meat slices on an iron griddle, a Beijing specialty.

Zhizi Kaorou is a traditional Beijing grilling method that uses a flat iron griddle, heated by charcoal. Thin slices of beef or lamb are seasoned and grilled to perfection. This dish is especially popular in winter and offers a savory, smoky flavor that is both satisfying and unforgettable.

  • Chinese name (pinyin): 炙子烤肉 (zhi zi kao rou)
  • Main ingredients: Beef, lamb
  • Best time to eat: Lunch and dinner
  • Recommended season: All year round
  • Recommended restaurant:
    • Liuji Zhizi Kaorou (Hufangqiao Branch)
    • Address: 85 Lazu Hutong, Xicheng District, Beijing
    • Price per person: 92 RMB

Xiaolongbao (Soup Dumplings)

Steamed soup dumplings with pork filling, a classic Beijing snack.

Xiaolongbao, or soup dumplings, are one of China’s most famous traditional snacks. Originating from Kaifeng during the Northern Song Dynasty, these juicy dumplings are filled with pork and savory broth. They are steamed to perfection, with a thin dough wrapper that holds the soup inside until the first bite.

  • Chinese name (pinyin): 小笼包 (xiao long bao)
  • Main ingredients: Pork, vegetables, flour
  • Best time to eat: Snack
  • Recommended season: All year round
  • Recommended restaurant:
    • Hongji Snack Shop (Niujie New Branch)
    • Address: 12 Niujie, Xicheng District, Beijing
    • Price per person: 44 RMB

Mending Meat Pie

Crispy fried meat pie shaped like ancient door nails.

Mending Meat Pie is a traditional Beijing snack, named for its resemblance to the ancient door nails found on Beijing’s historic city gates. The golden, crispy exterior is filled with a savory beef stuffing, making it a hearty, satisfying snack. In Beijing, these pies are believed to bring good luck due to their auspicious shape.

  • Chinese name (pinyin): 门钉肉饼 (men ding rou bing)
  • Main ingredients: Flour, beef
  • Best time to eat: Snack
  • Recommended season: All year round
  • Recommended restaurant:
    • Yinji Mending Meat Pie (Temple of Heaven Branch)
    • Address: 34 Fahuasi South Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing
    • Price per person: 53 RMB
  1. Siji Minfu Roast Duck (Forbidden City Branch)
    Address: 11 Nanchizi Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing
    Price per person: 151 RMB
    Recommended dish: Beijing Duck
  2. Siji Minfu Roast Duck (Qianmen Branch)
    Address: 1 Dashilar Street, Xicheng District, Beijing
    Price per person: 151 RMB
    Recommended dish: Beijing Duck
  3. Nanmen Shuanrou (Dongdan Branch)
    Address: 26 Jianguomen Inner Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing
    Price per person: 128 RMB
    Recommended dish: Copper Hotpot
  4. Menkuang Hutong Century-Old Luzhu (Qianmen Branch)
    Address: 19 Menkuang Hutong, Xicheng District, Beijing
    Price per person: 53 RMB
    Recommended dish: Luzhu (Stewed Pork Intestines)
  5. Fangzhuanchang 69 Zhajiangmian (Qianmen Branch)
    Address: 45 Qianmen East Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing
    Price per person: 56 RMB
    Recommended dish: Zhajiangmian
  6. Laocheng Yiguo Yang Xiezi Hotpot (Qianmen Branch)
    Address: 81 Dashilar West Street, Xicheng District, Beijing
    Price per person: 81 RMB
    Recommended dish: Lamb Spine Hotpot
  7. Dongsi Minfang Restaurant (Chongwenmen Branch)
    Address: 7 Dongdamochang Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing
    Price per person: 97 RMB
    Recommended dish: Shredded Pork in Sweet Bean Sauce
  1. Nanmen Shuanrou (Temple of Heaven Branch)
    Address: 13-1-2 Yongdingmen East Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing
    Price per person: 89 RMB
    Recommended dish: Copper Hotpot
  2. Qingzhen Yarli Shuanrou (Huashi Branch)
    Address: 80-3 West Huashi Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing
    Price per person: 169 RMB
    Recommended dish: Copper Hotpot
  3. Yinji Mending Meat Pie (Temple of Heaven Branch)
    Address: 34 Fahuasi South Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing
    Price per person: 53 RMB
    Recommended dish: Mending Meat Pie
  4. Yin San Douzhi (Temple of Heaven Branch)
    Address: 176 Dongxiao Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing
    Price per person: 16 RMB
    Recommended dish: Douzhi (Fermented Mung Bean Soup)
  5. Liuji Zhizi Kaorou (Hufangqiao Branch)
    Address: 85 Lazu Hutong, Xicheng District, Beijing
    Price per person: 92 RMB
    Recommended dish: Grilled Meat on Iron Griddle
  1. Haoye Yang Xiezi Hotpot (Shuangyushu Branch)
    Address: 18 Shuangyushu North Street, Haidian District, Beijing
    Price per person: 150 RMB
    Recommended dish: Lamb Spine Hotpot
  2. Kaorou Liu (Zhongguancun Branch)
    Address: 54 Zhongguancun South Street, Haidian District, Beijing
    Price per person: 110 RMB
    Recommended dish: Grilled Meat
  3. Menkuang Hutong Century-Old Luzhu (Zhongguancun Branch)
    Address: 85 Baofusi Street, Haidian District, Beijing
    Price per person: 40 RMB
    Recommended dish: Luzhu (Stewed Pork Intestines)
  4. Hutong Xiaoguan Roast Duck (Zhongguancun Branch)
    Address: EF301, 2A, Zhongguancun 5th Street, Haidian District, Beijing
    Price per person: 127 RMB
    Recommended dish: Beijing Duck
  5. Yangfang Dadou Hotpot (Suzhou Street Branch)
    Address: 26 Haidian South Road, Haidian District, Beijing
    Price per person: 111 RMB
    Recommended dish: Copper Hotpot

Niujie Street

Niujie is one of Beijing’s most famous areas for halal food. As a Muslim district, it offers a wide variety of traditional halal snacks and dishes. From early morning to late evening, street vendors serve up a range of mouthwatering delights that reflect Beijing’s deep culinary history.

  • Recommended restaurants:
    • Hongji Snack Shop
    • Bai Ji Nian Gao
    • Nai Lao Wei
    • Jubaoyuan Hotpot
    • Yaoji Dubao Meat
    • Man Ji Shaobing
    • Yibao He Ye Steamed Cake
    • Ma Ji Tanghulu

Huguosi Street

Huguosi Street is one of Beijing’s most popular food streets, known for its rich cultural atmosphere and variety of traditional snacks. From the classic Zhajiangmian to the more niche Douzhi, this street offers an authentic taste of old Beijing.

  • Recommended restaurants:
    • Huguosi Snack Street (Main Branch)
    • Huifeng Mending Meat Pie
    • Xinchuan Noodle Shop
    • Honghua Pastry Bureau
    • Baoguang Xunrou Shoestring Cake
    • Old Beijing Fried Chicken

Beijing Hutong Breakfast Food Tour

Exploring Beijing’s hutongs is a must for every visitor, but locals know that “there are as many hutongs as there are hairs on an ox” throughout the city. The best way to discover the most scenic and winding alleyways is by eating your way through them. This tour allows you to join locals in savoring traditional breakfast dishes at pop-up stalls that disappear after the morning rush. You’ll meet your bilingual guide and small group at a convenient location before heading off to experience the best of Beijing’s breakfast culture. Click to view the tour

Essential Beijing Travel Resources