Sampling the delicious and distinctive food of your destination is one of the best experiences of traveling. When traveling in Beijing, walking among the culture-rich hutongs, where a great many authentic local dishes and traditional courtyard restaurants hide, provides a can't-miss chance to enjoy tasteful and authentic snacks at reasonable prices.
Learn how to eat like a local in Beijing with China Highlights.
Da Xiangfeng Hutong (大翔凤胡同)
There is a tablet with the inscription Mei Fu Jia Yan (梅府家宴, meaning Mei family feast) hanging on the gate of No. 24 courtyard on Da Xiangfeng Hutong (大翔凤胡同. This restaurant mainly cooks the family-style dishes that Mei Lanfang (a famous performer of Beijing opera) loves. These dishes are known for their ability to nourish your skin, clear your voice and maintain your health, among other benefits. Besides the delicious dishes, the environment of the courtyard is also quite elegant.
Transportation: Take Bus 107, 124 or 635 and get off at Gulou Station (鼓楼).
Location: Walk along the north wall of Prince Gong Mansion (恭王府) for a few hundred meters, and you will see the tablet of the restaurant.
Mei Fu Jia Yan Restaurant
Sheep Room Hutong (羊房胡同)
Sheep Room Hutong is one of the places not to miss when you visit Houhai (后海). No. 11 courtyard is a famous restaurant specializing in old royal recipes—the Li family dish. The dish is carefully cooked with complicated cooking techniques. A great many tourists and foreigners come here to enjoy the delicious cuisine.
Transportation: Take Bus 107, 124 or 635 and get off at Gulou Station (鼓楼).
Location: Sheep Room Hutong is near the south side of Houhai (后海). After arriving at the hutong, look for the yards on the north side and check carefully for the house number since it is easy to miss.
Li Family Cuisine Restaurant
Banchang Hutong (板厂胡同)
No. 14 courtyard is located to the south of the hutong's central area. There is a board with the inscription "Dujiangyuan Sijia Caiguan" (都江源私家菜馆, meaning Dujiangyuan Family Dishes Restaurant) hanging on the wall of the yard. This restaurant specializes in authentic, traditional Sichuan cuisine. The hutong location is also very beautiful and exquisite.
Transportation: Take Bus 107, 124 or 635 and get off at Gulou Station (鼓楼).
Location: Banchang Hutong is on the east side of South Gong and Drum Lane (南锣鼓巷东侧).
Dujiangyuan Sijia Caiguan
Xiguan Hutong (细管胡同)
This hutong is the former residence of Tianhan (田汉, a famous dramatist and a founder of Chinese drama). The hutong is easy to miss, and so is the private kitchen of No. 44 Private Kitchen Restaurant (44号私家厨房). The unique sign presents the distinctive nature of the restaurant, which mainly specializes in Miao ehtnic dishes from Guizhou province traditional cuisine. The sour fish soup there is worth a taste.
Transportation: Take Bus 116 or 684 and get off at East 42nd Street Station (东四十二条).
Location: Xiguan Hutong is on the west side of East 4th North Street (东四北大街)
No. 44 Private Kitchen serves delicious Guizhou Miao Ethnic Food
Xiaoyou Hutong (孝友胡同)
The Houhai (后海) and Jiumen Xiaochi (九门小吃) areas near this hutong add some lingering charm and color, flavor and taste to the neighborhood. After the demolition of several hutongs to its front, a large number of snack shops were moved to Xiaoyou Hutong (孝友胡同). Here you can find 12 traditional Beijing snacks, including palace cheese (宫廷奶酪) and almond tofu (杏仁豆腐) from Wei's Cheese (奶酪魏), sheep's head meat (羊头肉) from Yasng Tou Ma Snack Shop (羊头马), and rice cakes and glutinous rice balls (艾窝窝) from Qian Rice Cakes (年糕钱).
Transportation: Take Bus 107, 124 or 635 and get off at Gulou Station (鼓楼).
Location: Xiaoyou Hutong is on the north side of Houhai (后海).
Snacks served at Ya Tou Ma Snack Shop (羊头马)
Longfu Temple Street (隆福寺街）
The popular snacks on this street have been very famous throughout history. Most of the snacks worth trying are located at the western end of the hutong.
Transportation:
1. Take Bus 104 or 108 and get off at the Art Museum Station (美术馆).
2. Take subway Line 5 and get off at East 4th Station (东四站). Walk for about 100 meters to the north; the Longfu Temple Street will be on your west.
Location: Longfu Temple Street is on northwest side of East 4th West Street (东四西大街).
Longfu Temple Food Street
South Guanfang Hutong (南官房胡同)
There is a restaurant called Wukong Private Cuisine (悟空私家菜) in the No. 5 courtyard of this hutong. The traditional cuisines have a distinctive taste.
Transportation: Take Bus 107, 124 or 635 and get off at Gulou station (鼓楼).
Location: South Guanfang Hutong is on the west side of Qianhai's northern side. Go to the west when nearing the exit of the hutong.
Wukong Private Cuisine Restaurant
Bolin Hutong (柏林胡同)
There is a restaurant called No. 28 Private Family Cuisine (二十八号私家菜) in No. 28 courtyard. You will notice the red wall, green bamboo and old-style gateway. The cuisine is quite special and worth a visit.
Transportation: Take Bus 116 or 684 and get off at Yonghe Lama Temple Station (雍和宫).
Location: Walk along the Drama Stage Hutong (戏楼胡同) outside the south wall of Yonghe Lama Temple (雍和宫) to the east. Bolin Hutong is near Bolin Temple (柏林寺).
No. 28 Private Kitchen
Huguo Temple Street (护国寺大街)
Tan Family Dishes Restaurant (谭家菜) is located at No. 10 courtyard of this hutong street. The restaurant is surrounded by the distinctive Beijing courtyard architecture. Eating in such a plain and antique yard is a special experience. On the west exit of the street, you can also find the famous Huguo Temple, with its snacks and traditional restaurants known far and wide.
Transportation: Take Bus 22 or 726 and get off at Huguo Temple station (护国寺).
Location: Huguo Temple Street is on the west side of the street in Deshengmen (德胜门) and the east side of Xinjiekou North Street (新街口北大街).
Tan Family Food
Also Read: The Top 10 Revolving Restaurants in Beijing
Daqudeng Hutong (大取灯胡同)
No. 9 of this hutong is the famous Princess Mansion Restaurant (格格府). It is a typical Chinese quadrangle courtyard where you can not only taste the delicious food of different price levels, but you can also experience classic, traditional culture.
Transportation: Take Bus 104 or 108 and get off at the Art Museum Station (美术馆).
Location: Daqudeng Hutong is near the Art Museum (美术馆).
Princess Mansion Restaurant (格格府)
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