Beijing 6 Best Restaurants - How to Find Authentic Local Flavors

Not all top-ranked restaurants are where locals actually eat. Many "must-visit" places you'll find on travel apps, especially those inside malls or next to popular sights, look polished and impressive but often serve average food at above-average prices.

If you're looking for authentic Beijing flavors and a dining experience that feels genuinely local, this guide will help you choose smarter, not just follow the crowd.

• Best for Roast Duck: Siji Minfu
• Best Palace-Themed Experience: Palace Banquet
• Best Courtyard Atmosphere: Huajia Yiyuan
• Best Traditional Hotpot: Dong Lai Shun
• Best Vegetarian Dining: King's Joy
• Best Night Views: F Bistronome

Where to Find Great Restaurants in Beijing?

Beijing's popular food areas are mainly concentrated in Wangfujing, Qianmen Street, and Nanluoguxiang. These places offer a wide variety of restaurants, from affordable snacks to famous long-established brands like Yaoji Fried Liver, Quanjude, and Nanmen Hotpot.

However, most restaurants in these areas are designed for tourists and tend to have more conventional flavors.

If you want to avoid tourist spots and try places frequented by locals, we recommend venturing into Beijing's residential areas or the depths of the hutongs. Look for restaurants that may not be fancy but always have a line, serving local favorites like Zhajiangmian (noodles with soybean paste), Baodu (quick-fried tripe), and Luzhu Huoshao (stewed intestines).

For example, Liuxue Road Hutong and Huguosi Street have many hidden gems. You could also ask your guides to recommend places based on your taste preferences.

The Huguosi snack shop on Huguosi Street is frequented by many locals

Of course, Beijing offers more than just local cuisine. If you want to try something different, the embassy areas (around Sanlitun, Jianguomen, and Liangma River) are home to genuine Western and Asian restaurants.

These include American, French, German, Spanish, Italian, New Zealand, and Indian cuisines, many of which are run by expatriate chefs, ensuring high quality and authentic flavors.

Additionally, if you're interested in regional Chinese cuisines, you could try the spicy and flavorful Sichuan dishes (recommended around Gui Street) or the light and delicate Cantonese cuisine (recommended in the Guomao area).

Cantonese dim sum

Read more about Beijing's Best Snacks and Top Snack Streets.

Top 6 Restaurant in Beijing Picks by Experience Type

This section will introduce you to 6 top restaurants in Beijing of different types.

1. Best Place for Peking Duck: Siji Minfu (四季民福)

Peking duck is one of the most iconic dishes in Beijing, and it's a must-try when you visiting the city. Although there are many duck restaurants, we highly recommend Siji Minfu.

Siji Minfu's Peking duck is less greasy compared to others, offers a variety of condiments, and has a balanced flavor that suits most international palates. The sauces aren't too strong or sweet, making it a great choice.

Peking Duck

In addition to Peking duck, they serve authentic Beijing dishes like Kung Pao Chicken and Beile Roast Meat. The flavors are genuine, and the prices are reasonable, averaging around 200 RMB per person.

Kung Pao chicken

While Siji Minfu may not be as famous as Quanjude, it has a great reputation among locals. Many Beijingers bring their families and friends from out of town here for gatherings. The atmosphere is quieter compared to the bustling Quanjude.

Siji Minfu has several branches, and we particularly recommend the Forbidden City branch. It offers unique views of the red walls and moat, providing a truly "Beijing" experience. However, it's advisable to book 2-3 hours in advance.

If you're interested in trying different styles of Peking duck or seeking a more upscale dining environment, explore more options on where to eat Peking Duck.

2. Best for an Imperial Dining Experience: Palace Banquet (宫宴)

If you're looking for a special dining experience or want to turn your meal into an unforgettable cultural journey, Palace Banquet is definitely worth a try.

This is an imperial-themed restaurant. Compared to places like Yuxian Du or Baijia Dayuan, Palace Banquet offers richer performances and is more conveniently located on Qianmen Street in the city center, close to the Forbidden City and Jingshan Park.

You could visit these attractions first and then have dinner here, making for a well-coordinated itinerary. The average cost is around 400–600 RMB per person, which is quite reasonable for imperial cuisine.

Palace Banquet

Their set menu includes 7 to 8 imperial dishes, covering everything from tea and cold dishes to desserts. Recommended dishes include Jinhua Ham Tofu Soup, Dongpo Pork, and Black Pepper Wagyu Beef, all beautifully presented with rich flavors that aren't greasy.

Ham Tofu Soup

Each dish is accompanied by performances, including dance, musical instruments, and theatrical storytelling. This is what makes Palace Banquet special. It's not just about eating; it's an immersive cultural experience that transports you to an ancient palace, allowing you to understand the stories and etiquette behind the dishes.

The restaurant is arranged like an ancient palace banquet, with seating around a central stage for an engaging atmosphere. If you sit in the VIP front row, you might interact with the performers, making the experience even more vivid and memorable.

The environment layout

To enhance your experience, you could try wearing traditional Chinese costumes available at the restaurantfor for dining and photos. In summer, we recommend the cool Tang-style ruqun; in winter, choose the warm robes from the Song or Ming dynasties.

Dress-up area

Palace Banquet requires booking 15 days in advance. If you want VIP seating, it's best to reserve a month ahead.

If you're interested in Palace Banquet, see our 3-Day Classic Beijing Tour Itinerary.

3. Best Courtyard Dining: Huajia Yiyuan (花家怡园)

In Beijing, many people want to experience dining in a genuine courtyard. However, while many courtyard restaurants have beautiful settings, they primarily serve Western food, coffee, or tea, lacking the local Beijing flavor.

Huajia Yiyuan is different. It not only features the courtyard style but also offers true Beijing cuisine, which we strongly suggest trying.

Huajia Yiyuan has multiple locations in Beijing, but not all are in courtyards. We recommend the Yuanmingyuan branch, which is quieter and less touristy than other courtyard locations. We suggest making a reservation 1-2 hours in advance.

The courtyard environment of Huajia Yiyuan

Upon entering, you'll see gray bricks, flowing water, and red lanterns, all exuding a strong old Beijing atmosphere. Compared to the high-priced restaurants that focus on imperial feasts, this place is more relaxed and friendly, with reasonable prices—around 200 RMB per person. Many locals also come here for gatherings, making it a great value.

The restaurant specializes in Beijing cuisine and classic northern home-style dishes. Signature dishes like Fried Meatballs and Yongzheng Roast Duck are solid and authentic.

Fried meatballs

We recommend visiting after 7:30 PM to enjoy performances such as guzheng music, face-changing, and kung fu tea art, adding a cultural touch to your dining experience.

4. Best Place for Traditional Hotpot: Dong Lai Shun (东来顺)

Besides Peking duck, what other traditional delicacies must one try in Beijing? It must be Copper Pot Lamb Hotpot. When it comes to this, Dong Lai Shun is definitely the top choice.

This restaurant is a time-honored brand that has been popular for generations among Beijingers, known for its traditional methods and consistent quality.

Unlike other hotpot places, Dong Lai Shun is very particular about its lamb selection, choosing only the five most tender parts. Their hand-slicing technique is a national intangible cultural heritage, producing lamb slices as thin as paper that cook in seconds in the clear broth, melting in your mouth and tasting amazing.

Their broth is simply a clear soup with just a few slices of ginger and scallions, allowing the natural flavor of the lamb to shine through without being masked by heavy seasonings. Dip the lamb in rich sesame sauce and pair it with crunchy sweet garlic for a perfect combination. You could also try their sesame seed buns, which are crispy on the outside and soft inside.

Copper pot lamb hot pot

Dong Lai Shun uses unique Beijing-style cloisonné copper hotpots, with beautiful blue and gold patterns that look like works of art. The restaurant has a nostalgic old Beijing style, with rosewood tables and chairs, vintage lighting, and old Beijing life paintings on the walls, creating a very comfortable atmosphere.

Beijing-style cloisonné copper hotpots

The average cost is about 150 RMB per person, offering great value for money.

Dong Lai Shun has many branches, but we recommend the Qianmen branch for its convenient location and authentic old Beijing vibe. It gets busy during dinner hours, so we suggest booking at least an hour in advance.

5. Best Vegetarian Fine Dining: King's Joy (京兆尹)

If you're a vegetarian looking for a high-quality dining experience, King's Joy is the top recommendation in Beijing.

It has received three Michelin stars for four consecutive years and is located in a quaint courtyard in Wudaoying Hutong, offering a serene and elegant environment. There's live harp music during meals, creating a gentle and tranquil atmosphere.

The dishes here are different from temple vegetarian meals; they do not use mock meats. Instead, they incorporate seasonal vegetables, wild mushrooms, Chinese herbs, and legumes, focusing on low oil and low salt for a healthy and light taste.

Signature dishes like Shangri-La Matsutake Soup and Sweet Pea with Gorgon Fruit and Cashew are full of creativity, offering rich flavors and artistic presentation that redefine your perception of plant-based cuisine.

Vegetarian diet

King's Joy is a lacto-ovo vegetarian restaurant. If you need a fully vegan meal, you could communicate with the restaurant in advance, and they will adjust according to your needs.

The service at King's Joy is exceptionally attentive. When each dish is served, the staff will introduce the ingredients and names, and they can easily communicate in English. If you don't finish a dish, they'll proactively check if it wasn't to your liking and quickly replace it without needing you to ask. The quick response really makes the 15% service charge worth it.

If you visit on your birthday, the restaurant not only offers complimentary gifts like longevity noodles, cake, or a music box, but more specially, they also take your photo, print it on the spot, and place it in a wooden frame for you.

The average cost is over 1000 RMB per person, which is not cheap, but definitely worth it.

It's recommended to book a week in advance. You could plan to visit after exploring Lama Temple or Guozijian Street, and enjoy a delightful vegetarian feast that nourishes both body and mind. 

6. Best for Beijing's Night Views: F Bistronome (福楼毕罗斯)

As the capital of China, Beijing's modern nightscape is definitely worth seeing. If you're looking for a place to enjoy both good food and stunning night views, the Guomao CBD is the best area. With its towering buildings and bustling traffic, the area is particularly atmospheric at night with its brilliant lights.

While there are nightscape restaurants in Beijing that serve local cuisine, for a combination of taste, environment, and service, we highly recommend F Bistronome. This long-established French restaurant has a great reputation in Beijing and is great for romantic dates or anniversaries.

Located on the 7th floor, the restaurant features floor-to-ceiling windows facing the CCTV building, offering a wide-open view of the modern city's nightscape.

CCTV night scene

Recommended dishes include the cold-cut tuna, Wellington steak, and the signature orange soufflé, which is fragrant and soft and a favorite dessert for many guests.

French cuisine

The restaurant's environment is elegant and atmospheric. The contrast between the quiet ambiance of a candlelit dinner and the bustling city lights outside leaves a lasting impression. Many locals celebrate birthdays and anniversaries here, and it also attracts many foreign guests.

The average cost is about 500 RMB per person, which is mid-to-high range for a view restaurant, but the food and experience justify the budget.

If you want to reserve a window seat with a view, you will need to book a week in advance.