Dig Into Beijing's Top Bar and Restaurant Openings, Jan-Feb
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Restaurants
It's not every
day that a new restaurant gets the majority of Beijing's foodie
community talking, but Rive Gauche, the French-styled all-day dining
restaurant at The Puxuan, seemed to have pulled off that rare feat when
it opened in January. It bills itself as a bistro but don't go expecting
casual dining. The staff is knowledgeable and approachable, and you
will also frequently see executive chef Ivan Miguez, who most recently
worked as executive sous chef at three Michelin-starred Ultraviolet by
Paul Pairet in Shanghai, roaming the dining room chatting with diners.
The beef short ribs (pictured above) are cooked for eight hours in a
mixture of more than 20 spices (we detected chili and lemongrass, among
others) before being carved tableside, and rightfully places it as one
of the star dishes on an overall outstanding menu.
Read our full review via the QR code above.
Despite being
trapped in the dining equivalent of purgatory in the basement of
Taikooli North, Southeast Asian low-key street-style restaurant Kup Kup
Kup does absolutely stellar work at transporting you south by the
strength of its menu alone. Embracing its Asian food hall vibe, the
simple, open, colorful cafeteria-style space gives little clue as to the
caliber and authenticity of the food to come. The key lies in Kup Kup
Kup's full embrace of all the aromatic, spicy, and occasionally pungent
flavors of SE Asian cooking. Then there's the well-priced cocktail menu –
a measly 38 kuai scores you a margarita, colada, sangria, or our
favorite, the "Asian Jungle." Now that certainly doesn't sound like the
Taikooli North we know.
Read the full review via the QR code above.
Pan-Southeast
Asian restaurant Mulu heads the second wave of restaurants moving into
WF Central. Although it has been open a few months already, it's only
just getting its foothold thanks to its thick menu including dishes from
across the ten ASEAN countries. Those include classics like Thai green
papaya salad, Vietnamese pho, and Malaysian nasi lemak, among others.
The interior design is slick and modern, and when coupled with the
breadth of options available, positions Mulu as a good option for groups
or the terminally indecisive and certainly adds a little spice to the
dining line-up in WF Central.
Read our full review via the QR code above.
Sitting above the
McDonald's on Maizidian, Gyu Tetsu could just as easily be called
Japanese Castle of Meat. Part yakiniku Japanese barbecue restaurant,
part izakaya, the ox that greets diners at the front door is a suitable
indication of what's in store. And what's in store is meat. Lots and
lots of it. The menu is bursting with expertly carved cuts of pink and
marbled beef, more than enough to satisfy even the most bloodthirsty
carnivore. We recommend you dive straight in with the eight-variety beef
platter, just make sure none of your invitees are vegetarians or
prepare to be stormed out on.
Read our full review via the QR code above.
The third and
newest Southeast Asian eatery on this list is proof that Beijing is
witnessing a veritable SE Asian explosion. Compared to the other
newbies, Tease by CreatureS, an offshoot of popular Singaporean
restaurant CreatureS, brings us fun-yet-upscale Singaporean dining just
northwest of Dengshikou station. Overall, the concept has a clear focus
on comforting, traditional dishes with a modern, Instagrammable twist to
the presentation, whether that is rice dyed blue with butterfly pea
flowers or a scattering of petals on the plate. Its stellar dessert
menu, created by pastry chef Jacob Justus, also differentiates Tease
from the competition and puts a finishing touch on the meal that
wouldn't feel out of place in an international fine dining restaurant.
Read our review via the QR code above.
Ask a foreigner
if they want to go to a food court, and you're bound to get an eye roll
and a groan of contempt. Yet trendier, tasty options are popping up in
Beijing every day. Prime example: the newly opened Miam Miam, which
brings eclectic offerings like Vietnamese rice noodles, Thai green
chicken curry, pizzas, burgers, and more to Galleria Mall in
Sanyuanqiao. It is also notable for its owners: Flo, the ever-expanding
Beijing F&B empire behind Maison Flo, Café Flo, F Bistronome,
etc. Overall, the wide array of options, along with inviting neon signs
at each food counter and potted plants near the dining area, all make
this upscale food court an easy option for a group with varied tastes.
Read our full review via the QR code above.
"What's next?
Foie gras jianbing? Sous-vide stinky tofu?" These are the questions we
asked ourself after stumbling into Xibei Super Chinese Hamburger near
Gongti, specializing in fancy takes on the once dirt cheap
way-of-Shaanxi roujiamo. However, this unabashed pimping of the beloved
street snack is one we can get behind, swapping in the conventional
stewed pork with some more offbeat fillings, including stir-fried pepper
chicken, spicy veal, lamb, and an egg, tomato, and bacon combo. If
you're going to put new twists on old Chinese favorites, this is the way
to do it.
Read our full review via the QR code above.
Poke U?... Don't
mind if I do! This new Guanghua Lu restaurant's goofy name sharply
contrasts with its serious mission: to win over nearby office workers
with tasty, healthy, and affordable food. Should you suspect that the
'healthy' angle is just a ploy, Poke U helpfully lists calorific and
other nutritional info alongside the names of its Hawaiian-style bowls.
Highlights of those mouthwatering options include the marinated salmon
avocado, torched salmon and sirloin steak, chicken piccata, and Hawaiian
tofu. Overall, Poke U must walk the fine line between price, quality,
and portion size, but manages to pull it off in a way that will likely
attract nearby workers looking for a less carby lunch.
Read our full review via the QR code above.
Located in the
heart of the CBD, 18cm Champion Mountain looks like a set piece from
Happy Days, thanks to its retro, bubblegum decor (including a pretty but
completely nonfunctional jukebox), and a repertoire of old-fashioned
American grub. On the food front, there is certainly room for
improvement but there's little to scoff at when paying RMB 15 for an
18cm chili-topped dog – just do the centimeter to cost math for
chrissakes!
Read our full review via the QR code above.
The Shenzhen
import Hotties in Hopson One caused a small stir in Shuangjing for its
value for money takes on another American classic: burgers. For a mere
RMB 32, try the Hotties Smoked, which comes topped with chunky mushrooms
and mouthwatering mozzarella, all wedged between a buttery and toasted
bun. The atmosphere, meanwhile, has a Royal Stacks-meets-Cannon's
combination of loud colors and throwback vibes, and the army of
deliverymen dashing in and out indicates that Hotties is already doing
(dare we say) hot business in the neighborhood.
Read our full review via the QR code above.
Bars and Cafés
Great Leap Brewing
opened their newest venue just before Christmas (yes, we know that was
last year) and with it brought the area a reliable craft brew joint for
late night hobnobbing over a pint or three. Their Lido branch is notable
for its sleek design, at the center of which stands a 40-seat
wraparound bar and large floor-to-ceiling windows. The food menu, which
also includes their #45 venue's famed pizzas, has also seen an upgrade;
of the new items the Reuben sandwich, though pricey, is a favorite and
comes crammed with corned beef and Swiss cheese. The brunch menu has
also recently expanded to include souped-up jianbings.
Read our full review via the QR code above.
Maizidian lounge
Stir Cocktail Bar is chic, modern, and understated, making it a novel
departure from its many on-the-nose retro and ostentatious competitors.
You won't find bowties, antiques, jumbles of bottles, murky lighting, or
other overwrought speakeasy trappings here – owner and cocktail vet Ji
Shaoshan and his bartenders even don dark sports jackets and T-shirts
for their shifts. The menu is equally refreshing given its reasonable
price tags (RMB 70 and up), harking back to how things were more than a
dozen years ago when Ji got his start at the long-gone The Stumble Inn
in Sanlitun and the CBD's Twilight, one of Beijing's first professional
cocktail bars.
Read our full review via the QR code above.
Can a cozy
café-turned-almost-chain retain its charm, post-expansion? If said café
is Big Small Coffee, then it's a wholehearted 'Yes.' In truly unexpected
news for Dongchengers, who are so used to closure notices that they've
forgotten how to express joy at all, Big Small opened their fourth
location just off Beiluogu Xiang, coupling with Beijing-based craft
brewers Crafters for a venue that is one part café, one part pub, and
one part... playground?
Read our full review via the QR code above.
Farina Bakery may
not look like much – it is an unassuming kiosk in Xingfucun's food court
The Crib after all – but that initial impression belies the tasty
cakes, cookies, and pastries that it serves. Best yet, it's not all bad
for you! Take their "healthy snack" cookies, which are made with a
creative combination of shredded carrots, a cereal mix comprised of rye,
wheat, and barley, and a splash of maple syrup for sweetness, making
Farina a welcome addition to Beijing's snack scene for gluttons and gym
rats alike.
Read our full review via the QR code above.
Pricy, yes.
Adorable, hugely so. Situated south of Dashilan, Zhaowu Xishi is a
hidden café worth finding. Its Japanese-tea room style ambiance – think
heated tatami flooring, natural light, and lots of potted plants – is
the perfect setting for their remarkable desserts shaped like bunnies,
hedgehogs, and objects from the natural world. The coconut and mango
"Meng Meng" bunny (pictured above) was almost too cute to eat, and we
spent a while just admiring it from various angles before diving in.
Read our full review via the QR code above.
Images:
Robynne Tindall, courtesy of Kup Kup Kup, courtesy of Mulu, courtesy of
Gyu Tetsu, courtesy of Tease by CreatureS, Kyle Mullin, courtesy of
Great Leap Brewing, Tautevile Daugelaite, Anna Pellegrin Hartley
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