New in the Neighborhood: The Latest Eats at Liangmaqiao
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This week in New in the Neighborhood, we take a walk around Liangmaqiao and Sanyuanqiao to get acquainted with the area's ever-sprouting restaurants.
Jingba Dalou
A springtime opening for Jingba Dalou is appropriate enough, given that its whole red-lantern vibe evokes the celebratory spirit of the Chinese New Year – well, that along with the spirit of a disco KTV, and with late hours to boot (doors close at 2.30am).
Luckily, the grub is far better than any Kareoke-night finger food. The lounge has clearly put heaps of effort into plating, which you might think is reflected in the price, but aside from the top menu items – specifically the onion sea cucumber (RMB 238) and truffle roast duck (RMB 398) – most of the menu is quite affordable. For example, the springtime specialty, malan tou and pomegranate bao go for RMB 29 for eight, and the drunken chicken for just RMB 49.
Being a late-night joint, they haven’t forgotten the drinks, and the cocktail presentation game is on point as well. But more impressively, they’ve got their own brand of wine, wrapped in a label in the same modernized-traditional art style that you’ll see on the walls. The lounge encourages guests to stay late and keep drinking after a meal, welcoming them to play a game of Go as performers entertain on stage. Overall, not a bad spot for a sip and a bite to eat!
Jingba Dalou
2 Xinyuanli Dongjie, Xindong Lu, Chaoyang District
朝阳区新东路新源里东街2号
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Freshly landed in the Twenty-First Century Hotel, Lily’s World is embracing all the latest trends in Western Food that are sweeping the city. In fact, we’re not sure that they’re doing anything new at all, but their efforts to whip up popular meaty dishes like beef wellington (RMB 298) and braised chicken drumlets (RMB 48), the secret-recipe grilled shrimp, and most popular of all, the Kobe beef steak (RMB 468), have all been met with praise thus far.
Bringing little new to the table, it’s unlikely you’ll be going out of your way for a visit, but it’s nice to have another place nearby when you’re craving a decent steak.
Lily's World
40 Liangmaqiao Lu, Twenty-First Century Hotel F1, Chaoyang District
朝阳区亮马桥路40号二十一世界酒店一层
Yishow
Next up, we return to Chinese fine dining with Yishow, the latest dim sum eatery in Maizidian that specializes in... tiny swans and pigeons?
In addition to the more typical dumplings, crab noodles, egg tarts, and chicken feet, the must-try at Yishow is the black swan pastry (RMB 66, pictured at top) – three carefully crafted swans with crunchy feathers, sesame seed tails, and most surprising of all, durian filling!But if you prefer a real bird, the baby pigeon (RMB 68) is the way to go – as long as you don’t mind looking it in the eye. Its skin is cooked to crispy perfection and served with a lime for a little added kick. Meanwhile, a more grounded (and saucy) protein can be found in the black char sui barbecued pork (RMB 68).
Yishow
40 Liangmaqiao Lu, Twenty-First Century Hotel F1, Chaoyang District
朝阳区亮马桥路40号二十一世界酒店一层
READ: New in the Neighborhood: The Latest Barbecue in Chaoyang
Images: Dianping
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