Eating Your Way Through the City’s Street Foods

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I’m a foodie and there’s nothing I love more than street food. Every time I travel, I’m always on the lookout for the most unique local eats. Nothing puts me off more than a chain restaurant with a bilingual menu.

But I don’t judge those who’ve never experienced real local eats. Being in a completely new city and getting stuck behind the dreaded language barrier can make culinary explorations truly scary. You don’t know which stalls are safe to eat at, which streets boast the best options, or sometimes, what you’re even eating.

So we’ve made it easy for you and turned the idea of Beijing street food exploration into something of a local food scavenger hunt, with a little help from our friends at Lost Plate.

Lost Plate is the recipient of TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Award for Best Foodie Experience in the World. They take small groups to family-run shops off the beaten path, where you’ll not only find real locals tucking into an authentic meal but also learn all about the folks who are cooking it. We’ve drawn on their expertise to put together a tasty guide full of all their must-try recommendations.

Follow the map for a tasty day out in the hutongs. If you want to get in touch with Lost Plate for one of their guided tours, visit their website at www.lostplate.com. Lost Plate is currently running tours in Beijing, Chengdu, Shanghai, Suzhou, Yunnan, and Xi’an.

Thanks to this completely walkable snacking guide, your family can explore the lesser-known hutongs while discovering tasty new eats.

北城兄弟 老北京铜锅涮肉
běi chéng xiōng dì lǎo běi jīng tóng guō shuàn ròu

Hours: 11.30am-10.30pm (weekdays)/ 11am-11pm (weekends)
Address: 鼓楼东大街东公街胡同27号 (No.27 gǔ lóu dōng dàjiē dōng gōng jiē hútòng)
Recommendations: 清汤锅底配秘制麻酱和现炸辣椒油 Clear Broth with Sesame Paste and Fried Chili Oil Dipping, 高钙羊肉 Lamb, 精品肥牛1号 Beef

马氏门钉肉饼
mǎ shì mén dīng ròu bǐng

Hours: 11am-11pm
Address: 车辇店胡同6号 (No. 6 chē niǎn diàn hútòng)
Recommendations: 门钉肉饼 Door Nail Meat Bun

大华煎饼
dà huá jiān bǐng

Hours: 6am-1pm
Address: 北剪子巷21号悠惠万家超市内 (No. 21 běi jiǎn zi xiàng yōu huì wàn jiā chāo shì nèi)
Recommendations: 招牌双蛋煎饼 Signature Double-Egg Jianbing

增盛魁小吃
zēng shèng kuí xiǎo chī

Hours: 6am-9pm (Pro tip: Many of the breakfast items are sold out by 10am)
Address: 大佛寺东街26号 (No. 26 dà fó sì dōngjiē)
Recommendations: 糖油饼 Sugary Pancake, 豆腐脑 Jellied Bean Curd, 牛肉包子 Beef Baozi, 豆馅炸糕 Fried Red Bean Cake

Watch the video below to come along with us on this food tour!

Images: Uni You, Mina Yan

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