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About Western Cuisines in Beijing

Just like the capital’s culture, Beijing cuisine has absorbed and been influenced by many of the flavours of China’s regions.

Chinese cuisine in general has the four distinct regional cooking styles of Sichuan (Chuan) to the West, Canton (Cantonese) to the South, Shangdong (Lu) to the East  and Jiangsu (Huaiyang) to the North and the cuisine of Beijing brings together these contrasting styles.

In Beijing you can find menus from around the world including Spanish, French and Italian restaurants that are well-established, and Japanese, Indian and Thai outlets, that are also very popular with local Beijingers.

About Western Cuisines in Beijing

Visitors to Beijing that want Western food will be able to find it, even if the quality is not always what’s expected. Mediterranean food is plentiful, as is food from the rest of Europe and the US. Immediately to mind come Frank’s Place (US), Grandmas (US), Annies (Italy) and Nuage (France/Vietnam), all established names on the city’s World Cuisine circuit.

Tips

• Restaurants in Beijing usually do not require tips or a service charge. Some expensive restaurants will charge 15% service.
• Opening times usually 11am-2pm and 5pm-10pm
• Menus written in Chinese, so be warned: bring a friendly translator!!
• Do not worry about getting the chopsticks right first time: practice not perfection!!
• Do observe some of the taboos associated with eating in China.