First Beijing Night Out - What to Do, Where to Eat?

On Wednesday, March 5, we will arrive in Beijing from Shanghai and, after settling into our hotel, the evening is on our own for entertainment and dinner. So I am going to research some possibilities and will share some of what I learn here. (And, of course, come back and report later!)

Frommers (again) has a nice introduction to what to expect when eating out in Beijing; among other things, the Chinese food is often nothing like what we think of as "Chinese food." It also notes that the restaurant scene can change dramatically quickly in Beijing, so we will try not to make final decisions well ahead of time. Hopefully, we can learn more about the current situation as we get closer to March 5.

One early favorite for me is Taipo Tianfu Shanzhen.

Taipo Tianfu Shanzhen Jiulou is among the first few restaurants to sell mushroom hot pot. Various fresh mushrooms cooked in nutritious black-bone chicken broth taste quite different. Finished off with a cup of red bitter deer blood tea, the meal is almost perfect except for the dim lighting.

Location: Building Jia No.19, southern end of Erqi Juchanglu, Fuxingmenwai

Tel: 010-68019641

The quote, above, is from Where to Eat Hot Pot in Beijing? And now that I've looked that over, I guess I am inclined to hot pot, but where? One reference calls Taipo "a total dive . . . [but] amazing" But that's a vegetarian writing. This writer shares that it is easy to order too much added to the pot.

Maybe a little foot massage, before or after dinner?

Well, we have a second dinner free in Beijing on Friday the 7th. I am going to archive this link to a great series of Beijing food descriptions for now. Whoever is posting there as nr706 has put up tons of good info and pictures of plates of food and more. This is a keeper!

Another blogger thought their best meal in Beijing was at Keijia Cai which serves up Hakka cuisine and is likely listed in Frommers with a variant on that spelling? It's in the "Back Lakes" area which is supposed to be interesting to visit.

Hmm. Apparently, the Donghuamen Night Market is a good place to get lots of things we consider strange, skewered on sticks. (Same link as above.)