Most Popular Restaurants in Beijing

After reading plenty of reviews of Beijing restaurants, we have selected the best 10 restaurants that are greatly popularized and appreciated by Beijing locals and western friends.

1. The Courtyard (American Cuisine)

Address: 95 Donghuamen Street, Beijing
Business hours: 6:00pm – 10:00pm
Tel: (86) 010 6526 8883
Average Cost: RMB400 per person

The CourtYard has received critical acclaim worldwide, and was the first restaurant in China to be rated by Conde Nast Traveler as one of the 50 Most Exciting Restaurants of the World.

Located in a historic building that belonged to the imperial court of the Qing Dynasty, the CourtYard has been renovated to fuse the past with the present and Asian architecture with Western design. After dinner, visit the CourtYard Gallery Lounge on the lower level, where guests can enjoy a drink surrounded by the works of Chinese contemporary artists.

Handel Lee, an American attorney, established the CourtYard restaurant in 1997. Since its founding, the CourtYard has become a Beijing landmark, hosting some of the world's most famous people, from statesmen to movie stars. Handel Lee is founder and vice chairman of Three on the Bund in Shanghai, as well as the driving force behind the highly anticipated Legation Quarter on the southeast corner of Tiananmen Square. The CourtYard restaurant is open seven nights a week from 6 pm to 10pm. Reservations are highly recommended.

2.  Da Dong Roast Duck Nanxincang Branch (Peking Roast Duck)

Address: 1-2F, Nanxincang International Plaza, 22A Dongsishitiao, Dongcheng District
Business hours: 11:00am-10:00pm
Tel: 86-10-51690329 
Average Cost: RMB 150 per person

The Da Dong Roast Duck ca be served with three methods of preparation: 1) Crispy duck with fine sugar, 2) Sweet sauce with sliced leek, cucumber and radish, 3) Garlic paste. Voted "Best Beijing Duck" and "Best Chinese Restaurant of the Year" in the 2008 Reader Restaurant Awards. Da Dong is also famous for its unique super lean roast duck and healthy eating recipes. The staff is friendly, they offer an English menu, and ducks tend to cost RMB 158-178.

3. Haidilao Hot Pot Restaurant Xidan Branch (Hotpot)

Address: 7F, Xixi friendship emporium building, No.109, Xidan beidajie, Xicheng District
Business hours: 10:30am-3:00am
Tel:  86-10-66174063/66174043
Average Cost: RMB80

Haidilao has five branches in Beijing, all which have good reputations among diners. Haidilao provides authentic Sichuan hot pot. All dishes are available in both full and half portions. But what make dining at Haidilao a pleasant experience are its various free services which make queuing for the dishes a pleasure in itself. At Haidilao all diners are entitled to free ice water, fruit salad, melon seeds, nail care and shoe shining.

4. Chuan Ban Restaurant (Sichuan Cuisine)

Address: No.5 Gongyuan Toutiao, Jianguomennei Dajie, Jianguomen
Tel: 86-10-65122277
Business hours: 24hours
Average cost: RMB60

The location should say something about the food: Chuan Ban Restaurant is located in the Sichuan province's Beijing representative office, Jianguomen. This is considered to be the most authentic Sichuan dining experience in Beijing. Though the decor is simple and standard, this tiny venue seems to always have a line out the door. Shuizhuyu (spicy water-boiled fish) and Mala Toufu are the main staple Sichuan dishes and the most popular served here. A wide selection of other spicy Sichuan dishes, cold dishes and wines are also offered. The food is authentic and spicy, a perfect combination. Booking ahead is wise.

5. Hannashan Korean Restaurant (Korean Cuisine)

Address: Close to Guoan Theatre, No.8, Huayuan Donglu, Haidian district
Tel: 86-10-82037888
Business hours: 10:00am-9:00pm
Average cost: RMB60

Hannashan is one of the most popular Korean chain restaurants with many branches in Beijing, Shanghai and other cities in China. It is themed with BBQ choices and traditional Korean cuisine aiming to bring customers a comfortable and unique dining experience. Hannashan enjoys much popularity among Beijing locals and its many branches are receiving more and more local customers as it develops.

6. Moscow Restaurant (Moscow Cuisine)

Address: No.135 Xizhimen Waidajie, Xizhimen, Haidian District (beside Beijing Exhibition Center)
Business hours: 11:00am-2:00pm 5:00pm-9:00pm
Tel: 86-10-68354454
Average Cost: RMB150 per person

Moscow Restaurant was opened in the 1950s and has become a well known location for Russian cusine. Recently renovated and redecorated, the Moscow Restaurant kept it's traditional taste and atmosphere with udated facilities. With soaring ceilings and ornate decorations, dining here is a unique experience. Authentic Russian dishes fill the menu including borscht and chicken Kiev with a long drink list as well.

7. Jindingxuan Restaurant Ditan Branch (Cantonese Cuisine)

Address: No. 77 Heping Xijie, Dongcheng district
Tel: 86-10-64296888/64299888
Business hours: 24hours
Average cost: RMB50-80

Jindingxuan's rotor style construction together with its traditional Cantonese dishes has won great favor among people. It is also one of the few restaurants that you could go and have meal in midnight. There are always crowded even in early morning. Decorations there are totally Chinese-style. There are tables in the first and second floor and private rooms on the third and fourth floor. They offer not only Cantonese dishes but also Sichuan dishes and Huaiyang dishes. There are also many options for refreshment and all of them cost only RMB3.8 during certain time of the day.

8. Hard Rock Café (Café)

Address: No.8, North Dongsanhuan Road, Landmark Hotel, Chaoyang District
Business Hours: 11:30am - 2:00am
Tel: 86-10-65906688 Ext 2571-4
Average Cost: 100-300RMB per person

Located within the hub of Beijing's embassies, hotels and entertainment district, the 1,700 square meters, 2-level restaurant has a seating capacity of 400. This is the largest Hard Rock Café in Asia. Guests can choose to have their drinks at the giant guitar bar or dine under the 8 meters wide dome with hand painted pictures of rock ‘n' roll legends. Over 400 pieces of music memorabilia line the walls, keeping the music of a bygone era alive. The Hard Rock Café- Beijing is still rocking today, even 10 years after opening its doors. It is a melting pot where people of all nationalities can come together for good food, great music and a rocking good time.

Hard Rock has worked tirelessly on behalf of a wide range of charities and environmental causes. The founders' determination to “Love All, Serve All” and “Save The Planet” is still very much the heart of the Hard Rock philosophy.

9. Zhang Sheng Ji (Zhejiang Cuisine)

Address: 2F annexed building, Zhejiang Dasha, 26 Anzhen Xili Sanqu, North Third Ring Road, Chaoyang District
Business hours: 11:00am-2:00pm 5:00pm-9:00pm
Tel: 86-10-64420006/64420007
Average Cost: RMB100 per person

This restaurant is the Zhejiang people's home. Zhang Sheng Ji's décor is humble but you will find the most authentic dishes here. The most popular orders include the xihu vinegar fish and duck soup.

10. Huajia Yiyuan Dongzhimen Branch

Address: No.5, Dongzhimen Neidajie, Chaoyang district
Business hours: 11:30am-2:00am
Tel: 86-10-84078288
Average Cost: RMB200 per person

Huajiayiyuan has quiet quadrangle, spacious house, all kinds of delicacies, graceful music, celebrity's trace and fashionable people.
Huajiayiyuan's branches have their own trait. Guijie restaurant is simple and unsophisticated. The giant transparent ceiling of the front courtyard is original and unique, and makes you feel in the garden. The mid and backyard is quiet. Guozhan restaurant is gorgeous and imperial. It has flowered, stone, small bridge and stream. The head restaurant is spacious and bright. The soft music and graceful dancing make you linger.