Teppanyaki restaurants

This is a cooking style developed from Japan but adapted in Taiwan. Most teppanyaki eateries in the capital offer French style service and a mixture of Western and Chinese food.

Hanado ()

Modern, warm and fashionable place to eat. There is a buffet at 188 yuan (US$), as well as more expensive private rooms.

Open: 10 am - 2pm, 5 pm - midnight

Location: 3/F Kuntai International Mansion, Chaowai Dajie

Tel: 5879-7166

Wenfu Master Chef ()

A lounge style eatery where set meals and a la carte are both provided.

Open: 11 am-10:30 pm

Location: 5/F, A Tower, Winterless Business Centre, No 1 Xidawang Lu, Chaoyang District, to the east of Sunshine 100 International Apartment, Guanghua Lu (1A5100)

Tel: 6538-8800

Vegetarian restaurants

Still Thoughts Vegetarian ()

This is a small but clean and cosy place. Their dishes are better than their hot pot.

Open: 11 am-10 pm

Location: 18 A Dafosi Dongjie, Dongcheng District (18)

Tel: 6400-8941

Pure Lotus ()

Known for its artistic Buddhist decoration of food. Expensive but worth it.

Open: 11 am-11 pm

Location: Inside the yard of Zhongguo Wenlian (China Federation of Literary and Art Circles), No 10 Nongzhanguan Nanlu, Chaoyang District (10 )

Tel: 6592-3627

Dengpin Sushifu/ Xu Xiang Zhai (/)

Buffet and a la carte at mid-price are both available. Near the Confucius and Yonghegong Lama Temples.

Open: 11 am-2 pm, 5:30 pm-9 pm

Location: A 26-1 Guozijian Dajie, Dongcheng District (26-1)

Tel: 6404-6568, 6404-6566

Yi Yang Zhai ()

Elegant environment and quite innovative food. Try their pumpkin soup and kidney bean flour roll.

Open: 930 am-9:30 pm

Location: 1 Yiyuan, Anhui Beili, Beiyuan Lu, Asian Games Village, Chaoyang District ()

Tel: 6497-6535

Pu Yuan Zhai ()

The food is good if not unique. Try the alcohol-free Yanjing beer if you are driving.

Open: 10 am-10 pm

Location: 93 Birth Planning Commission, Eastern part of North Fourth Ring Road, next to Tian Tan Furniture Company (93)

Tel: 8464-3248

Gong De Lin Vegetarian Restaurant ()

Beijing's oldest vegetarian restaurant. The food is good but the environment and service is not as good.

Open: 10:30 am-8:30 pm

Location: No 58 Qianmen Dajie, Chongwen District(58)

Tel: 6702-0867

Lotus In Moonlight ()

Elegant environment and beautiful dishes. Not cheap.

Open: 11 am-2 pm, 5 pm-930 pm

Location: Bldg No 12, Liufang Nanli, Chaoyang District (12)

Tel: 6465-3299

Courtyard restaurants

Gui Gong Fu ()

The former residence of Qing empress' brother, it offers some tea dishes presented in unique style.

Open: 10:30 am-2 pm, 5 pm-10:30 pm

Location: 11 Fangjiayuan, Dongcheng District, go north from International Hotel, turn east into the Dafangjia Hutong, go for 100 metres and turn left (11100)

Tel: 6512-7677

Da Gui ()

Spicy and sour Southwest China's Guizhou cuisine located in a Hutong.

Open: 11 am-2 pm, 5 pm-10 pm

Location: 69 Daxing Hutong, Jiaodaokou, Dongcheng District 69

Tel: 6407-1800

The Gourmet Room ()

A small courtyard, with delicate Cantonese food and good wine.

Open: 6 pm-9:30 pm, Monday-Thursday; 11 am-2 pm, 6 pm-9:30 pm, Friday-Sunday

Location: No 3 Qianhai Xijie, Shichahai, Xicheng District 3 (3)

Tel: 6613-9641

Yan Yi Shan Zhai Ge Ge Fu ()

Waiting staff dress up in ancient Chinese costumes. The cuisine is the so-called "official cuisine" and there are nutritional soups.

Open: 11 am-2 pm, 4:30 pm-10:30 pm

Location: No 9, Daqudeng Hutong, Meishuguan Houjie, Dongcheng District (9)

Tel: 6407-8006

Modern Sichuan

Goldern Barn ()

Old Shanghai style interior and set meals of more than 10 varieties starting at 100 yuan (US$12). Open: 11 am-midnight

Location: 1 Sanlitun Beixiaojie, Chaoyang District ()

Tel: 8454-0264

Southern Beauty ()

A modern, fashionable eatery offering delicate Sichuan and Cantonese dishes.

Open: 11 am-10 pm

Location: west building, 2/F China World, Chaoyang District ()

Tel: 6505-0809

Chinese fusion

Le Quai ()

A lakeside venue with half a real traditional two-floor wooden building and the other half a modern bar.

Open: 11 am-2 pm, 2 pm-5 pm (tea), 5 pm-10 pm, 10 pm -2 am (bar)

Location: Opposite Gate 12 of the Workers Stadium, Chaoyang District (12)

Tel: 6551-1636

(China Daily 12/30/2005 page7)