CITY GUIDE >Food Reviews
Hua Jia Yi Yuan
By Bobby Brill (bestfoodinchina.net)
Updated: 2008-08-07 10:30

Hua Jia Yi Yuan

However with a bit of honey mixed in the green bean juice is a cool and refreshing drink that really must be tried, you will love it.

To start with, the famous and original creation named after the restaurant, the Yi Yuan Chicken, was a real surprise. A mix of Beijing sesame paste, Guangdong style chicken and Sichuan heat combined with traditional crunchy snacks and greens was the most impressive and tasty "salad" I have ever had.

Taking elements from the best three styles in China gives you insight into the restaurants thinking. Following that spicy frog with green peppercorns; the young peppercorns give the aroma you want without the mouth searing heat.

Duck wrapped in tofu, kidneys with red peppers and lotus root stuffed with glutinous rice rounded out the rest of the main course. A prefect mix of cold and hot dishes-spicy and sweet, Beijing cuisine as it should be.

But something is very different here. All of the dishes sampled are normally heavy and oily and even a bit greasy sometimes; don't get me wrong, we all know that is why it tastes so good.

However, listening to their customers and staying open to the changing tastes the restaurant has succeeded in reimagining the traditional recipes for healthier options and a more discerning customer.