Scrumptious smorgasbord

The name of the restaurant, Joy Luck (乐福), is very similar to that of a famous Hong Kong movie, Joy Luck Club, that tells the story of a group revolving around mahjong and food started by four Chinese American immigrant families. The manager admits he has had people asking about it, but says it's a sheer coincidence.

The restaurant adopts a supermarket style, where you can visit nine different food stations, find the foods you like, and have them cooked a la minute. The inspiration came from the owners' travels abroad. The dishes they have selected for their menu reflect their understanding of what can get popular here - fresh vegetable salad, Japanese sushi and sashimi, Italian pasta and pizza, Shanxi noodles, nutritious soups from Guangdong, teppanyaki, Cantonese dim sum, freshly squeezed fruits, and gelato.

Most people can find something they like here. And a trip to the food station, with its beautiful sushi, a variety of fresh meats, and other freshly prepared foods, can itself increase your appetite. Another interesting specialty here is the Hunan-style fried dishes - the Xiang cuisine, which is becoming popular among Chinese in Beijing - known for its savory, and mildly spicy taste. Recommendations include Hunan "general duck" (湖南将军鸭), fried preserved pork (炒腊肉), "three-cup" chicken in clay pot (三杯鸡), and all the pizzas.