Chinese choices for the best in dining

ON TUESDAY, Meituan-Dianping, China's largest service-focused e-commerce platform, launched its first Black Pearl Restaurant Guide, highlighting 330 restaurants in 22 Chinese cities and five overseas cities. Beijing Youth Daily comments:

Some media outlets have referred to the Black Pearl Restaurant Guide as China's version of the Michelin Guide. And it is true, the restaurants selected by the Black Pearl Restaurant Guide are put through a similar vigorous selection process by a team consisting of chefs, culinary experts, and special advisers.

However, the Black Pearl Restaurant Guide should not be considered as simply an imitation of the Michelin Guide. Rather, it is a strong competitor to the Michelin Guide, which included eateries in Hong Kong in 2008 and Shanghai in 2016 and is reportedly planning to cover more Chinese cities. As the first restaurant guide written by Chinese experts and Chinese diners that rates Chinese restaurants, the Black Pearl Restaurant Guide will definitely boost Chinese consumers' confidence in China's rich food culture.