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$23), as well as more expensive private rooms. Daily 10 am - 2pm, 5 pm - midnight. 3/F Kuntai International Mansion, Chaowai Dajie. 5879-7166. 3

Wenfu Master Chef A lounge style eatery where set meals and a la carte are both provided. Daily 11 am-10:30 pm. 5/F, A Tower, Winterless Business Centre, No 1 Xidawang Lu, Chaoyang District, to the east of Sunshine 100 International Apartment, Guanghua Lu. 6538-8800. , 1A5100

Vegetarian restaurants

Still Thoughts Vegetarian This is a small but clean and cosy place. Their dishes are better than their hot pot. Daily 11 am-10 pm. 18 A Dafosi Dongjie, Dongcheng District. 6400-8941. ,18

Pure Lotus Known for its artistic Buddhist decoration of food. Expensive but worth it. Daily 11 am-11 pm. Inside the yard of Zhongguo Wenlian (China Federation of Literary and Art Circles), No 10 Nongzhanguan Nanlu, Chaoyang District. 6592-3627. , 10

Dengpin Sushifu/ Xu Xiang Zhai Buffet and a la carte at mid-price are both available. Near the Confucius and Yonghegong Lama Temples. Daily 11 am-2 pm, 5:30 pm-9 pm. A 26-1 Guozijian Dajie, Dongcheng District. 6404-6568, 6404-6566. /, 26-1

Yi Yang Zhai Elegant environment and quite innovative food. Try their pumpkin soup and kidney bean flour roll. Daily 930 am-9:30 pm. 1 Yiyuan, Anhui Beili, Beiyuan Lu, Asian Games Village, Chaoyang District, 6497-6535. ,

Pu Yuan Zhai The food is good if not unique. Try the alcohol-free Yanjing beer if you are driving. Daily 10 am-10 pm. 93 Birth Planning Commission, Eastern part of North Fourth Ring Road, next to Tian Tan Furniture Company. 8464-3248. 93

Gong De Lin Vegetarian Restaurant Beijing's oldest vegetarian restaurant. The food is good but the environment and service is not as good. Daily 10:30 am-8:30 pm. No 58 Qianmen Dajie, Chongwen District. 6702-0867. , 58

Lotus In Moonlight Elegant environment and beautiful dishes. Not cheap. Daily 11 am-2 pm, 5 pm-930 pm. Bldg No 12, Liufang Nanli, Chaoyang District. 6465-3299. , 12

Lu Se Tian Shi Vegetarian Restaurant It is a member of the World Vegetarian League. Dishes are good-looking but expensive. There is a vegetarian ingredients store downstairs. Daily 10:30 am-10 pm. No 57-5 Dengshikou, Dongcheng District. 6524-2349.

, 57-5

Hao Sheng Yi Fan Zhuang Formerely the Ma Niang Niang Vegetarian Restaurant, but now offers both vegetarian food and meat dishes. Daily 9:30 am-11 pm. No 221 Chaoyangmennei Nanxiaojie, Dongcheng District. 6559-4161. , 221

Su Xin Ge Cheap food and OK environment. Daily 9:30 am-10 pm. Dongsi Beidajie, between Dongsi Qitiao and Dongsi Liutiao, on the eastern side of street. 8401-0658. ,

Lily Vegetarian Meal Restaurant Quiet environment with books to read. Dishes taste rather light. Daily 11 am -10 pm. 1/F, Jimen Hotel, Beisanhuan, Haidian District. 6202-5284.

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Courtyard restaurants

Gui Gong Fu The former residence of Qing empress' brother, it offers some tea dishes presented in unique style. Daily 10:30 am-2 pm, 5 pm-10:30 pm. 11 Fangjiayuan, Dongcheng District, go north from International Hotel, turn east into the Dafangjia Hutong, go for 100 metres and turn left. 6512-7677. , 11100

Da Gui Spicy and sour Southwest China's Guizhou cuisine located in a Hutong. Daily 11 am-2 pm, 5 pm-10 pm. 69 Daxing Hutong, Jiaodaokou, Dongcheng District. 6407-1800. 69

The Gourmet Room A small courtyard, with delicate Cantonese food and good wine. Daily 6 pm-9:30 pm, Monday-Thursday; 11 am-2 pm, 6 pm-9:30 pm, Friday-Sunday. No 3 Qianhai Xijie, Shichahai, Xicheng District 3. 6613-9641. , 3

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. Daily 11 am-2 pm, 4:30 pm-10:30 pm. No 9, Daqudeng Hutong, Meishuguan Houjie, Dongcheng District. 6407-8006. , 9

Modern Sichuan

Goldern Barn Old Shanghai style interior and set meals of more than 10 varieties starting at 100 yuan (US$12). Daily 11 am-midnight. 1 Sanlitun Beixiaojie, Chaoyang District. 8454-0264. ,

Southern Beauty A modern, fashionable eatery offering delicate Sichuan and Cantonese dishes. Daily 11 am-10 pm. West building, 2/F China World, Chaoyang District. 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. Daily 11 am-2 pm, 2 pm-5 pm (tea), 5 pm-10 pm, 10 pm -2 am (bar). Opposite Gate 12 of the Workers Stadium, Chaoyang District. 6551-1636. , 12

Da Zhai Men Traditional Chinese architecture, performances and popular Chinese foods. Daily 11 am-2 pm, 5 pm-11 pm. Guoxing Jiayuan, Shouti Nanlu, Xicheng District. 8835-6687.

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German

Der Landgraf German sausage and draft beer, in a classic milieu. Daily 11 am-1 am. 2A Pufang Lu, Fangzhuang, Fengtai District. 6768-2664. ,

Paulaner Brauhaus Good German food, country style. Daily 11:30 am-1 am. 50 Liangmaqiao Lu, Kempinski Hotel, Chaoyang District. 6465-3388 ext 5732. , 50

French

Brasserie Flo One of the most hailed places by the locals to eat "authentic" French food in a romantic ambience, at a cost. There is a terrace to get some sunlight and the oyster is imported. Daily noon-3:30 pm, 6 pm-midnight. 2/F Rainbow Plaza, 16 Dongsanhuan Beilu, Chaoyang District. 6595-5135. , 16

Cuisine Gallery Classic ambience and innovative food. Good hotel service. Can be quite empty if it's not a holiday. Daily 11:30 am-2 pm, 5:30 pm-9:30 pm. 2/F Novotel Xinqiao Hotel, 2 dongjiaominxiang, Dongcheng District. 6513-3366 ext 2206. , 2

Justine's Traditional and renovated French food. There is a healthy set meal for the ladies. Daily 6:30 pm-9:30 pm. 1/F Jianguo Hotel, 5 Jianguomenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District. 6500-2233 ext 803. , 5

Maxim's de Paris Classic food and dcor. Popular among the locals. A bit dark inside. Daily 11 am-2 pm, 5 pm-10 pm. 2 Chongwenmen Xidajie, Chaongwen District. 6512-1992. ,2

Fusion

Jing Open kitchen buffet comprising Western and Chinese Cantonese food. Daily 11 am-11:30 pm. Basement of Peninsula Palace Hotel, 8 Jinyu Hutong, Wangfujing, Dongcheng District. 6559-2888 ext 6714. , 8

Golden Jaguar More than 300 choices, open kitchen cooking, international cuisine. Daily 11 am-2:30 pm. Bldg 2, 214 Huizhong Beili, Asian Games Village, Chaoyang District. 5128-1888. , 214

Le Hugo French Vietnamese food and dcor. Different, and tasty. Daily 10 am-11pm. Eastern side of Beijing Customs Building, 10 Guanghua Lu, Chaoyang District. 6581-5060. , 10

Italian

Adria Pizza and other Italian specialities. Daily 11:30 am-11 pm. 16 Xinyuan Jie, 300 metres north of Capital Mansion, Chaoyang District. 6460-0896. , 16300

(China Daily 01/13/2006 page8)