New restaurants

Chamate The Taiwan-based Chamate (or Yi Cha Yi Zuo in Chinese) Catering Group opened its first restaurant in Beijing in February. Dim sum and nutritious soups. Daily 10 am-10 pm. First underground level of Sung Dong An Market, 138 Wangfujing Street. 6526-0295. , 138

Guan Ye Jie Macao Hot Pot Macao style seafood and nutritious hot pot, fresh cut beef, clam and crabs. 11 am-4 am. 45 Xinyuanjie, Chaoyang District. 8451-2520. 45

Hongse Jingdian Jiqing Suiyue (red classics and passionate times) Restaurant 9:30 am-10 pm. Performances from 12:15 pm-1:15 pm, 7:15 pm-8:15 pm. 266 Baijialou, Eastern Fifth Ring Road, Chaoyang District. 6574-8289. 266

A 21 Rest House Southwest China ethnic minority cuisine from Yunnan, Guizhou and Sichuan, presented in Western style. 11 am-10 pm, A 21 Beitucheng Donglu, Chaoyang District. 6489-5066. 2121

Russian restaurants

Beijing Kiev Restaurant Ukraine foods and performances in a half-basement venue. 11:30 am- midnight. 13 Puhui Nanli, Haidian District. 6828-3482. 13

Xinqiao San Bao Le Russian food and Japanese food. 11:30 am-1:30 pm, 5 pm-8:30 pm. 6513-3366 ext 1771. 2

Yin Ding Ye Se Russian restaurant on the ground floor and dance and music bar upstairs. 10 am-2 pm. 8404-0616. 75

The Elephant Classic Russian restaurant and bar. 11:30 am-1 am. 17 Ritan Beilu, Chaoyang District. 8561-4013. 17

Moscow Restaurant The capital's first Russian restaurant set up in the 1950s for the nostalgic or fashionable Chinese. 11 am-2 pm, 5 pm-9 pm. 6835-4454. 135

Xinjiang restaurants

Lao Xiu Xi Yu Shi Fu One of the biggest Uygur restaurant in town, performances from 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm. 10:30 am-10 pm. 411 Huizhong Beili, Chaoyang District. 6486-2555. 411

Babylon Middle-eastern Asian Islamic foods. Performances start at 7:30 pm. 11 am - 2 pm, 5 pm - 10 pm. 69 Jinbaojie, Dongcheng District. 8511-1339. 69

Xiyuan Hotel Xinjiang Restaurant 11:30 am-2:30 pm, 6 pm-10 pm. 6831-3388 ext 10126.1

Silk Road Restaurant 930 am-2 pm, 4:30 pm-10 pm. 36 Tianze Lu, to the north of Women's Street. 6465-656536()

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.

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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

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 9:30 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-9:30 pm. Bldg No 12, Liufang Nanli, Chaoyang District. 6465-3299. , 12

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 Wait staff dress 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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Latin American

Garden of Delights The cuisine there is defined as contemporary Latin American: a contemporary interpretation of several Pan Latin traditional recipes. The interior design compliments the cuisine to celebrate the senses as a whole. 53 Dong An Men, Dong Cheng District, Next door to Huafu International Hotel and opposite the Children's Theatre. 5138-5688. 53.

Reservation@gardenofdelights.com.cn

(China Daily 03/17/2006 page8)