Beijing, an ancient capital with profound cultural heritage, is equally renowned for its enticing cuisine. Whether you’re a food enthusiast or a casual traveler, Beijing’s diverse culinary scene is sure to delight your taste buds. From the iconic Peking Duck to unique traditional snacks, each dish carries a rich history and distinctive flavors. Let’s embark on this culinary journey to explore the top 10 Beijing specialty dishes and more mouthwatering delights.
Top 10 Beijing Specialty Dishes and Intangible Cultural Heritage Foods
北京烤鸭 / Peking Duck
When it comes to Beijing Chinese food, Peking Duck undoubtedly takes the spotlight. This world-famous dish is crafted from high-quality duck, slow-roasted over fruitwood charcoal to achieve crispy skin and succulent, juicy meat. Served with a special sweet bean sauce, thin pancakes, and sliced scallions, each wrap bursts with flavor, leaving you craving more. Whether enjoyed in traditional duck houses or modern restaurants, Peking Duck is a must-try delicacy in Beijing.
老北京铜锅涮肉 / Old Beijing Copper Pot Hotpot
Originating from the Yuan Dynasty, Old Beijing Copper Pot Hotpot remains a beloved favorite among locals. Utilizing a copper pot and charcoal for cooking, with clear water as the broth, it features hand-sliced thin lamb slices that are both flavorful and tender. Paired with a sesame paste dipping sauce, this simple yet exquisite hotpot method preserves the natural flavors of the ingredients, offering warmth and satisfaction during Beijing’s chilly winters.
老北京炸酱面 / Old Beijing Zhajiangmian
Old Beijing Zhajiangmian is a classic noodle dish celebrated for its unique bean paste flavor and rich toppings. Chewy noodles are generously topped with a savory soybean paste, complemented by fresh cucumber strips, bean sprouts, and other vegetables. The combination offers a delightful balance of robust sauce and refreshing veggies, making this simple yet delicious dish an integral part of everyday life for Beijing residents.
北京炒肝 / Beijing Sautéed Liver
Beijing Sautéed Liver is a beloved traditional snack among locals, meticulously prepared using pork intestines and liver. The dish boasts a smooth and tender texture with a delightful savory flavor, often enjoyed alongside Douzhi (豆汁儿). Despite its name suggesting sautéing, the dish is actually stewed, preserving the natural flavors and nutrients of the ingredients. This snack not only tastes great but also showcases Beijing’s unique culinary craftsmanship.
卤煮火烧 / Lu Zhu Huo Shao
Lu Zhu Huo Shao is a classic Beijing breakfast dish, featuring stewed pork intestines, pork lung, and other ingredients stuffed into a crispy flatbread. The combination offers a delightful contrast of crunchy exterior and soft interior, with tender stewed flavors. This dish is not only a tasty choice in the daily lives of Beijing residents but also a must-try for visitors seeking an authentic taste of Beijing.
京酱肉丝 / Jing Jiang Rousi (Shredded Pork in Beijing Sauce)
Jing Jiang Rousi, or Shredded Pork in Beijing Sauce, is a traditional Beijing dish that combines sweet bean sauce with tender pork tenderloin. The delicate shredded pork perfectly melds with the aromatic sauce, typically served with cucumber strips and bean sprouts. Wrapped in tofu skin, each bite offers a rich and satisfying flavor, making it a staple in Beijing home cooking.
驴打滚 / Donkey Rolls
Donkey Rolls are a time-honored traditional Beijing sweet treat, made from glutinous rice flour and sweet red bean paste, rolled in yellow soybean powder for a soft and sweet exterior. Each bite combines the chewy texture of the rice with the sweetness of the red beans, making it a classic favorite among all age groups in Beijing.
豌豆黄 / Pea Cake
Pea Cake is a smooth and delicate Beijing dessert made from mashed peas mixed with sugar and osmanthus flowers, then steamed to perfection. Once a royal delicacy, it is now widely available in the streets and alleys of Beijing. With its gentle texture and refreshing pea aroma, Pea Cake is an excellent choice for cooling down during the summer months.
艾窝窝 / Ai Wo Wo
Ai Wo Wo is a traditional Beijing snack symbolizing royal prestige, made by wrapping glutinous rice with fillings of walnuts, sunflower seeds, and sesame seeds, then steamed to achieve a soft and sweet texture. Its exquisite appearance and rich flavors make it a popular choice for festivals and special occasions.
糖耳朵 / Tang E Duo (Sugar Ears)
Tang E Duo, also known as Sugar Ears, is a traditional Beijing snack that is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside with a rich sweetness. Often enjoyed as a breakfast item or an afternoon tea treat, it pairs perfectly with Douzhi (豆汁儿), highlighting the unique flavors of old Beijing.
Other Notable Beijing Specialty Foods
豆汁配焦圈 / Douzhi with Jiaoquan
Douzhi (豆汁) is a traditional Beijing beverage with a unique flavor that can be initially tangy and slightly sour. Paired with crispy golden Jiaoquan (焦圈), the combination offers a rich layering of textures and tastes. This pairing not only balances the acidity of Douzhi but also adds an extra dimension of crunch, making it a classic duo in the daily lives of Beijing residents.
面茶 / Miancha
Miancha is a traditional Beijing beverage made by cooking wheat flour into a smooth and sweet drink. Beijing locals have a unique way of enjoying it, typically holding the bowl with one hand and swirling it while sipping. This distinctive method not only makes drinking Miancha an enjoyable experience but also adds to its charm. Rich in flavor and nutritious, it’s a great choice for warming up during the winter months.
门钉肉饼 / Mending Meat Pie
Mending Meat Pie is a halal delicacy featuring a crispy exterior and a flavorful, juicy meat filling. Legend has it that this dish originated in the Qing Dynasty palace and was named for its shape, which resembles a door nail. Today, Mending Meat Pie has become a popular street snack throughout Beijing, enjoyed as both breakfast and late-night treats by locals seeking a delicious bite.
北京爆肚 / Beijing Bào Dù
Beijing Bào Dù is a specialty snack made primarily from fresh beef tripe. Carefully blanched to retain its crisp and tender texture, it is then served with sesame paste and chili oil, creating a delicious and flavorful combination. This snack is not only tasty but also rich in protein, making it a favorite healthy choice among Beijing residents.
糖火烧 / Sugar Huo Shao
Sugar Huo Shao involves stuffing sweet sugar fillings into baked flatbreads, resulting in a crispy exterior and a soft, sweet interior. This snack serves both as a dessert and an afternoon tea treat. The meticulous preparation ensures that each bite delivers a perfect blend of sweetness and crunch, making Sugar Huo Shao a delightful indulgence.
冰糖葫芦 / Bing Tang Hulu (Candied Hawthorn Berries)
Bing Tang Hulu, or Candied Hawthorn Berries, is a traditional Beijing winter snack where hawthorn berries are skewered on bamboo sticks, coated in sugar syrup, and cooled to form a crispy sweet shell. With a balanced tangy-sweet flavor and a delightful crunch, Bing Tang Hulu is an essential treat for Beijing residents during the colder months.
地三鲜 / Di San Xian (Three Freshs)
Di San Xian, or Three Freshs, is a classic Beijing home-cooked dish featuring potatoes, eggplants, and green peppers. These ingredients are stir-fried to a fragrant and tender state, perfectly seasoned to enhance their natural flavors. Not only is this dish delicious, but it is also nutritious, making it a common favorite on Beijing dining tables.
过桥米线 / Crossing-the-bridge Rice Noodles
Crossing-the-bridge Rice Noodles, originally from Yunnan, are also very popular in Beijing. This dish consists of delicate rice noodles served with a variety of fresh ingredients and a rich broth. When eating, the ingredients and noodles are added separately to the hot soup, allowing them to blend instantly. The result is a delicious and richly textured meal, offering a unique culinary experience.
驴肉火烧 / Donkey Meat Huo Shao
Donkey Meat Huo Shao involves stuffing tender donkey meat into flatbreads, resulting in a flavorful and uniquely textured dish. This specialty not only tastes great but is also rich in collagen, making it a favorite among health-conscious eaters. Whether enjoyed as breakfast or a snack, Donkey Meat Huo Shao is a delicious choice that stands out in Beijing’s culinary scene.
酸奶 / Sour Milk
Sour Milk is a traditional Beijing beverage with a tangy and sweet taste, commonly consumed as a breakfast drink or snack. Not only is it refreshing, but it also contains probiotics that aid in digestion. Whether found at breakfast stalls or snack shops, Sour Milk is an essential part of the daily diet for Beijing residents.
Beijing Cuisine Menu
English | Chinese | Pinyin |
Peking Duck | 北京烤鸭 | běi jīng kǎo yā |
Instant-boiled Mutton | 涮羊肉 | shuàn yáng ròu |
Sautéed Meat Shreds With Soy Bean Paste | 京酱肉丝 | jīng jiàng ròu sī |
Quick-fried Mutton with Scallions | 葱爆羊肉 | cōng bào yáng ròu |
Noodles with Soy Bean Paste (Zhajiangmian) | 炸酱面 | zhá jiàng miàn |
Quick-fried Tripe | 爆肚 | bào dǔ er |
Peking Barbecue | 北京烤肉 | běi jīng kǎo ròu |
Steamed Bread Soaked in Fish Head Soup | 鱼头泡饼 | yú tóu pào bǐng |
Tofu With Crab Roe | 蟹黄豆腐 | xiè huáng dòu fu |
Luohan Prawns | 罗汉大虾 | luó hàn dà xiā |
Braised Shark’s Fin in Rice Wine Sauce | 黄焖鱼翅 | huáng mèn yú chì |
Bird’s Nest Soup | 清汤燕窝 | qīng tāng yàn wō |
Chinese Cabbage Wrapped Chicken | 菜包鸡 | cài bāo jī |
Boiled Chinese Cabbage in Mustard | 芥末墩儿 | jiè mò dūn er |
Stewed Liver | 炒肝 | chǎo gān |
Mung Bean Milk (Douzhi) | 豆汁儿 | dòu zhī er |
Sugar Huo Shao | 糖火烧 | táng huǒ shāo |
Candied Hawthorn Berries (Tanghulu) | 冰糖葫芦 | bīng táng hú lú |
Three Freshs (Di San Xian) | 地三鲜 | dì sān xiān |
Crossing-the-bridge Rice Noodles | 过桥米线 | guò qiáo mǐ xiàn |
Donkey Meat Huo Shao | 驴肉火烧 | lǘ ròu huǒ shāo |
Sour Milk | 酸奶 | suān nǎi |
Beijing is not only a city rich in history and culture but also a culinary paradise. Its abundant traditional dishes and unique snack culture make it a haven for food enthusiasts. From the crispy and flavorful Peking Duck to the sweet and chewy Donkey Rolls, each dish showcases Beijing’s distinctive culinary traditions and deep historical roots. Whether you’re visiting Beijing for the first time or returning for another visit, the city’s diverse cuisine will always offer new surprises and satisfaction.