Joanna James
An oriental urban fantasy blending cutting-edge glamour and heritage-rich poetry, Beijing is an elaborate tapestry of irresistible contrasts, which extend to its diverse, multi-faceted food culture! Here’s where you can find the best street snacks for an elevated culinary experience.
An essential facet of Beijing’s mouthwatering food scene, its eat streets and night markets are the best places to taste the most authentic versions of the city’s ages-old cuisine while getting lost in the stimulatingly picturesque warrens and pleasantly hobnobbing with locals and tourists alike. If you want to start your gourmet street snacking expedition with the most iconic and beloved warren in Beijing head straight to Wangfujing, where you’ll also have plenty of traditionally designed handicrafts and souvenirs to rummage through. Some must-try delicacies include steamed stuffed meat buns (baozi), decadently roasted sweet potatoes, red bean curd, fried beef tripe, and crab-apple skewers coated in sugary syrup.
Also known as Ox Street, this historic hub hosts the largest and most ancient mosque in Beijing, along with picture-perfect stalls selling the famously flavour-packed Hui snacks interspersed with speciality treats from the twenty-three other ethnicities dwelling in the area. Whether you fancy succulent mutton kebabs, spice-infused beef noodle soup, and sesame pancakes bursting with minced meat or toothsome sweets like date and yam rolls, fried sugar cakes, and rose-flavoured candied hawthorns, this colourful cultural street is an immersive foodie haven.
If you’re obsessed with the imperial enchantment of Beijing’s antique edifices like the storybook Summer Palace and old-world hutongs hosting picturesque thrift shops, book nooks, courtyards, and patisseries, the transporting Qing Dynasty architecture of Ping’an Street, from royal mansions to quaint shophouses, will get you weak in the knees! You also get to savour nostalgic local favourites like noodles slathered in black bean sauce, fried lamb tripe, mung bean milk, and crunchy spicy fried crab. If you’re looking for sophisticated hotel apartments in Beijing offering exclusive access to its vibrant gastronomic enclaves, venture no further than Citadines Ritan Beijing.
For antique stores stocked with olden-days Beijing snacks and every corner exuding an intoxicating aroma of flavoursome dishes, you can’t miss out on this charmingly traditional off-the-beaten-path oasis. Here, you can treat your tastebuds to the likes of delicately salted miancha porridge, glutinous rice rolls filled with sweet bean paste, sesame seed cakes, and crispy noodles.
For a more upmarket avenue treasuring time-honoured eateries, along with elegantly vintage stores like the famed Zhangyiyuan Tea Shop, Majuyuan Hat Store, and Ruifuxiang Silk Store, this fascinating street is the perfect atmospheric escape after exploring the historically remarkable Tiananmen Square. You can also splurge on unforgettable dishes like the famed Quanjude roast duck served with plums in syrup, ox tail braised in brown sauce, golden fried prawns, crispy chicken, and wantons.
For a delectable smorgasbord of international fusion cuisine and authentic ethnic fare, you can’t do better than charmingly snackable Fangzhuang, whether you’re craving Chinese rarities like spicy hotpot, Peking Duck, and sour-sweet grilled fish or delicious variations of Asian and European dishes.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
