Mercure Beijing Zhongguancun

Exquisite artwork and elaborate wainscoting set the scene for a dining experience that is the epitome of stylish, even down to the hand-painted tableware. The restaurant prefers to customise menus to diners’ tastes ahead of time, but à la carte choices also abound. Top notch ingredients are deftly crafted with spot-on seasoning and outstanding wok hei. During the mushroom season, try the sautéed lurid bolete with wrinkly chillies.

For almost 20 years, diners have been flocking here for authentic Hunanese fare. Head of organic bighead carp is traditionally steamed with heaps of chopped chillies, but you can also opt for the variation that uses two kinds of chillies, or have it braised with perilla leaves. Soft and umami-laden, the fried duck in Yongzhou style is perfumed in litsea oil. Snacks like stinky tofu and mugwort dumplings are also popular. Expect to queue at mealtimes.

The owner has paid tribute to his ethnic roots by naming his restaurant, La Roba, after a subgroup of the Nuosu tribe in Yunnan. The exotic ethnic flair is manifest on every level from the decor and artwork to the waiters’ outfits and background music. The menu features all Yunnan’s classic dishes, such as the deliciously chewy millefeuille pea flour pancake. The Dali-style fish braised in pickled papaya is tart, fruity and appetising. Expect to queue at peak periods.

Founded in 1930, this state-owned restaurant specialises in Jiangzhe cooking, especially river fish cooked in myriad ways. Diners pick their own catch from the huge live fish tanks. The menu also features roast duck and regional cuisines. The Zhenjiang pork trotter aspic has the perfect ratio of fatty and lean meat; the stir-fried swamp eel in brown sauce is flavoursome and velvety. Reservations are only accepted for bookings before noon.

For over 20 years, the brand has been a celebrated institution, both within and beyond Hunan. Its first outpost in Beijing greets diners with a bright red entrance, a visual clue to its hot fiery food. The must-try fried pork loin with crackling delivers fascinating textures and rich flavours. Rice paddy eel flown in from Hunan is slaughtered the same day before being stewed in shiso leaves and pickled mustard greens. The in-house preserved meat is also worth trying.

Pizza

Chinese