Beijing's best bites

Best creative Chinese cuisine

Da Dong Jinbao Place

With the establishment of this new branch, Da Dong is one step closer to its goal of being an internationally acclaimed Chinese restaurant. Although the old Tuanjie Lake branch still roasts the best duck, the new Jinbao Place has combined tradition with modern cooking trends. With occasional shows of molecular gastronomy, a dining experience at the restaurant becomes fun and enjoyable. Tel: 8522-1234

Wish Restaurant &Lounge

The rise of Wish is due to two things - a creative chef and a glass room which sunshine pours into. Despite occasional complaints that its food quality isn't stable enough, the eatery is able to make typical Chinese foodstuffs - bean curd and toon leaf, sauted buns, and Beijing traditional dim sum - into fashionable and tasty treats. The sweets are a must-try. Tel: 6438-1118

Best seafood

Tang Palace

This kind of restaurant was struck hardest during the past year, by the global financial crisis. But the Cantonese seafood restaurant managed to keep prices low and food quality stable to keep customers. It is now known as one of the best value seafood restaurants in town. Besides good seafood, the restaurant makes great tasting roast pigeon, prawn dumplings, durian crisp cake and some other good dim sum. Wangjing branch, Tel: 6512-9603

Best river fish

Jia Yu He Xian Fish Restaurant

A friend took a curious Beijinger to fish at the Yangtze River in Sichuan's Yibin. He was so impressed by the quality and freshness of the fish, he returned and opened his own fish restaurant. All fish are transported directly from fishing boats and arrive in Beijing on the same day. Although some are costly, the eatery is the best place to try some seriously fresh river fishes. Tel: 8779-5955

Qian Tang Chao

The newly opened Hangzhou cuisine restaurant shows some genuine creativity in making Xiaoshan pickled dried radish into a savory smooth tasting jelly. Roast cabbage Ningbo style, marinated dried fish with yellow rice wine, and steamed turbot in a traditional style are all worth trying. Tel: 6591-7771