Best Creped Secret: Sanlitun SOHO’s Moment Cafe

Sanlitun Soho is still nowhere near as popular as Sanlitun Village, but it’s places like Moment Cafe that are going to be instrumental in shifting the balance. People have been longing for a reason to cross the bridge and now Moment Cafe offers them a good balance of the elements everyone loves in a cozy café: good coffee, fast Wi-Fi and food that makes you want to stay until you feel hungry again.

Sure, there are other places to find savory crepes in Beijing, but they’re all such waifish little offerings, whereas Moment’s crepes are as substantial as they are delectable. The “Ella” crepe (RMB 37) makes for a tasty, filling lunch with slices of salty ham, fresh mushrooms and lavish amounts of melted cheddar. And where else can you find fillings like smoked salmon and spicy salami?

Honorable mentions also go to a couple of their signature sandwiches. The “Gusto Perfetto” (RMB 37) features crisp focaccia stuffed with creamy blue cheese, spinach and sour cream while the “Indiavolato” (RMB 35) fills ciabatta with succulent grilled chicken and spicy jalapeño spread. It has a strong chilli kick, but isn’t so fiery as to obscure the flavor of the chicken.

To round things off, the “Una” (RMB 39) is a must-try; the thin, light crepe is served with vanilla ice cream, tart syrupy cherries, and enough Nutella to choke a horse.

The reasonable prices are surprising, considering the location and generous portion sizes. On the off-chance that any Sanlitun Soho executives are reading this: more Moments like these, please.

Moment Cafe
Daily noon-10pm. B1-525, Sanlitun Soho, Gongti Beilu, Chaoyang District (8590 0724)
朝阳区工体北路三里屯Soho B1-525

Photos: Moment Cafe