Back for More: Pebbles Courtyard, Wudaoying

Mexican cuisine is experiencing somewhat of a renaissance in Beijing, with The Taco Bar flourishing and expanding onto an outside patio, Fiesta Tex-Mex opening up, and old favorites like Q Mex and Pebbles Courtyard, previously Sand Pebbles Lounge, expanding their menus.

Pebbles Courtyard’s rebrand includes an expansion into the back of the building – covered with glass, the space provides for some dining under natural light during the day and as close as possible to an outdoor area in the summer when temperatures become unbearable in the rest of the city’s open-air courtyards. Their rooftop has also opened again – one of the neighborhoods’ best kept secrets.

Having visited many times prior to the revamp, I had already settled on staple items, but was forced to re-think old go-tos with the new menu. Pebbles Courtyard now serves more salads, hamburgers, fish and chips, individual tacos (perfect for mix and match), and a number of different burritos.

The large guacamole and beans nachos (RMB 55) remained generously topped with melted cheese, sour cream, jalapenos, fresh diced tomato, and of course, guacamole, and beans. Honestly, the best thing about the nachos at Pebbles Courtyard is that they’re laid out flat, so there are no soggy, topping-less, sad nachos left at the bottom, the pet peeve of any nacho connoisseur. We also had a fajita steak burrito (RMB 88), which now comes with a side serving of fresh salsa and a side salad.

Pebbles Courtyard has a place in the heart of many residents near Andingmen or the Lama Temple, having served up big margaritas and solid burritos for years. The new space is even more welcoming with more tables for Gulou’s laptop warriors, or those who want to “work from home” with a margarita in hand.

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Photos: Ken