Outliers: Escape Your Downtown Comfort Zone and Try These Great Outlying Restaurants

Beijing’s central business district may be chockablock with restaurants but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t some great dining destinations outside of the usual haunts in Chaoyang and Dongcheng Districts. We’ve rounded up a few of our favorites and divided them according to area. This list focuses on Haidian and Shunyi, as these areas have the hgihest concentration of restaurants.

WUDAOKOU/HAIDIAN

If you’ve ever come to Beijing with the sole purpose of studying Chinese, chances are that you lived in Wudaokou. If you didn’t, this student hub of activities may be very far off your radar, although it doesn’t have to be though. We put out some feelers in this northwestern area to see what’s happening in terms of food.

Khan Baba (pictured above)
If you ever have a curry craving, this Pakistani and Indian restaurant is the perfect spot. They have a lunch buffet at RMB 55 per person, which includes, among other things, a delicious okra curry, chickpea curry, chicken curry, and chicken kebabs. 
Daily 10am-10pm. Jixin Dasha, Zhanchunyuan, Haidian District (5692 7068)
汗巴巴巴基斯坦餐厅：海淀区展春园蓟鑫大厦

Sugar Shack Pizza
Wudaokou’s Sugar Shack, once Pyro’s and related to Gung Ho!, is somewhat of a temple for students in this area. Get a New York-style pizza (RMB 115-155 depending on your topping, 18-inch) and pair with jalapeno poppers (RMB 40) or potato skins (RMB 45) to share. If you live nearby, they also deliver until midnight every day, so you don’t even need to leave the house to get your pizza fix.
Daily 10am-1am. Huaqing Jiayuan, Bldg 12, Wudaokou, Haidian District (8286 6240)
海淀区五道口华清嘉园12号楼

Mingdong Barbeque
There’s no lack of char-grilled Korean bites around Wudaokou, but it can be difficult to know where is the best. Mingdong Barbeque is a solid choice for both barbecue and Korean dishes, with meats such as pork belly starting at RMB 38 and RMB 114 for beef sirloin. If you’re into bibimbap, their standard version with pork and kimchi is only RMB 28.
24 hours. 29 Chengfu Lu, Haidian District (6164 7767)
江南烤肉：海淀区成府路29号

Bridge Café
Bridge Café is a 24-hour Wudaokou institution having hosted many a studious, inebriated, and hungover student, as well as many confused and homesick ones. Sandwiches, soups, cooked breakfasts, and pastas are well presented and also have great flavor, ranging in price between RMB 16-50, with drinks approximately RMB 25-38.  For breakfast, try the fruit pancakes with apple or banana (RMB 35). 
24 hours. 12-8 Huaqing Jiayuan, Haidian District (8286 7026) 
桥咖啡：海淀区华清嘉园12-8号

Windy City Ballroom
Comfort food is the name of the game at Windy City. Chef Dustin Merrett (formerly of Home Plate) whips up classic American dishes such as ribs and steaks. It may be outside of the north Fifth Ring Road, but Windy City is worth the trip for downtowners. 
Daily 11am-10pm. 9 Yongtaizhuang Beilu, Haidian District (6299 3777)
风渡嘉荷西餐厅：海淀区永泰庄北路9号

SHUNYI

Shunyi may seem remote for us downtowners, but for the many expats that call it home there is a great range of restaurant options. Just remember that the restaurants in Shunyi are often quite spread out, so getting around on foot isn’t always an option.
    
L’Atelier
This French bakery offers an array of authentic (and delicious) breads and pastries, all baked in house. A good option for a quick lunch or for Shunyi residents to pick up their daily bread.
Opening times vary. 102, Bldg 2, Huizhan Yujing, Yufeng Lu, Shunyi District (5686 4089)
讲麦堂：顺义区裕丰路会展誉景2号楼底商102室

Shalimar
Shalimar opened in the middle of 2015 and quickly became our favorite Pakistani-Indian restaurant in Shunyi. Their vegetarian offerings stand out – try the chana masala, a richly-spiced chickpea curry. 
Daily 10am-10pm. 104, 1/F, Bldg 8, 18 Yufeng Lu, Shunyi District (5686 4641)
顺义区裕丰路18号8号楼1层104室

The Orchard
An institution among Shunyi residents, The Orchard serves tasty Western food (often with organic, homegrown ingredients) on beautiful grounds lined with fruit trees, trellises, and ponds. A quick trip here and you’ll feel worlds away from Beijing.
Daily noon-3pm, 6-9pm. Hegezhuang Village, Cuigezhuang, Shunyi District (6433 6270)
果园西餐厅：顺义区崔各庄乡何各庄村

CHANGPING

Seawolf Eatery & Distillery
100 percent American-owned and operated, Seawolf serves classic Western dishes such as steaks, salads, and pizza to a hungry audience in Changping. Live music every Friday night. 

Daily 11am-midnight. A27 Shuiguan Xincun, Fukang Lu, Changping District (185 0010 6339)
昌平区富康路水关新村甲27号

TONGZHOU

Whale’s Pizza
If you find yourself in Tongzhou and fancy a pizza then you could do worse than heading to Whale’s. Be warned though, this is no ordinary pizza – the founder decided to create “Chinese-inspired” pizzas topped with things like Urumqi roast lamb, mala crayfish, and (shudder) durian.

Daily 10am-10pm. 3/F, Beiyuan Wanda Plaza, Tongzhou District (5090 6086)
鲸品切匹萨：通州区北苑万达广场3层

Photos courtesy of Khan Baba, Star5221 (Flickr)