Cheap, Healthy Fast Food at Levante’s, If You Can Get There in Time

The basement at Pacific Century Place has a totally different vibe (i.e. alive) during lunchtime. Actually, it's our second time at Levante’s, because there was no food left for us the first time we arrived, and it was only 12.30pm on a weekday. Lesson learned – never underestimate the hungry crowds around Tuanjiehu/Sanlitun.

When I say cheap, healthy fast food, I’m not talking about 7-Eleven salad. Levante’s might be an upgraded version though. Arriving Levante’s, all you need to do is to queue up, then decide to go Western or go Chinese – for RMB 35, going western will get you a salad and a drink; going Chinese will get you three dishes from four choices with rice and a drink. We opted for the chicken salad with a peach and jasmine ice tea. The salad was served in the most careless way – the sliced chicken, avocado, corn, red kidney beans, green beans, mango, and shredded carrot were buried under soggy lettuce. Don’t get us wrong, it tasted good, the sliced chicken was abundant, and the vinaigrette was put aside and not bad. While peach jasmine ice tea was a bit too sweet for our liking, it was none the less cold enough and refreshing.

If you don’t like to wait or you're still under the 2017 Pizza Cup's spell, try the pizza here with several choices, such as mushroom with beef, or pepperoni (around RMB 48). There are also pasta, yogurt, chopped fruit, and sandwiches in the fridge along the wall to the right, as well as a bunch of pastries on the left. We tried the matcha red been bread (RMB14), which had chocolate stuffing and was quite sugary. The place is lively and reminds me of Kew Café in London, with their similar concepts and food options. Maybe even better than Kew Café, since we could overhear nearby diners gossiping about the tribulations of their relationships, which you will to if you're lucky enough to grab a seat during the lunch peak.

To emphasize the mantra of "made today, gone today," most of the food here is discounted after 7pm (up to 50%), which benefits the exhausted and hungry workers nearby, fueling them for overtime or the grueling trek home. Levante’s is a place we to return to and try more dishes. Last tip: avoid our tragedy by arriving before 12pm.

Levante’s
Daily 10am-9pm. B1-130, Pacific Century Place, A2 Gongti Beilu, Chaoyang District (17801148922)
乐漫缔：朝阳区工人体育场北路甲2号盈科中心地下一层B1-130

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Photos: Tracy Wang