Ashraf's Arabic Restaurant Brings Affordable Middle Eastern Fare to Shunyi

Kyle Mullin | Mar 17, 2019 1:00 pm | Add a comment | 905 reads

Beijingers craving satisfying, unfussy, and affordable middle-eastern fare are hard pressed to find a better alternative than Al Safir. Now that long-running Middle Eastern restaurant's team has brought its winning straightforward formula to Shunyi’s Pinnacle Plaza with the new Ashraf's Arabic Restaurant.

It couldn’t have happened a moment too soon, as the suburban northeast corner of Beijing drastically lacks affordable eats with personality. Now the Shunyi set will also be able to enjoy all of that seasoned vet's favorites, from rock bottom priced RMB 30 shawarma, RMB 30 plates of crispy falafel, to generously portioned RMB 100 mixed barbecue meat platters (pictured above and featuring a half dozen pieces of chicken, beef and lamb, along with bread and side sauces). More creative flourishes include Fattah hummus loaded with deep fried batter and chickpeas (RMB 60), and the restaurant’s criminally underrated deserts like gooey basbousa squares and wholesome Arabic pudding (RMB 30 and 25, respectively).

READ: Enjoy a Falafel Frenzy at Al Safir Near Xiaoyun Lu

The decor matches the unfussy practicality of the menu, from the multicolored floor tiles, shisha pipes, and Arabic pottery on the walls, and exposed brick lining the equally exposed open kitchen, all making for an inviting down-to-earth vibe.