Lao Beijing Zhajiangmian 老北京炸酱面

A bowl of noodles mixed up with strips of radish, cucumber and other veggies, all held together by a thick, soy bean sauce, doesn’t have the same grandeur as a tender, browned Peking Duck, but humble zhajiangmian is as beloved a Beijing dish as the aforementioned roasted bird. It comes a lot cheaper as well – this laozihao (time-honored brand) restaurant’s zhajiangmian is just RMB 10, with other dishes all around RMB 15-25. There are also a number of toothsome lao Beijing xiaochi (old Beijing) snacks – typically colorful and sweet – for under RMB 10. The atmosphere – waiters loudly greeting customers as they arrive and respectfully applauding as they leave – will also please diners looking for a taste of the traditional. Lao Beijing Zhajiangmian has a number of branches around Beijing, but this location, just north of Hongqiao Market and the Temple of Heaven’s east gate, makes for a good end to an afternoon of sightseeing and shopping. English menu.