Immersion Guide's Sanlitun Area Guide: Best Buns in Sanlitun
It’s rare that your humble map correspondent ever has anything exciting to report – aside from the release of another Immersion Guides Area Guide – but this time, something finally sparks among the usual slurry of openings and closings.
We are elated to announce that Sanlitun Fall 2008 Area Guide brings you Beijing’s best hot dogs. Perfectly juicy, bursting with flavor, these frankfurters are both delicious and cheap. The delightful Mr. Wei starts grilling only after you order, so the sausage arrives piping hot and the bun lightly toasted. This belies the humble hot dog stand’s name, No More Bunz, but we can’t complain – it would be hard to hold together that mountain of toppings and drizzles of mustard and ketchup without a trusty bun.
Opened by a Canadian, No More Bunz is one of the most cheerful little spots to open in Sanlitun. Unlike the meticulously designed and marketed restaurants and bars that have lately graced Sanlitun, this humble hot dog stand focuses all its attention upon the food. There’s no fancy concept here, no mirrored walls or cushy booths. There are, in fact, no chairs at all at No More Bunz – little more than an opening in the wall – but the hot dogs are so good that you won’t mind.
And best of all? Hot dogs start at RMB 15 and top out at RMB 25.
That’s in stark contrast to many of the other bun-cum-meat joints to open in Sanlitun this fall. Let’s Burger, Blue Frog and 25 Degrees all lay claim to the ultimate burger, but sampling one of these will cost anything from RMB 60 right on through into the triple digits. For more info on No More Bunz, take a look at this interview with the owner over at the Zhongnanhai blog.
To find all these bun-related foods, we recommend you pick up the Sanlitun Fall 2008 Area Guide, distributed with the October issue of the Beijinger (If you don't already have a copy of this month's magazine, look for one around town (they've been out since Wed) or give our friendly circulation department a shout at distribution@thebeijinger.com). Of course, it also has less-carnivorous options to offer. While the Pure Girls are no more, the detailed “Central Sanlitun” inset will guide those in search of cheap booze to the nearest watering hole. A map of the Sanlitun Village helps dazed shoppers find their way from China’s first Apple Store to a number of restaurants and cafes to rest their weary feet. (Unfortunately, many places had not yet opened in the Village.) Under Nali Patio’s Mediterranean arches you’ll find modern South-American cuisine at Mosto, professional-quality cooking supplies and kitchen gadgets at Pantry Magic and new boutiques. Changes are afoot, too, with Gustomenta moving and old stores and spas closing. A slew of new hotels are as comfortable as you can wish, from budget digs to the sleek Opposite House –the Olympics may be over, but that doesn’t mean that we’ll stop welcoming friends and family from afar.
No More Bunz Hotdog
Delivery available. Daily 8.30am-8pm. Bldg 1, Xingfu’ercun, southwest corner of Xindong Lu and Dongzhimenwai. (Chinese 8602 1672, English 135 0107 1114)
新东路幸福二村1号楼(新东路和东直门外的西南角公交汽车站后)
Links and Sources
Zhongnanhai Blog: No Bunz gives a lesson in Hot Dogs (image)
