2014 Year in Review: Best New Casual Dining

Narrowing down a whole year of dining at restaurants both new and old into just one blog post is always going to be a trial, but it was even more difficult this year given the number of excellent casual dining venues that have opened in 2014. Read on for my picks of the new restaurants that impressed for their food, decor, experience, or ideally, all three.
 

Ippudo
With locations in 13 countries, internationally-acclaimed ramen chain Ippudo caused quite a stir when its first Beijing branch opened in the Kerry Centre in May. Within weeks - nay, days - of opening queues of eager diners were snaking out of the door, all there to slurp down bowls of Ippudo's exemplary broths and al dente noodles. Our advice: order the special Akamaru ramen, skip the sides, and save space for the silken caramel pudding for dessert.
 

Spoonful of Sugar
Brainchild of the indefatigable Lin Lin Jacobs and her design firm Jellymon, Spoonful of Sugar cafe fully embraces the upcycling ethos. The mostly organic menu makes the most of seasonal ingredients and even incorporates herbs grown in their roof-top aquaponic garden (although you'll have to wait until next summer to check that one out properly again).
 

Taco Bar
Surely no restaurant was as an immediate hit in 2014 than Taco Bar, which returned to us with a new location next to Homeplate BBQ in south Sanlitun. Their reliable brand of tacos-and-tequila fun has been drawing in the crowds since the summer (we can't count the number of birthday parties we've attended there) and long may it continue.
 

Gung Ho!
2014 Pizza Cup champions Gung Ho! showed us that they were about more than just delivery with the opening of their first sit down restaurant. Moving beyond their tried and tested pizzas, the menu brought in new snacks and salads that turned out to be the star of the show. With a drinks menu focused on craft beer, they also mix up a mean menu of beer cocktails.

Honorable mention: Mosto
Admittedly Mosto is not a new restaurant, but after six years at the top of the Beijing restaurant game, they closed briefly for renovations this October and came back with a sleek new look and revamped menu that only made us love them more. Be sure to sample some of their new cocktails at the spruced-up bar, and don't miss their daily changing selection of oysters and mussels.

Keep an eye for our Year in Best Fine Dining over the coming days to see where to venture for special occasions.

More stories by this author here.

Email: robynnetindall@thebeijinger.com
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Photos: Courtesy of Mosto, courtesy of Ippudo, Sui, Joey Guo