Meet the Nominees: Best New Chinese Restaurants

There’s a definite subset of foreigners in China that have never truly adapted to the culinary inclinations of our host country. They cling on to their dining predilections – usually for Western fare – with such voracity that somewhere in the world, food guru Anthony Bourdain is grimacing in despair.

You know who you are; you don’t have to love Chinese food – and definitely not like this person – but having an apprehension toward experimenting and experiencing is only your loss. 

But hey, sometimes its hard to choose where to try when there are so many choices in town. With that in mind, why not start by checking out one of the eight nominees in the Best New Chinese Restaurant category in our ongoing 2016 Reader Restaurant Awards?

RELATED: Meet the Nominees: Best New Casual Foreign Dining

Here's a quick intro to each of the nominees, listed below in no particular order:

Jia, Nuo Hotel Beijing
Jia serves plenty of classic yumcha dishes like fluffy xia jiao (shrimp dumplings) and cushy siu mai (minced pork, shrimp and shiitake mushroom dumplings). And while dim sum purists are sure to be satisfied, the restaurant’s true strength lies in its more creative takes on Hong Kong fare. The best example: the RMB 298 wok-fried wagyu beef ribs with black pepper sauce, leeks, porcini mushrooms and other assorted veggies (pictured above). Read our full review of Jia here.

Mama de Weidao
Where many jiachang cai restaurants are white-collapsible-tables-on-white-tiles kind of establishments, Mama De Weidao feels more like you’re eating inside a Muji store. As to be expected, the menu (Chinese only) features all your favorite classic dishes. Prices are reasonable, although higher than those of your usual local eatery, ranging from RMB 22-88. Read our review of Mama de Weidao here.

Punk Rock Noodle
The menu is far more condensed than what you would have found at Noodle Inn (its previous embodiment), but some of the old favorites are still present, including the Guizhou Fried Noodles (RMB 38) and their famous “Oi! Oi!” Fried Cheese Balls (RMB 38). Despite a paired down menu, it retains all the edge with ferocious dishes and creative cocktails. Read our review of Punk Rock Noodle here.
 

Red Bowl, Rosewood Beijing
For those who are tired of the usual rough and ready hotpot experience, Red Bowl is a breath of fresh air. The Sichuan soup base may be authentic but the vibe is anything but – think sleek concrete, dramatic lighting, and Balearic-style beats. The menu of Beijing-inspired cocktails doesn’t hurt either – try the Hutong Daiquiri with Plantation 3 Stars rum, strawberry, and Sichuan peppercorn. Read our full review of Red Bowl here.

The Southern Fish
Dazhalan restaurant The Southern Fish shows what can be achieved at the intersection of food and interior design. The small yet perfectly formed space is almost gallery-like in its simplicity; it is in the menu of spicy Hunan dishes that the fireworks really start. Try the face-meltingly spicy mashed green chilies with preserved egg – be sure to have a glass of water at the ready. Hunan food in Beijing is often just a Sichuan peppercorn-free version of Sichuan food, but this is the real deal. Read more about The Southern Fish here.
 

Tiger Mama
Macanese eatery Tiger Mama takes its place on Sanlitun Xijie along with Mosaic, Nearby the Tree, and Mr Shi's Sanlitun. The restaurant is clean, is decorated with a minimalistic design, and has friendly service to top it all off. The signature Tiger vermicelli soup, which comes with a choice of either vermicelli, thin noodles, noodles or instant noodles, was filled with plenty of beef brisket, fish cake slices, squid, and curry chicken all combined to form an authentic Macanese taste. Read our full review of Tiger Mama here.
 

Rong Xiao Guan
A spinoff from subtly elegant fine dining restaurant Xin Rongji, Rong Xiao Guan embodies the trend of big name restaurants launching cheaper, “popular” brands (see also: Da Dong Duck). Rong Xiao Guan might be a casual restaurant, but they aren’t resting on their laurels when it comes to the quality of the food – the Jiangsu-style dishes sing with sweet and savory flavors. Read our full review of Rong Xiao Guan here.

Have you eaten at any of the above restaurants? Tell us what you think in the comments section below. Or better yet, contribute by writing a review of your experience.

Photos: Rosewood Beijing, Kyle Mullin, Joey Guo, Margaux Schreurs, Hong Maozi

The Beijinger 2016 Reader Restaurant Awards is made possible through our strategic partnerships with NUO Hotel Beijing and Anchor (by Fonterra). Raffle prize sponsor Sherpa's. Video sponsor McCain. Food and beverages are courtesy of CHEERS, China Wines & Spirits, Comptoirs de France, Home Plate Bar-B-Que, Jameson Irish Whiskey, Loft Eatalicious, Q Mex, and Vandergeeten.