Long Jing Brings High-Quality Japanese Classics to Overlooked Qianmen
Qianmen’s days as a tourist trap are numbered. Once painstakingly avoided by Beijing expats because of its crowded commercial shopping streets and tackily remodeled hutongs, the neighborhood has increasingly more appeal for visitors and residents alike thanks to the Beijing Fun shopping mall. Home to the chic Muji hotel and a mammoth Page One book shop, the building also offers up craft beer from Steam Rhino and desserts from Tiens Tiens, and now the strong newcomer entry in the form of the Japanese restaurant Long Jing.
The original Sanlitun Courtyard 4 teahouse and cocktail bar Long Jing was an instant hit among Chinese patrons upon opening in 2016. The secret to its success? Tea-infused cocktails and an elegant ambiance overseen by owner Cobain Fu. Fu then upped the ante considerably late last year by opening Ology, an ambitious fine dining world fusion restaurant right next door. His latest outing proves bigger, cheaper, and zeros in on a very different type of cuisine.
Read our review of the original Courtyard 4 Long Jing here.
The softly-lit, woodgrain decor at this new Long Jing takes its cues from the original Sanlitun location, but while Ology focussed on envelope-pushing, foodie-delighting set menus, this rendition is all about sushi, ramen, grilled eel, and other Japanese favorites that will only set you back RMB 150 per person (a fraction of Ology's price).
Small parties should be sure to pull up a chair at Long Jing's sushi counter for a closeup of the knife-wielding action. You can also grab a seat at the Japanese style paper partitioned tables, not to mention the authentic chabudai low tables in the private VIP areas (one of which boasts a breathtaking view of Dongcheng's hutong rooftops).
No matter where you decide to sit, the freshness and full-on flavor of the dishes come through loud and clear. Their RMB 88 shrimp tartare, for instance, is packed into a tight and satisfying patty that avoids the mushiness of some subpar steak tartare we've tried in Beijing, instead featuring a silkiness thanks to the quality of the restaurant's seafood. A slathering of wasabi sauce highlights, rather than overwhelms, the flavor of the high-quality seafood, giving the dish an enjoyable spark.
Their 14-piece sushi platter, for RMB 258, also satisfies thanks to the variety of rolls (salmon, tuna, caviar, and more) and their firm textures and winning flavors, while real sushi fans can go all-out with their beautiful Super Sushi Platter (pictured in the lead image), although this dish is anomalous in terms of price, going for a steep RMB 888. Long Jing's wholesome and nourishing bowls of RMB 68 ramen make for a thriftier alternative, while fried chicken and shaved seaweed-topped rice bowls for RMB 48 will give you the most bang for your buck.
Other highlights include barbecued eel for RMB 98, a sashimi salad with plump and savory tuna slices at RMB 158, and snacks like fried pork cutlets for RMB 58 each.
In the back of the restaurant, you'll find a spacious bar area adorned with gorgeous paintings of Tang dynasty goddesses that look like they might leap off the wall. The drink menu features the same tea-infused cocktails that Long Jing started off with at their Sanlitun bar.
Having such elegant drinks in the otherwise sleepy Qianmen area is just one of the many much-needed treats that Beijing Fun, and Long Jing in particular, are offering visitors to this once disparaged Beijing haunt on the up and up.
Read our review of Long Jing's Ology fine dining restaurant here.
Long Jing (Qianmen)
Daily 5pm-late (lunch reservations available with advanced booking). 3/F, Building W7, Beijing Fun, Bldg 21, Langfang Toutiao, Qianmen, Xicheng District
西城区廊房头条北京坊W7号楼
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Email: kylemullin@truerun.com
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Photos courtesy of Long Jing
