New in the Neighborhood: Latest Lunches in and Around the CBD
This week in New in the Neighborhood, we take a break from the hardy meals and take a look at the lighter lunches that have been popping up in the CBD and Guomao areas.
Spatula
It’s a bit hard to spot in the 5L Hotel food court, but don’t let its humility fool you – Spatula takes food seriously.
The go-to at Spatula is the pasta, in part because it’s the most affordable part of the menu, but also because the build-your-own method makes it fun! Simply choose your noodle, sauce, and pairing for a total RMB 48 per plate.
The sauces include the standard beef Bolognese and carbonara, but also interesting twists like kale pesto, black pepper, and red curry sauce. We tried the latter, and warning – it’s spicy as hell! Then, top it with mushrooms, mixed veggies, roast chicken, garlic prawns, or grilled sausage.
But more than just another Italian diner, this counter is also home to fusion cuisines. Try their bao buns stuffed with wagyu beef, Korean fried chicken, or pork belly (RMB 88, includes fries).
Another pride of the shop are the rice dishes, which come with chicken and tomato (RMB 68), Moroccan lamb (RMB 88), or seafood (RMB 88). Whichever you choose, its sure to be plated gloriously, so have your camera ready.
Spatula
5L Hotel, 1 Jianguomenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District
朝阳区5L 饭店 建国门外大街一号
Open Tuesday-Sunday, 12pm-9pm
Simpli
Salads and sandwiches is the name of the game at Simpli, with a bit of pasta too for those who dare to carb up.
The sandwiches use pretty standard sliced bread, which is not ideal, but hey, it’s what’s on the inside that counts right? And as far as that’s concerned, the filing is fairly on point for the price with a healthy helping of meat – either grilled chicken (RMB 25 or sliced beef RMB 35).
The salads, provide a bit more variety, with chicken options (RMB 45 each) including garlic honey chicken, lemon pepper, Korean, Thai lemongrass, and Japanese masuyamiso. Plus, seafood salads come with shrimp (RMB 55), perch, (RMB 65), and salmon (RMB 65).
Keeping in line with the healthy theme, they also squeeze a variety of juices, though coffees are on the menu as well.
The whole shop is housed in a hallway of a space that’s been done up in the trendiest of fashions – a concrete all and ceiling that’s rounded elegantly where the two meet, booth seating, black and white tile flooring, copper-colored counters, and a wall-sized mirror at the end of the room that appears to double the shop’s true length. Altogether, it’s a lovely spot for lunch.
Simpli 一间轻食
26 Chaoyang Dajie, F/1 N6-1
朝阳区朝阳大街26号一层N6-1
Open Monday-Friday 8.30am-8pm, Saturday-Sunday 9.30am-7pm
Jiyu
Dirt cheap meals in Beijing aren’t hard to come by, but healthy, grease-free, dirt-cheap meals? That’s on the rare side. Now, don’t get us wrong, Jiyu is no diamond in the rough – if anything it’s more of a plastic gem with its bog-standard salads and basic sandwiches that could hardly compete with 7 Eleven for quality.
But if there’s one reason we wanted to bring this new spot to your attention, it’s simply the fact that they carry bagel sandwiches, which in itself is something of a rarity. Of course, the quality isn’t going to come anywhere near what you’ll expect from a place like The Daily Bagel, but they also come with a fraction of the price tag. In fact, making use of waimai discounts, you could conceivably snatch up a whole week of bagel lunches for a cool RMB 100.
In terms of options, the bagels come with ham and avocado, egg and veggies, and beef and onion. Take your pick, or avoid it altogether and pay the price for a more decent meal!
Jiyu 几余轻食
Shangdu Soho North, No.8, F/4 2412
SOHO尚都北塔8号4层2421
Open Monday-Sunday, 9am-8pm
READ: New in the Neighborhood: The Latest Eats at Liangmaqiao
Images: Dianping, Joey Knotts
