good spot when you have visitors in town

Situated just around the corner from the Temple of Heaven and Hongqiao, this spot is incredibly popular with tourists, though locals also love this spot’s zhajiangmian, excellent hand made noodles in a brown soybean and pork sauce. Beyond the noodles, the menu includes good versions of a number of popular, homestyle dishes like kungpao chicken and congbao yangrou, all at reasonable prices. The restaurant’s interior has an old Beijing look to it, befitting its name, and the menu includes a variety of traditional Beijing snacks, including jellies and cakes, and the infamous love/hate stinky douzhi, mung bean milk, served with pickled radish and dough rings. When it comes to traditional Beijing cuisine, the menu reaches well beyond the capital’s most famous duck dish. This spot offers an introduction to old Beijing fare at prices that leave you with enough money to shop at Hongqiao after your meal.