Forbidden City in Beijing, China - photo by pxhere under CC0 1.0
Forbidden City in Beijing, China - photo by pxhere under CC0 1.0

Andrew Zimmern Beijing: All Of The Restaurants Picked On Delicious Destinations

In Bizarre Foods Beijing, part of the Delicious Destinations series featuring Andrew Zimmern, the host and his crew visited numerous restaurants in the city, showcasing a variety of unique and delicious dishes. Here is a convenient list of all the addresses and dishes highlighted in this exciting exploration of Beijing’s food scene.

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DISH – Peking Duck

WHAT IS IT?

Peking duck is a dish of roast duck carved with impeccable precision. The duck is cleaned and bathed in sugary coating to make the skin red and crispy. The skin is then sealed and the cavity is filled with hot water. This allows the skin to be roasted while the meat inside is boiled.

WHERE IS IT?

Bianyifang Roast Duck Shop
36 Xingfu St, Dongcheng
Beijing, China

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NOTES – DELICIOUS DESTINATIONS BEIJING

Bianyifang Restaurant has been serving Peking duck outside the Imperial Palace walls for centuries. It is the 2nd oldest restaurant in the world, having been established in 1416. It roasts Peking ducks suspended in an oven using radiant heat.

ANDREW ZIMMERN BEIJING DISH – Imperial Court Cuisine

WHAT IS IT?

The Chinese Imperial Court Cuisine is an extravagant, complex and distinct category of food. The dishes are prepared with methodical technique and presentation. Dishes included in the banquet vary on the dynasty it reflects.

WHERE IS IT?

Family Li Imperial Cuisine
Jinbao Street
Beijing, China

NOTES – DELICIOUS DESTINATIONS BEIJING

The Family Li Imperial Cuisine restaurant serves authentic recipes from the Qing Dynasty. The dishes include sweet and sour pork ribs, fried sea prawns, sautéed Mandarin fish and green jade tofu.

DISH – Zhajiang Mian

WHAT IS IT?

Zhajiang Mian is a noodle dish with vegetables and fermented soybean and pork sauce. The noodles are made from simple wheat and egg dough. The sauce is made with soybean oil, ginger, leeks and diced pork fried in a Beijing fermented yellow soybean paste. Zhajiang Mian is assembled through mixing an assortment of vegetables and noodles. Saucing the noodles is left to the diner.  

WHERE IS IT?

Haiwanju Old Beijing Noodle King
Songyu S Rd, Chaoyang
Beijing, China

NOTES – DELICIOUS DESTINATIONS BEIJING

Haiwanju serves about 21,000 bowls of Zhajiang Mian each week.

DELICIOUS DESTINATIONS BEIJING DISH – Donkey Sandwich

WHAT IS IT?

Donkey Sandwich is Beijing’s spin on burger. It is a sandwich of shredded and seasoned donkey meat and green peppers. Flatbread dough is grilled on a flat top before being baked. The donkey meat is cooked with a blend of soy sauce, sugar and seasonings. To assemble the sandwich, broth is added to the flatbread for moisture. Chopped donkey meat and green peppers are then added to the flatbread.

WHERE IS IT?

Wangpangzi Donkey Burger
21 Dongsi 12th Alley, Dongcheng
Beijing, China

NOTES – BIZARRE FOODS DELICIOUS DESTINATIONS BEIJING

At Wangpangzi, the flatbread dough used in the Donkey Sandwich is anointed with melted butter and solidified oil, adding a crispy texture to the flatbread.

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