If you ever go on a China trip, the city that nearly everyone visits in Beijing. Beijing is rich with culture, sightseeing, and of course, food. There are many wondrous attractions, such as the Forbidden Palace or the Great Wall of China, to name a few. However, that's an article for another time. Beijing has plenty of amazing dishes, in every corner, at the right moment.
1. Peking Duck
Peking duck is a Beijing staple, and you’ll find many restaurants in the city dedicated to the dish. Peking duck is very common in many restaurants since it is very well-known in China and has a long history. This roasted duck is served wrapped in pancakes, along with onions, vegetables, and plum sauce. It is crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. A trip to Beijing hasn't reached its full potential until you've to try Peking duck.
2. Beijing Noodles
Beijing Noodles, or Zhajiangmian, is a splendid dish involving thick noodles. The noodles are covered in ground meat with soybean sauce, making the dish salty as well as savory. Get your chopsticks and dig in. The moment you chew and swallow, you will taste the flavors of the noodles, meat, and sauce. The sauce and the meat create splendid and salty flavor while the noodles create a balance between them and incorporate a unique texture. This dish is a must-try and helps cool you down in the blazing Beijing weather.
3. Baozi
Baozi or Bao are small steamed delicious buns filled with meat and vegetables. Baozi is found at nearly every restaurant or street vendor, so you will probably try at least once on your trip. It is a very versatile dish since pretty much any food under the sun can be stuffed inside the bun. One of the most common pairings is Cha Siu Bao, which has meat, sauce, and pork inside. The flavoring just melts in your mouth when you take a bite. There are also vegetables Baozi. If you're in the mood for dessert, there's always Baozi with sweet, yellow, and thick clusters. Nearly all of these buns are steamed which means they are hot when taken out. You should wait for a little while before eating. One of the most common and delicious of the Baozi is Xiaolongbao. It is a bun with soup inside. It is piping hot, so you should wait a little bit and try other dishes before eating this one. Once you devour it with soup inside, revel in the warmth it gave to your belly.
4. Luzhu Hua Shao
It is most likely that you wouldn't recognize this name. This dish is a very popular and common street food dish though you can find them in restaurants. Long considered a luxury, this dish is mainly found in Beijing. It contains mostly Pork, Pork lung, Pork belly, Pork intestine, and tofu in one soup bowl. Chive and fermented beancurd are also sprinkled in for flavorings. Even though it might seem disgusting to eat parts of an animal you have never eaten before, it doesn't taste any different. The soup is heartwarming and the meat provides a delicious flavor/texture to fuel this meaty soup. The aroma of this dish might be hard for foreigners to bear with. However, it is a delicious dish and is considered a must-try for tourists in Beijing. Eating this dish is long considered a custom and it is said to make poor people feel like royals. While everyone might not like the scent, many people don't mind it and feel a bond towards it.
5. Beijing-Style Mutton Hot Pot
One of Beijing's most special dishes. if you have been eating hot pot all over your visit to China, you would probably realize that every region has its own traditional hot pot. Most visitors imagine the hot pot to be chili-filled and spicy like the Chengdu hot pot. However, in Beijing, their style of hot pot is different since it has freshly sliced lamb resting in a bronze pot heated by coal which is, in fact, the mutton. The pot also contains a variety of ingredients like Tofu, noodles, Chinese cabbages, and bean sprouts. In addition, after cooking the mutton, the customer has a dipping bowl to dip the button to give it flavors. The sauce is a mixture of sesame sauce, Chili oil, leeks, and more.