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Hot potXisi Baitasi
Man Heng Ji holds a Bib Gourmand for charcoal copper-pot instant-boiled mutton from Sunite lamb, with sweet sesame shaobing, in Ping'anli, Beijing.
OrderOrder the instant-boiled mutton, choosing lean or fatty cuts, and finish with sweet sesame-sugar shaobing.
TipThe branch stands on the south-west corner of Ping'anli West Street and Zhaodengyu Road; book ahead or come off-peak.
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Northern ChineseShichahai Houhai
Kaorouji on Qianhai Dongyan beside Shichahai grills beef and lamb on an iron griddle in the Beijing zhizi kaorou style, a time-honoured barbecue house.
OrderOrder the zhizi kaorou, beef and lamb grilled on an iron griddle, with a bottle of Beibingyang soda.
TipIt stands on Qianhai Dongyan beside Shichahai; the city's food guide suggests pairing the grilled meat with erguotou liquor or Beibingyang soda.
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Northern ChineseQianmen Dashilar
Tianxingju on Xianyukou Street near Qianmen, founded in 1862, serves Beijing-style stewed liver with steamed stuffed buns from early morning in Beijing.
OrderOrder the Beijing-style stewed liver with steamed stuffed buns, the shop's classic pairing.
TipFounded in 1862 as Huixianju, the shop opens at 07:00 on Xianyukou Street near Qianmen, so it works as a breakfast stop.
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Northern ChineseXisi Baitasi
Shaguoju on Xisi South Street, founded in 1741, specialises in ceramic casserole dishes such as boiled pork and stewed pork hock at its first Beijing branch.
OrderOrder the boiled pork in casserole from the ceramic pot series and add the stewed pork hock.
TipThis is the founding branch at 60 Xisi South Street near Gangwashi, a restaurant established in 1741 that specialises in ceramic pot dishes.
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NoodlesGulou Nanluoguxiang
No. 69 Fangzhuanchang Zhajiangmian holds a Bib Gourmand for one dish, chewy noodles in a deep soybean pork sauce, in a hutong near Nanluoguxiang in Beijing.
OrderOrder the zhajiangmian, the only dish on the menu, and add pickled garlic and cumin chilli sauce.
TipDiners queue from opening to closing for the single dish, so go outside the lunchtime rush.
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ChineseXisi Baitasi
Tong Chun Yuan, a state-owned Jiangzhe restaurant founded in 1930, is Michelin Selected for river fish from live tanks and regional dishes in Beijing.
OrderPick a live river fish from the tanks, then add the Zhenjiang pork trotter aspic and the stir-fried swamp eel.
TipReservations are accepted only for bookings made before noon, so call in the morning.