18 editor picks across China.
18 hidden gems worth the trip across China, editor-ranked by TableJourney. All China guides.
Baoyuan Dumplings on Maizidian Street in Beijing wraps ingot-shaped dumplings in dough dyed with spinach, carrot, blueberry and grape; a Bib Gourmand.
OrderThe rainbow dumplings, wrapped in ingot shapes, and the vegetarian fillings of smoked beancurd and mushroom.
TipBring cash, as the shop takes cash only; it is open daily 11:00-22:00 with no midday break, so an off-peak lunch is easy.
Yibin Guesthouse in Xizhong Hutong, Beijing, is a Bib Gourmand Sichuan kitchen run by chefs from Yibin, known for Lizhuang boiled pork and Yibin noodles.
OrderLizhuang boiled pork and Yibin noodles with bean sprouts.
TipReservations are not taken and queues can pass an hour, so go outside peak mealtimes; a July 2025 guide lists it open 10:30 to 20:00 daily.
Pebbles Courtyard in Wudaoying Hutong, Beijing, cooks Mexican enchiladas, quesadillas and tacos in a courtyard run by an owner trained under Rick Bayless.
OrderThe vegetarian enchiladas, the Pebbles quesadilla or the chorizo con papa tacos.
TipHours differ by day, with a 17:00 opening Tuesday to Thursday and noon from Friday to Sunday; Wednesday carries a vegan ahogada special.
Han Tenggeli inside the Xinjiang office compound on Sanlihe Road in Beijing cooks big plate chicken, red willow skewers and nang-wrapped lamb.
OrderBig plate chicken, nang-wrapped lamb and hand-grasped mutton, with lamb skewers.
TipEnter the Xinjiang office compound on Sanlihe Road and look for the guest building; the guide lists a banquet option and the casual restaurant.
Juke on Dongping Road in Shanghai is an 18-seat neo-bistro from chef Michael Janczewski, pairing Mediterranean cooking with playful Asian twists.
OrderThe hand-rolled udon with razor clams and Sichuan caviar, or the osso buco in mapo tofu gravy.
TipThe menu runs 12 to 14 dishes built for sharing, so come with at least one other person.
Anchengju in Bajiao, Shijingshan, Beijing, is known for dry-pot duck heads in several spice levels, served with homemade sesame buns, at about ¥87 a head.
OrderDry-pot duck heads at your chosen heat level, with the homemade sesame buns.
TipCtrip lists a waiting area, tables for ten or more and free parking, so it suits groups; heat runs from mild to extra hot.
Guizhou Hall on the second floor of Guizhou Mansion in Beijing serves sour soup fish, Huaxi beef rice noodles and Guiyang rice tofu, for about ¥138 a head.
OrderSour soup fish, Huaxi beef rice noodles and Guiyang rice tofu.
TipCtrip lists tables for eight to ten people and free Wi-Fi; typical spend is about ¥138 a head and the nearest station is Hepingxiqiao on Line 5.
Xinchuanban Restaurant on Xiaohongmen Road in Beijing is the Sichuan office restaurant, in a garden of pavilions and trees, serving classic Sichuan food.
OrderWater-boiled beef, mapo tofu and Zhong dumplings.
TipCtrip lists a waiting area, tables for eight to ten, a banquet hall and paid parking; spend is about ¥119 a head.
Duli on Yanping Road in Shanghai packs bold, Sichuan-inspired plant-based dishes like mapo tofu hummus into a room small enough that seats go fast.
OrderMapo tofu hummus and the guabao sandwiches.
TipGo outside peak lunch and dinner hours if you want any chance of a table without a wait.
Yuxiangyuan in Henan Plaza, Beijing, cooks Henan dishes such as mutton hui mian noodles and carp with crisp noodles, at about ¥111 a head per Ctrip.
OrderMutton hui mian noodles, carp with crisp noodles and stone-pot stewed vegetables.
TipCtrip lists free parking, a baby chair and tables for eight to ten; lunch ends at 14:30 and dinner starts at 17:30.
Bastard, set in a former youth hostel in Jing'an, Shanghai, is best known for dinner small plates and natural wine, but its lunch noodles are the real find.
OrderLunch-only Scallion Aburasoba or the Bastard Wonton Noodles, both on Sapporo-style noodles.
TipThe noodle bowls run at lunch only; after dark the room turns to small plates and natural wine.
Yunshan Cha Canteen on the ground floor of Guangdong Mansion in Beijing serves Cantonese dim sum, from shrimp dumplings to sampan congee and char siu.
OrderShrimp dumplings, sampan congee, char siu and wonton noodles.
TipIt closes between 15:00 and 17:00, so time a visit for breakfast, lunch or an early dinner; spend is about ¥149 a head.
Dali Renjia on Baochao Hutong in Beijing is a Yunnan restaurant known for mushroom dishes, from banana-leaf steamed mushrooms to fried tea mushrooms.
OrderSteamed mixed mushrooms wrapped in banana leaves, fried tea mushrooms and Grandma's mashed potato.
TipMushrooms fill two full pages of the menu, so order several to share; the Beijinger's 2025 guide also picks Grandma's mashed potato.
Gubigubi on Yongjia Road in Shanghai serves Ningbo rice cakes and grilled Zhoushan mackerel from a Mediterranean-style lane house on a quiet corner.
OrderSeafood Ningbo rice cakes and the grilled Zhoushan mackerel.
TipThe airy ground-floor cafe is casual; climb to the upstairs dining room for a proper sit-down meal.
The Chinese restaurant in Anhui Mansion on Huixin West Street, Beijing, cooks Hui dishes such as stinky mandarin fish, hairy tofu and Huizhou old hen soup.
OrderStinky mandarin fish, hairy tofu and stone-pot old tofu.
TipLunch ends at 13:30 and dinner starts at 17:00, so arrive on time; a July 2025 guide puts spend at about ¥151 a head.
Indian Kitchen on Sanlitun Beixiaojie in Beijing, open since 1999, serves a lamb, chicken and fish barbecue platter and curries in a carved-wood room.
OrderThe barbecue platter of lamb, chicken and fish, or the tandoori chicken and vegetable paneer.
TipLook up from the street: the room is on the second floor, opposite the Korean embassy; the Beijinger listing puts a meal at ¥50 to ¥80.
Jingchu Flavor Restaurant in Hubei Mansion on Zhongguancun South Street, Beijing, cooks Hubei dishes such as Wuchang fish and Wuhan three-delicacy doupi.
OrderWuchang fish, Wuhan three-delicacy doupi and dry-pot chicken.
TipThe nearest station is National Library on Lines 4 and 9; lunch runs 11:00 to 14:00 and dinner 17:00 to 21:00, at about ¥112 a head.
Yan Gege inside Shanghai's 800 Show complex now serves Yunnan wild-mushroom claypots after retiring its old all-you-can-eat hotpot format entirely.
OrderThe plant-based pork chop, made to resemble the texture of the real thing.
TipIts old hotpot bases survive as single claypots: Yunnan wild mushroom, truffled tofu and a spicy Sichuan broth.
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