30 editor picks across China.
30 restaurants worth the trip across China, editor-ranked by TableJourney. All China guides.
Wu You Xian on South Maoming Road in central Shanghai holds a Michelin star for xiaolongbao, folded 32 times inside a duck-egg-yolk wrapper.
OrderOrder the tasting set of crab roe, paste and meat xiaolongbao, made from crabs prepared fresh that same day.
TipEach dumpling has 32 folds and a duck-egg-yolk wrapper for extra elasticity; it is a short walk from the Huaihai Road shops.
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.
Huai Xiang Guo Se in CP Center is Michelin Selected for Huaiyang cooking, with lion's head meatballs in a Jiangnan garden-style room in Beijing.
OrderOrder the sauteed river shrimps with chickpeas and the slow-cooked lion's head pork meatballs in broth.
TipThe kitchen team from Jiangsu sources produce from their home province; seasonal dishes and a chef's tasting menu are also offered.
Old Jesse on Tianping Road in Shanghai has served Shanghainese home cooking in a packed lane house since 2004, the original of several Old Jesse rooms.
OrderOrder the hongshaorou red-braised pork belly, plus the cod fish head braised with green onions if pre-ordered.
TipThe scallion oil noodles round out a table; in hairy crab season, add the crab roe mixed with rice if it is on the menu.
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.
Da Hu Chun on Middle Sichuan Road in Shanghai holds a Bib Gourmand for the fluffy pan-fried shengjian bao that built its snack food culture.
OrderOrder the pork, prawn or crab roe shengjian bao with a side of beef curry soup, the customary pairing here.
TipIts qingshui buns use fully fermented dough and no added aspic, so they come out soft and bread-like over a cracker-crisp base rather than bursting with soup.
Xibo on Changshu Road in Shanghai has served Xibonese and Xinjiang minority cuisine since it opened in 2009, run by Xibonese founder Atina Kuo.
OrderOrder the big plate chicken and lamb skewers, best shared with a group over pilaf and grilled corn.
TipCome with a crowd; the whole roasted lamb and big plate chicken are built for sharing, not a solo lunch.
Ji Chuan, on the ground floor of the Atour Hotel on West Dawang Road, is Michelin Selected for Chongqing-leaning Sichuan cooking and bingfen in Beijing.
OrderOrder the mapo tofu with marbled beef and the pickled chillies with peach kernels, then the bingfen.
TipExpect an intense tingly numbness from the signatures; the bingfen dessert and the array of alcoholic drinks help put out the flames.
Rong Cuisine on Baiziwan South Er Road is a Bib Gourmand spin-off of Xin Rong Ji serving Taizhou yellow croaker and sauteed squid at modest prices in Beijing.
OrderOrder the famous yellow croaker, then the sauteed squid with wild rice stems and salted potherb mustard.
TipThis branch serves a larger menu with more single-serving choices than its sibling branches, from an open kitchen in a seafaring-themed room.
Polux by Paul Pairet in Xintiandi, Shanghai holds a Bib Gourmand for all-day French cafe and bistro food from the chef behind Mr and Mrs Bund and Ultraviolet.
OrderOrder the grilled seabass vierge or the steak frites, then finish with the onion soup.
TipBreakfast and brunch are the strongest sittings; dinner leans toward country-style bistro food, with a spacious outdoor patio.
Rongjia Noodles Soup with Yellow Croaker in Jing'an, Shanghai holds a Bib Gourmand for yellow croaker in a milky fish-bone broth over springy wheat noodles.
OrderOrder the yellow croaker noodle soup, its broth simmered from fish bones until milky and rich.
TipIt is a sister shop to one-Michelin-starred Xin Rong Ji, which supplies the premium yellow croaker used here.
Tan Sichuan Cuisine at Yu Gardens in Shanghai holds a Bib Gourmand for Chengdu-style Sichuan food with a Nine-Turn Bridge view from upstairs.
OrderOrder the saliva chicken in chili oil and the whole fish cooked yuxiang style.
TipIt carries backing from Chengdu's THE BRIDGE but runs its own menu; the dan dan noodles and mapo tofu are also strong here.
Lost Heaven on the Bund in Huangpu district, Shanghai serves Yunnan folk cuisine with Burmese and Thai touches in a vast room of dark wood and red lanterns.
OrderOrder the Dali-style chicken with chilies and green onions, plus the mushroom platter.
TipBook ahead for a Bund-view window seat at dinner; the room feels grand for what is still a mid-priced regional Chinese meal.
Lai Lai Xiao Long on Tianjin Road in Huangpu, Shanghai holds a Bib Gourmand for hairy crab xiaolongbao wrapped to order since it opened in 2006.
OrderOrder the hairy crab and crab roe xiaolongbao, available year-round, with ginger in vinegar on the side.
TipPork and pork-crab versions and wonton are also on the menu; expect a line out the door at this small, tightly packed shop.
Siji Minfu by the east gate of the Forbidden City hang-roasts Beijing duck and serves Beijing-style dishes such as zhajiangmian, close to Wangfujing.
OrderOrder the hang-roasted duck, then a bowl of zhajiangmian (noodles with fried bean sauce) on the side.
TipThe branch stands next to the east gate of the Forbidden City and is a popular choice, so book ahead or arrive off-peak.
Country Kitchen at Rosewood Beijing is a Michelin Selected restaurant for Beijing and Shandong dishes, with hand-pulled noodles and wood-oven duck.
OrderOrder the hand-pulled noodles, the Beijing duck from the wood oven and the dumplings.
TipThe kitchen is open-air with a wood oven and there is a relaxed terrace; the restaurant is on the third floor of Rosewood Beijing.
Cinnara in Chaowai SOHO cooks home-style Sri Lankan food, with black curry crab, kottu, hoppers and coconut roti, near Chaoyangmen in central Beijing.
OrderOrder the black curry crab, kottu and hoppers, with coconut roti to mop up the curry.
TipThe restaurant is unit 03015 on the third floor of Building A, Chaowai SOHO; hoppers are usually served at dinner only.
Duck de Chine, a courtyard house on Jinbao Street, is Michelin Selected for Peking duck roasted over date wood and served to a gong in Beijing.
OrderOrder the Peking duck roasted over date wood, then the deep-fried king oyster mushrooms.
TipThe operator lists last orders at 22:15 and offers private rooms, a bar area and parking; booking ahead is available.
Brasserie 1893, on the ground floor of the Waldorf Astoria, is Michelin Selected for French cooking with Chinese touches such as tea-smoked pigeon in Beijing.
OrderOrder the tea-smoked pigeon, or the Deluxe Degustation tasting menu that shows the chef's culinary vision.
TipLunch and dinner are closed on Monday, and weekend lunch runs to 15:00. A private room seats 8 beside the open kitchen at the centre of the room.
Blossom inside Plaza 66 in Jing'an serves casual Chaoshan and Cantonese dishes, the affordable sister of Michelin two-star Amazing Chinese Cuisine.
OrderOrder the steamed East Sea grouper with pickled mustard greens and the Chiu Chow beef offal pot.
TipThe Chiu Chow preserved radish fried rice and the crab with sweet potato noodles round out a full Teochew spread.
Yu Du Lao Wei on Liyuan Road in Huangpu District, Shanghai holds a Bib Gourmand for a decade of yellow croaker noodles from a Zhoushan-born owner.
OrderOrder the braised yellow croaker noodles, served dry or in soup with thick, thin or rice-cake noodles.
TipThe braised belt fish noodle is another signature; the counter display of fresh seafood shows what else the kitchen stir-fries.
Dong Tai Xiang on North Chongqing Road in Shanghai is the only shengjian shop whose semi-fermented technique holds intangible heritage status.
OrderOrder the shengjian pan-fried pork buns; the dough-making skill keeps every bun plump even once it cools.
TipIt is the only shengjian shop whose semi-fermented technique carries intangible cultural heritage recognition.
Da Dong at Jinbao Place on Jinbao Street serves Beijing roast duck on the fifth floor of the mall, a short walk from Wangfujing in central Beijing.
OrderOrder a whole roast duck and wrap the slices in pancakes with sweet bean sauce, spring onion and cucumber.
TipThis Da Dong branch is on the fifth floor of the Jinbao Place mall on Jinbao Street, within walking distance of Wangfujing.
Turkish Feast in Xinyuanli serves lamb and beef grills with stone-oven pide and lahmacun, from the team behind Georgia's Feast, in Chaoyang, Beijing.
OrderOrder the grilled meat platter with stone-oven pide or lahmacun, the thin flatbread with minced beef.
TipBlack tea arrives before the meal and desserts follow; the Xinyuanli branch is at unit 115 on the ground floor of the Shang mall.
Hua's Restaurant in restored courtyards near Beixinqiao serves updated Beijing dishes such as Eight Banners lamb ribs and crayfish in Beijing.
OrderOrder the Hua Family cabbage, the Eight Banners lamb ribs and the spicy crayfish.
TipThe restaurant fills a warren of restored courtyards near Beixinqiao, and its evening service runs until 02:00.
Huaiyang Fu in a period mansion on Andingmenwai Street is Michelin Selected for Huaiyang classics such as braised pork belly and lake shrimps in Beijing.
OrderOrder the braised pork belly with arrowroot and the hand-peeled lake shrimps with fox nuts and aged vinegar.
TipBookings are essential; the period mansion has a stone garden and carved wooden windows, and a seasonal menu runs alongside the classics.
Oyster Talks, on the ground floor south of Yingke Center, is a French seafood restaurant on the 2025 Black Pearl guide, serving oysters in Beijing.
OrderStart with oysters, then the halibut with caviar or the blue lobster baked with garlic and olive oil.
TipIt sits at ground level south of Yingke Center, near the Workers' Stadium, and serves from noon until 23:00 every day.
Jingmei Wuxi Noodles on Yanping Road in Jing'an, Shanghai holds a Bib Gourmand for sweet-leaning Wuxi noodles in a small, cramped dining room.
OrderOrder the Wuxi braised pork rib noodles, dressed with soy sauce and scallion oil and dried shrimp.
TipAlso try the chili and soy-braised pork bone noodles or the Taihu three white dumplings filled with egg and shrimp.
Lu Bo Lang at Yu Garden in Shanghai holds a Bib Gourmand for Shanghainese dim sum such as turnip pastry and eyebrow pastry, at fair prices in the Old City.
OrderOrder the Shanghainese dim sum: turnip pastry, osmanthus glutinous rice cake and 'eyebrow' pastry.
TipPrivate rooms on the second and third floors take groups; a 2019 refit added wavy silver ceiling panels to the main room.
Wang Bao He on Fuzhou Road in Shanghai began in 1744 as a Shaoxing wine maker and moved here in 1936, when it started steaming crabs to go with its wine.
OrderOrder the wine-soaked crab and the fried bean curd jelly with crab paste, the kitchen's proudest dish.
TipAbout nine in ten dishes on the menu carry crab in some form, down to the xiaolongbao and the Lion's Head meatballs.
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