Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Kebabs, both shashlik (
yángròu chuàn
) and tandoori styles, are common, as they are
throughout the Middle East and Central Asia.
Samsas
or
samsis
(
kǎo bāozi
) are the
Uighur version of samosas: baked envelopes of meat. Meat often makes an appearance in-
side
chuchura
(dumplings;
jiǎozi tāng
)
,
which can be steamed or fried.
Foreign Fancies
Běijīng's emergence as a true world city has revolutionised its dining scene. Now, a whole
host of ambitious chefs, including Michelin-starred legends, have descended on the capit-
al, meaning that if you're pining for a taste of home, you won't have to travel too far to
find it.
Korean and Japanese restaurants are especially plentiful because Běijīng hosts large ex-
patriate communities from those countries, and there are many places specialising in con-
temporary Mediterranean cuisine, as well as standard Western comfort food such as pizza,
pasta, steaks and hamburgers. But whether you're hankering for African or Turkish food,
a burrito or a rogan josh, it's being served somewhere in the city. For restaurant listings,
check the monthly expat magazines.
Self-Catering
Avoiding restaurants in Běijīng is easy, as even the most selective chef will be able to find
just about any ingredient they might want. But if you're staying in an apartment, you
might be stumped by the lack of an oven in the kitchen; Chinese cooking doesn't call for
them.
If you're after Western food, the following supermarkets and stores cater for foreigners
and stock such esoteric delights as imported cheese, foreign wine, English tea and peanut
butter.
Carrefour
(6b Beisanhuan Donglu; 8.30am-10.30pm; Liufang)
The best supermarkets in
Běijīng belong to the French hypermarket chain Carrefour, which moved into China early
on. Carrefour stocks just about everything you need, as well as providing ATMs and tak-
ing credit cards. Its supermarkets are open every day and are always crowded.
