Beijing's Top Ten Yunnan Restaurants

Yunnan is a beautiful Chinese name meaning "south of the clouds". Yunnan is not only famous for its beautiful scenery, it's also home to a richly varied cuisine using fresh and natural ingredients. In Beijing, Yunnan cuisine is becoming more and more popular, especially in spring when people like to eat fresh food to match the new season.

The most well known Yunnan dishes are 'Across the Bridge Rice Noodles' (Guo Qiao Mi Xian) and 'Steamed Pot Chicken' (Qi Guo Ji).

'Across the Bridge Rice Noodles' is made of soup, sliced meat, rice noodles and seasonings. A big china bowl filled with boiling soup and a layer of oil is served with a soup of boiled chicken and pork bones - the clearer the broth, the better.

'Steamed Pot Chicken' is sealed in a pot and steamed for several hours. Sometimes special medicinal herbs are added, making this tasty dish even more nutritious.
Now let's check out where you can find Yunnan cuisine in Beijing.

South Silk Road (Cha Ma Gu Dao)

One of the most famous Yunnan restaurants in Beijing, South Silk Road offers typical Yunnan specialties like smoked ham, wild mushrooms and homemade rice wine. Of course, you shouldn't miss its 'Across the Bridge Rice Noodles' and 'Steamed Pot Chicken". The second floor of this restaurant is made of glass. So ladies, if you're wearing a dress, you might prefer to sit on the first floor.

Location 1: No. 12-13 Tianhefang, Houhai, Xicheng District
Opening time: 10:30am-2pmTel: 010- 66155515
Tips: The Houhai restaurant has plenty of outdoor seating with a good view of the lake.

Location 2: 3/F, D Tower, SOHO, No.88 Jiangguo Road
Opening time: 10:30am-2pm
Tel: 85804286

Location 3: 2-3/F, No.4 Anhuili, Chaoyang District
Opening time: 10:30am-2pm
Tel: 010-85804286

Impression of Yunnan (Yunnan Yin Xiang)

The food here is quite good, but maybe not the best in Beijing. Customers appreciate the well-decorated interior and recommend the rice wine and mushrooms brought in from Yunnan.

Location: No.16 Dongsanhuan Beilu
Tel: 010-85951277

Hui Dao Lijiang
Prices are reasonable here compared to other Yunnan restaurants. Customer comments are stuck on the walls, both good and bad. 'Pineapple Rice' (Bo Luo Fan) a specialty, is made with brown rice cooked in a hollowed-out pineapple to absorb the pineapple's sweet juices.

Location: No.43 Beisanhuan Xilu, Haidian District
Tel: 010-62131899

Zhong Ba Lou
Hidden in a Sanlitun hutong, this restaurant can be hard for first timers to find, but it's worth the effort. Serving fresh vegetables from Yunnan, the specialty here is 'Egg Fried with Jasmine Blossoms'. After dinner, the restaurant transforms into a lively bar. Zhong Ba Lou is one of the most famous Yunnan restaurants in Beijing so reservations are necessary.

Colorful Yunnan (Qi Cai Yunnan)
Be warned - this place is very expensive! But everything is bang on from the food to the decoration. Pu'er tea, a Yunnan specialty is worth trying here. The longer this tea is stored, the better it tastes. At Colourful Yunnan the tea has been stored for more than five years.

Location: Henghua International Business Center, No.26 Yuetan Beijie, Xicheng District
Tel: 010-58566099


Butterfly Spring Hotel (Hu Die Quan Bin Guan)
The Butterfly Spring is a famous place in Dali City, Yunnan Province. Butterfly Spring Hotel, in the Dali People's Government Beijing Office, serves traditional Yunnan Cuisine. The restaurant has a good reputation among Yunnan people living in Beijing for its authentic taste - almost the same as the food in Yunnan. Unfortunately the hotel is hidden in a small hutong and difficult to find.

Location: No.55 Xixiejie, Xidanbei Dajie, Xicheng District
Tel: 010-66157755

Yunteng Hotel
This hotel is actually the Yunnan People's Government Beijing Office, which is why its said to offer the most authentic Yunnan dishes. The waiters are from Yunnan and despite its mediocre interior the restaurnant is always full.

Location: No.7 Building, Donghuashi Beili
Tel: 010-67113322 ext. 7105

An Yuan Wu Hao
On the second floor of an old building in Beijing's Asian Games Village, this quiet restaurant is nicely decorated. Although the food may not be completely authentic, it still tastes good. Reasonable prices make it a good option for a simple dinner. The 'Pineapple Rice' and rice noodles are recommended.

Location: 2/F, No.5 Anyuan Beili
Tel: 010-64979173

Baoqin Dai Ethnic Restaurant

Close to the Central University for Nationalities and surrounded by other universities, this smallish restaurant is a college students' favorite. The waiters are all ethnic Dai people and the food is so good that many Yunnan people working in Beijing visit frequently, making for a noisy atmosphere at peak times.

Location: No.16 Minzudaxue Beilu, Weigongcun, Haidian District
Tel: 010-68483189

Qiao Xiang Yuan Across Bridge Rice Noodle
The best 'Across Bidge Rice Noodles' in Beijing! This place is more like a snack bar with low prices. A 12 RMB bowl of rice noodles will fill many people. The soup is particularly delicious, with seasonings brought in from Yunnan.

Location 1: 1/F Lisheng Sports Department Store, No.201 Wangfujing Dajie, Dongcheng DistrictTel: 010-65273216

Location 2: 1/F Huahai Building, No.34 Haidian Dajie, Haidian District
Tel: 010-85246224

Something Special: Yearning for Yunnan (China World Hotel)
From April 1 to 31, authentic Yunnan cuisine is being served at Beijing's Summer Palace restaurant at the China World Hotel. Highlights of the special menu include 'Herb Chicken Soup', 'Yunnan Seafood Noodle Soup', and 'Lemon Grass Grilled River Fish'.
For reservations, call the Summer Palace on 010-65052266 ext. 34

Location: No.1 Jianguomenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District