BJ FOODIES

2009-04-19T19:53:00.000-07:00

CITY WEEKEND GOURMET MONTH

2009-04-09T08:50:00.000-07:00

HATSUNE 隐泉日本料理

2009-03-21T04:23:00.000-07:00

Cuisine: Japanese - Californian

Yum Factor: 4/5

Fu to the Wu (service): 2/5

FengShui: 3.5/5

Moolah: $$$ - Costly Business Class

Repeat-Worthy: Yes

Hatsune to Beijing is similar to what Nobu is to London - Highly publicized as the go-to venue for hip californian Japanese dining in the capital, the Guanghua Lu location has become a staple option for many in the CBD area

Foodies looking for a traditional Japanese will definitely find that fix at Hatsune, but for the 'tempura shrimp with mayo drizzle' californian style, there is no better option around the capital than Hatsune

The Agadashi Tofu is a nice appetizer to start with, crispy flakiness on the outside housing a silky tofu that steams upon the first bite. Feeling hungry, we also ordered the large sashimi platter that was impressively fresh but could have had a greater variety of fish given the higher price point charged

However, everyone should know that you come to Hatsune for their rolls - so perhaps we shouldn't have ordered the Sashimi after all. Our Motorola & Amy rolls were innovative but might not suit everyone's pallets as some may find the fusion a bit too much (although we loved what we ordered) Cheese lovers should definitely order the Philly Roll, the cream cheese creating a lovely melting texture in the mouths without the heaviness that comes with traditional cheese

The eatery is packed both at lunch & dinner hours, so reservations are highly recommended as waiting for seating is never fun...so do take the time to store the # and dial ahead if you intend to check out this consistently fun well-ambienced eating experience

Reviewed By: Xi2

HeQiao Tower
8 Guanghua Lu
Guomao
#6581 3939

TURKISH MUM

2009-03-21T03:34:00.000-07:00

Cuisine: Turkish

Yum Factor: 3.5/5

Fu to the Wu (service): 3/5

FengShui: 3/5

Moolah: $$ - Not Cheap, Not Expensive

Repeat-Worthy: Yes

Adding to the already abundant SLT restaurant scene might be a daunting challenge for many, but Turkish Mum has managed to do so quite well with a food offering unique enough to differentiate itself from nearby competitors

The large menu is sure to have options that you've never tried - The appetizer combo (48rmb) is a good starter for those unfamiliar with middle eastern cuisine & comes with a selection of delicious thick hummus, pickled purple cauliflower, fresh tabbouleh salad with a red salsa that would make you want a repeat order

Our main courses of roasted sea bass (68rmb) & roasted half chicken (59rmb) were came in both surprisingly generous portions and served piping hot. The roasted half chicken was succulent and was well complemented by the chickpea rice, although our only complaint was that it was a bit heavy on the oil. The Sea bass was a highlight for many, as the use of cumin to season the fish was a new flavor & combination for many - leaving a memorable impression on our foodie tastebuds and distinct enough for us to remember the dish

Wanting to be adventurous, we ordered the kofte lentis pattie (shown above) which was not very flavorful and seemed more a 'food that you take on a camping trip' than a 'restaurant worthy' dish. Amongst all the great dishes we tried, this would be one we wouldn't highly recommend

Service at Turkish MaMa neither good or bad, just the standard fuwu you would expect in a foreign restaurant in the capital. We would recommend this restaurant more as a lunch time venue or casual group dinners. Turkish Mum is a nice change from the regular SLT restaurant offerings, check it out next time you're in the area...which we're sure you will be

Reviewed By: Xi2

# 6552-8688

GongtiBei Lu, Next to Rumi

Sanlitun

[MALAYSIA] OLDTOWN WHITE COFFEE

2009-02-06T07:34:00.000-08:00

Cuisine: Cafe - Coffee House
Yum Factor: 4/5

Fu to the Wu (service): 3/5

FengShui: 3/5

Moolah: $ - Economy Class

Repeat-Worthy: Yes

Oldtown White Coffee is Malaysia's own home grown Starbucks - but oh so much better & tastier than anything you can find at the international coffee chain. The extensive coffee culture is a surprise to any visiting tourist & Oldtown White Coffee is a must try for any foodie enthusiast

With numerous outlets around town, OldTown is coffee house with a malaysian twist. Our standard regular coffee order was so delicious & left a hint of chocolate after taste in the mouth - and comes in a hot/cold option (we ordered both!)

Menu selection at Oldtown offers traditional malaysian staples that are done very well. Our Nasi Lamak came in a generous portion & with rich spicy flavors to match. Foodies with heavier palettes will fall in love with malaysian cuisine, as most of the food culture tends to uses alot of spices, flavorful abundant ingredients & exhibit oilier characteristics...salads are probably the last thing you would find on the menu...& will only present an opportunity for the locals to scoff at you as an obvious tourist

Also highly recommended is KAYA - a type of malaysian jam that is made from coconut milk & sugar....you'll be addicted within a second. This stuff is SERIOUSLY comparable & tastes as good as nutella. Order with the standard toasted toasts & you are good to go (can even double as a dessert)

On the side, we also had a popular malaysian chinese bean curd dessert. Probably one of the lighter desserts you'll find, our tofu was freshly made & topped off with a special secret syrup with lychees & tapioca bubbles on the side...hit any oldtown outlet for a great afternoon of sipping some better-than-starbucks java with great local fare for bites

Reviewed by: Xi2

[MALAYSIA] DELIcious - Cafe Bistro

2009-02-06T07:16:00.000-08:00

Cuisine: Cafe - Salad Bar Bistro

Yum Factor: 4.5/5
Fu to the Wu (service): 3.5/5
FengShui: 4.5/5
Moolah: $$ - Not Cheap Not Expensive
Repeat-Worthy: Yes

When an eatery calls themselves ''D-E-L-I-C-i-o-u-s'', the food that comes out better be just that. Based in malaysia, the 'DELICious' chain has become a popular option for the upper echelon KL crowd seeking a lighter than usual Malay meal or comfortable cafe to satisfy dessert cravings with a cup of java

Decor & ambience of the restaurant is also noteworthy, a well designed space with comfortable seating - & huge transparent dessert case for food porn enthusiasts

The mango,lychee,kaffir blast drink is a MUST TRY & is sooo delicious that you'll most likely finish & want to order another one before the any food is even served. Lychee & watermelon blast was also a hit & mouthwateringly luscious. We recommend both for perfect thrist quenchers to combat the tropical heat

Be warned, portions at DELICious are quite large so its easy to over-order as everything on the menu sounds tasty. The chicken pesto spaghettini (20.90rm) was perfectly supple, decorated with freshly grilled chicken bites topped off with paper thin cheddar strips & basil leaf on top. Spinach & pine nut quiche is a great choice for vegetarians & a meal in itself. The crab & mango salad was a favorite too- as interesting choice of greens such as spinach & coriander was a nice twist on the original recipes. The use of real & not processed crab meat was also highly appreciated as we detest how the candy-cane looking crab 'sticks' is often used nowadays

Desserts @ DELICious really do warrant a review of their own - as we couldn't decide which one to choose....the group went all out & ordered the 3 favorites:
Chocolate Brownie/Strawberry Pavlova/Mango Cheesecake (9.90rg/each)

Orgasmically & hatefully delicious...each decadent & sinfull in its own right. Chocolate brownie was the best of the three (if we just HAVE to choose) & comes served with melty hot chocolate fudge sauce with a dallop of cold vanilla ice cream. Mango cheesecake was equally rich in taste & flavor.

In retrospect, what was intended to be a 'light' meal ended up being a unexpected gastronomic feast for the group....but like they say, expect the unexpected - and in this case, the unexpected was so much better than what we had imagined

Reviewed By: Xi2

Bangsar Village 2

Jalan Tewali Satu

Bangsar Baru

KL, Malaysia

[MALAYSIA] MAMAK HAWKER STALL - Street Food

2009-02-06T07:10:00.000-08:00

Cuisine: Street - Local Stalls

Yum Factor: 4/5
Fu to the Wu (service): 2/5
FengShui: 2/5
Moolah: S - Bargain Basement

Repeat-Worthy: Yes

Please repeat after me - MAMAK (think Yo mAmA jokes with a sharp K sound...yes you got it)

If you're a true foodie, than you will definately inevitably hear this word repeated numerous times when travelling around Malaysia
Coming mostly in the form of outdoor stalls, Mamak-ing is the ultimate way to enjoy & eat as the locals do. Although available 24 hours a day, you'll most likely find mamaks bustling with business in the late evenings. As mentioned, Malaysian food tends to be heavier & mamak food is no exception - so we do suggest leaving all your health calorie counting habits at home or you'll probably be starving for the whole trip

To start, our Roti Canai - a thin indian bread was flaky on the outside & muffin soft on the inside. Served with a chili sauce that leaves a nice spicy aftertaste in the mouth
We also had a go at the famous staples Maggi Goreng & Nasi Lemak. The former is a dish made from frying Maggi instant noodles with curry & served with fresh vegetables & optional chicken. The latter Nasi Lemak was sinful - coconut milk steamed rice served with anchovies, peanuts, cucumber & a chili sambal paste. Topped with a sunny side up, the dish was gone thanks to everyones quick contribution

Be sure to order either a fresh coconut or teh-tarik on the side - as most of the indian malay fare typical of Mamak stalls can be quite hot for foodies that cant handle their spice. The awfully indulgent tea sweetened with milk is a local favorite & is the 'pulling' demonstration is quite an art form in itself

All this late night indulgence came to a whopping 60rgt...otherwise roughly 100rmb...and there was still food leftover for our table of four

Reviewed By: Xi2

[HK] AppleGreen - TST

2009-02-02T04:37:00.000-08:00

Cuisine: Cafe - Salad Bar Bistro
Yum Factor: 3.5/5

Fu to the Wu (service): 3/5

FengShui: 2.5/5

Moolah: $$ - Not Cheap Not Expensive

Repeat-Worthy: Yes

Following the healthy eating trend, Apple Green is your top spot for a fine-dining guilt free eating eatery. Centered around a salad concept, the menu is offers more than 15 creative salad-as-main-course selections for foodies to test & try out. Even better, you can even customize your own salad from the salad cart with an option to choose either a half-size ($88) or full portion($148). Do go crazy with the veggies, cheese, meaty & nutty options-

We highly recommend the grilled sea bass salad - complete with fennel, spinach, oranges & large chunks of sea bass goodness. Although portions are huaaggee, the group felt that there was a bit of stinginess w/the more 'expensive' ingredients such as our cheddar cheese & imported pine nuts

Beside the grand salad options, AppleGreen also offers a range of pasta, protein & appetizers for foodies looking for something heavier. Dishes here have a more 'japanese' touch w/ spinoffs like the Hakata Cod Roe Spaghetti - served w/garlic bread and side of seaweed shreds

Although prices lean on the more expensive side, AppleGreen's healthy & light bistro concept is a very welcomed addition to the HK dining scene & is a repeat worthy venue for not only salad lovers but foodies needing a detox meal after a heavy night out

Reviwed By: Xi2

B-7 Hanoi Road
Tsim Sha Tsui
#2368-1263

[HK] SHIRO - Admiralty

2009-02-01T20:17:00.000-08:00

Cuisine: Japanese - SoOshi

Yum Factor: 3/5
Fu to the Wu (service): 3.5/5
FengShui: 2.5/5
Moolah: $$ - Not Cheap Not Expensive

Repeat-Worthy: Yes

Recently opened Shiro in new neighboring space to Lane Crawford would naturally set a pretty high expectation for any foodie venturing to try the eatery. We are happy to report that Shiro delivered wonderfully on most of our foodie expectations & stands out as a quality option for those looking for a higher quality japanese lunch set catering to the upper echelon Admiralty crowd

Ambience & spacing of tables were well apportioned & didn't obstruct walking even through the restaurant was packed & fully buzzing during our lunch time visit. The 165rmb Sashimi lunch set was decadently delicious & worth ordering again as generous portions & notable presentation were great compliments to the wide VARIETY of sashimi selection offered. Buttery thick scallops, fresh shrimp & rarer fish were welcomed highlight & a step above the standard tuna, salmon, yellowtail platters often found elsewhere

The pricier 208rmb deluxe sushi lunch set is perfect for the hungry male banker but could probably feed two girls appetitite - we higher recommend this set for the hungry luncher
Our third foodie ordered the tempura set (168rmb) & this was also generously portioned but probably the most generic of our three sets.

Variety of sushi pieces was one to remember & the efforts to make the usual lunch set interesting was highly appreciated by all. Pieces like the roast duck roll definately will definately be remembered the first the first time luncher to Shiro.

All in all, SHiro is a great lunch option for the admiralty dwellers, workers & shoppers alike. We would however, highly recommened saving their number on your phone as lunchtime reservations are a must. There seems to be more demand than supply of seats available - regardless of early or late lunch time goers

Reviewed by: Xi2

http://www.ankh-concepts.com/
G/F Level 1 Pacific Place
88 Queens Road
Admiralty, Hong Kong

BJ FOoDIES - EDUCATION Charity Meal

2009-01-08T23:12:00.001-08:00

8 Birds Hokkaido Shabu Shabu 八鸟

5/F The Place - 9 Guanghua Lu CBD Guomao 光华路9号世贸天阶5层
Sunday, January 11, 2009
7:30pm - 10:30pm

Cuisine Theme: Hot Potty

Charity Theme: Education

1. CHINA CHARITY FEDERATION (CCF)
http://cszh.mca.gov.cn/article/english/disaster/educationaid/
CCF helps students from elementary schools, middle schools, colleges and universities finish their studies. The programs include earmarked stipends, tuition for those who can’t afford to attend school, scholarships for high achieving students from poor families, a one to one match program, building charity schools, and donation of educational equipment to schools in indigent areas.

2. CAI 儿童才艺行动
www.cai-china.org
Aims to enrich the lives of migrant children through creative arts & team sports. They regularly recruit volunteers to teach weekday, weekend or camp courses

3. BUILDING OPPORTUNITY WITH SUPPORT (BOWS)
http://www.bowsforgirls.org
A small & growing not-for-profit dedicated to providing support, informal counseling, education and a safe environment for girls & young women

8 BIRDS HOKKAIDO SHABU SHABU

2009-01-02T06:28:00.000-08:00

Cuisine: Japanese - Shabu Shabu (Hot Pot)
Yum Factor: 3/5

Fu to the Wu (service): 3.5/5

FengShui: 2.5/5

Moolah: $$ - Not Cheap Not Expensive
Repeat-Worthy: Yes

This is most definatly BJ's most understated hotpot restaurant in town - this isn't your corner "Little Sheep" affair, 8 birds makes is hot pot decadence at its finest. We definatly recommend ordering the 258RMB set for best bang for buck, not only will the meal be guaranteed to fill you up but also leave you stuffed with some of the freshest seafood, veggies & high quality meat dips

Service at 8 Birds is another delightful highlight as the fuwus will cook everything for you in a specific order to make sure nothing is overcooked & everyone gets a taste of everything. The healthier & lighter broth is a nice change from the often too-oily typical of chinese style hotpots. The ambience is perfect for a lazy sunday dinner meal with a group of friends detoxing from the weekend festivities. We recommend reserving a private room & going with a larger group of 5+ friends. Make sure you save room for the congee & a separate compartment in your stomach for the delicious desserts that comes at the meal end

Reviewed by: Xi2

5F The Place - 9 Guanghua Lu
CBD, Guomao
光华路9号世贸天阶5层
6587-1479

LIU WEN QIAN

2008-12-16T18:01:00.000-08:00

Cuisine: Japanese - Skewers

Yum Factor: 3/5
Fu to the Wu (service): 3.5/5
FengShui: 2.5/5
Moolah: $ - Economy Class

Repeat-Worthy: Yes

Liu Wen Qian is easily missed, as the hidden restaurant sits inside a hidden corner just around from Moro's. The eatery itself is a tiny space that resembles more a tiny private izakaya room & is perfect for a group of 20 odd friends to have a night of casual eating & tipples of sake.

The menu has most of the Japanese staples one would find - though we do recommend steering away from the shashimi or cold staples & suggest foodies to opt for their numerous skewer selections instead. Eggplant lovers should order the baked eggplant (10rmb) which & comes topped with dry squid shavings & special house sauce. Healthy options such as skewered onions, peppers, pumpkin are all reasonably priced between 2-8rmb per stick & is suprisingly filling when ordered by the half-dozen

Our favorites however, are still any orders of the whole dry-roasted fishes. Roasted Mackerel & 'Big-eye' fish are grilled in front of diners & comes perfectly toasted with crispy skin & juicy meaty insides.
Overall, Liu Wen Qian isn't your high end jap eatery - but ideal for a cozy night of dining @ extremely reasonable prices....do bring your friends though, as this place can double as a mini mid-week dinner party with their well priced 1.8L sake bottles...you have been warned

Reviewed By: Xi2

No.8 Xinyuan Nanlu, West of Kunlun hotel, Capital Mansion West Gate
San Yuan Qiao
朝阳区新源南路8号

JADE GARDEN 苏浙汇

2008-12-05T18:06:00.000-08:00

Cuisine: Japanese - Fusion
Yum Factor: 3/5
Fu to the Wu (service): 2.5/5
FengShui: 4/5
Moolah: $$$ - Costly Business Class

Repeat-Worthy: Yes

Loyal to its Shanghai roots, Jade Garden's lighter flavors are a consistent option to the usual over-oily cuisine of Beijing. From Xiao Long Baos to spongy breads, our Dim Sum feast was surprisingly tasty & a good substitute for the weekly Cantonese style 'Yum cha" dim sum session. We recommend coming in a larger group, as there is a huge selection of steamed morsels & a la carte choices here that would be fun to try with a bunch of friends

Service was a bit too slow at times as response times of simple things took longer than expected, but overall - the ambience & decor of the restaurant does make up for the lack as one can enjoy the views while waiting on the FuWus. The honey red sauce coated ribs were a hit with everyone as was the slightly sweet sponge cake. A good restaurant to check out at least once if you want a change from the usual over eaten Cantonese style dimsum

Reviewed By: Xi2

Building 6 Jiqingli, Chaowai DaJie
朝外大街吉庆里6号楼

6552-8688

BJ FOODIES: XMAS CHARITINI BASH!

2008-12-03T22:48:00.000-08:00

hahah...WoOt WOOT.....the goal is to make everyone call in sick on Monday :)

MAKOTO

2008-12-03T22:15:00.001-08:00

Cuisine: Japanese - Fusion
Yum Factor: 4/5
Fu to the Wu (service): 3.5/5
FengShui: 3/5
Moolah: $$$ - Costly Business Class

Repeat-Worthy: Yes

Opened by award-winning culinary champ Makoto, you can't help bt have high expectations before even trying the food

Although the location is one of CBD's finest (HuaMao), the restaurant is actually quite hidden amongst all the glitz & glam of neighboring high-end stores & the JW Marriot. Located inside the Deutsche Bank building, the expensive rent has the extremely upscale decor to match...although we found the 300 diner capacity to be more of a con than a pro as an intimate dining experience is always the opportunity cost for having alot of space

We visited during lunch & were pleased to find very reasonably priced & large selection of lunch sets that included options from sashimi platters to donburis & hotpots. All the sets comes fully loaded with miso soup, apple salad, pickels & a simple dessert. Not bad for a 'Nobu' quality Japanese restaurant :)

The sashimi donburi (￥65RMB) came adorned with 2 thick scallops & 4 large cuts of lightly seared sashimi pieces. Although some may find Makotos overall prices are a bit high, we have to say that his innovative food & high quality is worth it. The big thick scallops literally melted in our mouths & the light searing gave the shashimi pieces are nouveau but delicious taste. Although portions were of a good size, eating such good quality fish just left us wanting to order another lunch set for the sake of eatin

Dessert was less spectacular as it ended up being a standard fruit plate (just say fruit plate next time damn't, as guests are probably expecting a proper fancy dessert) But was a nice finish to one of the healthier & lighter lunch options around the city. Worth a try & a repeat for us - if only we were in the area more often

Foodie Addict: Xi2

China Central Place, 4th Floor - Deutschbank Building
81 Jian Guo Road , CBD
朝阳区建国路81华贸中心1楼层
5255-0668

NORTH 66

2008-11-23T07:30:00.000-08:00

[CITY WEEKEND: RESTAURANT REVIEW]

European North 66

- Seafood Overdose (the unedited version)

When a restaurant goes to the trouble of importing all their seafood from far-away-Norway, you would have hoped they could have put in the extra effort to import a chef that could cook all that expensive shipment as well.

The interior design of the restaurant resembles that of a winter cabin you would find at a 5-class ski resort - with the temperature to match. The reindeer antlers chandaliers are interesting but I cant help wondering many reindeers died in the making, checkered table cloths are cute, but easily overlooked as it seems that North 66 also wanted to replicate the freezing temperatures of back home...(umm, unpaid heater bill maybe?)

The sinfully thick Roman sweet potato soup (￥28) was superb & the perfect tummy warmer on a cold beijing day. (unchanged)

The Artic seafood appetizer platter (￥88) came after the entrees were served - matched with the same sauces that was on my entrees which i noticed only because I had the main course before eating the appetizer

We recommend NEITHER the grilled norwegian salmon OR the boston lobster in cream sauce as they both came cold & it always upsets a foodie to see such high quality ingredients be wasted on a inept chef & wait staff that cant even bring out the food properly....or in the right order it seems. Both dishes would be worth trying once....and only once at that.

Service would be better if I had the option to serve myself - the manager is on a power-trip or seems to be on a permanent PMS....but that wouldn't make sense seeing he is a dude & not a girl... But then again, you come to the restaurant when its on the house right?

XiXi Cheng

THE PERFECT BURGER

2008-11-06T03:09:00.000-08:00

With all the Burger joints poppin' up around town I decided to dig up a pic of one of the best burger experiences I've ever eaten.......I present "GBK: Gourmet Burger Kithchen"
Sorry to say though, they're located in the UK

Make sure to check it out if you cross the waters to the land of tea & crumpets....

ELEMENT FRESH

2008-10-26T02:51:00.000-07:00

Cuisine: American Asian
Yum Factor: 5/5
Fu to the Wu (service): 4.5/5
FengShui: 5/5
Moolah: $$ - Not Cheap, not Expensive
Repeat-Worthy: YES

Element Fresh's concept of healthy but extremely tasty food fare has offically landed at the Jing'. Hailing from Shanghai, the long anticipated restaurant has already established a huge following of food lovers of their modern bistro concept

Located in the new Sanlitun 'The Village', this eatery is already regularly packed with repeat & new foodies alike wanting a taste of their mouth-watering sandwiches & unique salad combinations. The menu selection is abundant, from all-day breakies to proper full course appetiser & dinner entrees. The modern hip decor & outdoor patio presents a perfect spot for catching the last of the alfresco eating weather - whether a coffee or sitdown meal, this place is sure to please

As our orders arrive, cameras are automatically pulled out as our colorful, fresh, well designed salads & dish presentations are a food porn photo heaven. Le bleu apple is a must-try; fresh baby lettuce greens with walnuts, crisp bacon bits, & bite sized apple pieces paired with the miso-yogurt dressing is already a favorite order for the group. Salad portions are big enough to be a light meal on its own. Cobb salad comes decked out in mozzo cheese, avocados, & neatly cut white chicken breast with fresh boiled eggs. The hummus was also a hit, served with pita bread & a vegetable medly to satisfy all your dipping desires.

The only fault in an otherwise near-flawless meal, the 'skin' on our beef vietnamnese roll was too thick & chewy for liking. Food was consistent & delicious,

Also famous for its numerous selection of fresh squeezed shaes, the mango madness was absolutely divine & came with large chunks of fresh mango to chew on. The drinks here alone are worth coming for, perfect for a detox day after a long weekend out. We can't even remember how BJ was before Element Fresh!

Foodie Addict: Xi2

3rd floor The Village @ Sanlitun 三里屯19号
19 South Sanlitun Road 三里屯Village南区8号楼8-3-3单
6417-1318

BJ FoOdies: Rating Guide

2008-10-20T01:29:00.000-07:00

FoOdage Reviews

Yum Factor:

1 – Did you forget to hire a chef?
2 – Looks & tastes nothing like the menu description
3 – Standard as expected dishes
4 – Tasty & Delicious
5 – Do you deliver?

Fu to the Wu (service):
1 – Where the Fuwuyuan at?
2 – Too much Fuwu, overservicing
3 – Acceptable standard Fuwu
4 – Mostly consistent Fuwu
5 – Flawless Fuwu throughout

Feng-Shui:

1 – Do you not own a mop?
2 – Clean street food & Dwindling ambience
3 – Nothing special & Moderate ambience
4 – Noteworthy décor & Superb ambience
5 – Enlightenment & Zen ambience

Moolah: (per/mouth)

S - Bargain Basement Price (¥ 5- 50)
$ - Economy Class (¥50 - ¥100)

$$ - Not Cheap, Not Expensive (¥100 - ¥200)
$$$ - Costly Business Class (¥200 - ¥400)
$$$$ - Pimping Luxury First Class (¥400+)

QIAN HE 千鹤

2008-10-08T02:59:00.000-07:00

Cuisine: Japanese - Teppanyaki
Yum Factor: 3/5
Fu to the Wu (service): 2.5/5
FengShui: 3/5
Moolah: $ - Economy Class
Repeat-Worthy: Yes

Another anonymous find in Wudaokou that isn’t found amongst the legions of Japanese restaurants listed in that’s or the weekend. Stumbling upon this restaurant by chance, Qian He’s underground location provides a hush-hush haven away from the craziness of the upstairs bars & regular drunk student crowd (accompanied by fake bums trying to take advantage of the same drunk student crowd)

Along with the same menu that every Wudaokou Japanese restaurants seems to use, the highlights of this restaurant are their Teppanyaki sets. From the four sets on offer, the ¥158/two mouths set is the best deal that includes: a nice array of starter salads and sashimi, Tempura, Miso soup to Teppanyaki: Shrimp, Bacon asparagus roll, Beef steak, Scallop, Mixed vegetables, accompanied with fried rice, huge bowl of noodles and to finish off, an inventive fried Teppanyaki banana dessert topped off with a scoop of strawberry ice cream….and of course the finale fruit salad. (whew!...and if that isn’t enough to satiate your hunger then I suggest you book a doctor’s appointment to check for a food-eating stomach worm)

Service is slightly understaffed but the gentle chef makes up for the lack of fuwu; accommodating our requests to “xiao fang you” (less oil) on everything. Overall, Teppanyaki specialists will find this restaurant of ordinary quality, but considering the student market it serves and the Wudaokou area it’s located in – finding a decent Teppanyaki restaurant like Qian He amongst the student-infested vicinity was a surprisingly nice surprise

Foodie Addict: Xi2

Dini's Kosher Restaurant 蒂妮犹太餐厅

2008-10-08T02:48:00.000-07:00

Cuisine: Isreali - Kosher
Yum Factor: 3.5/5
Feng Shui: 3/5
Fu to the Wu (service) : 3.5/5
Moolah: $$- Not Cheap, Not Expensive
Repeat-Worthy: Yes

Upon entry, Beijing’s first all-kosher restaurant emits a pleasant aura of gastronomical delight. The meal that follows certainly does not disappoint. This classy little joint, located just off of Lady Street, is an ideal venue for a tranquil Sunday brunch, presenting warm greetings and delightful service.

The menu offers four types of cuisine: Japanese, Western, Chinese and Isreali fare. The ingredients used here are all fresh and home-made, the recipes fitting and agreeable. Dini’s is a suitable place to enjoy a crisp salad, indulge in a chicken schnitzel (whatever the hell that is), or just cram a 12-inch hot dog down your throat. Above average fair, this is a restaurant worth the visit

Foodie Addict: Mr.Crabclaws

Super Bar Street 32 Tianze Lu 32号女人街星吧路酒吧街内 Jiangtai Xiang (20m east of Grape restaurant) 将台乡天泽路 http://www.kosherbeijing.com/ 6461 - 6220

THE MUGHAL'S 新疆卡拉奇餐厅

2008-10-05T20:36:00.000-07:00

Cuisine: Pakistani / Xinjiang
Yum Factor: 2.5/5
Fu to the Wu (service): 2.5/5
FengShui: 3/5
Moolah: $$ - Not Cheap, Not Expensive
Repeat-Worthy: No

Located on the 5th floor of 3.3, Mughal’s menu is not only expansive but has on offer a hefty assortment of Xinjiang, Pakistani & Chinese-based chows. The potential of the restaurant is at the same time ironically its downfall. Dishes are very authentically prepared by a real Indian chef; the restaurant also had numerous Middle Eastern and Indian customers when we sat down – usually an encouraging sign of the food when natives of the cuisine show support. All these seemingly positive factors combined, perhaps unfairly, left us eagerly anticipating for the meal to arrive with high expectations
Unfortunately, the fault of the restaurant is neither the quality of the excellent ingredients nor the authenticity of the dishes, but sadly, the blatant use of the microwave to heat the food prior to it being served. Additionally, it was painstakingly obvious that dishes were not freshly made to order - but instead, most likely made by the batch, refrigerated & divded accordingly when an order was placed

In fairness however, we could tell that had the food been served at the time that it was freshly prepared, the dishes would have tasted ten folds more amazing and lived up to the effort, time & skill taken in preparing the them The tabooli was not bad/not great as we had to squeeze some lemon on top to balance out the slightly over-salted salad.

The portion of mutton handi was generous & should satiate any meat fix one is craving. The Kashmiri Saag, a pureed spinach dish mixed delicately with a very herby/spices sauce was tasty but could have been that much more delicious if made fresh to order Overall, Mughal's extremely ironic eating experience left us slightly annoyed and confused. We didn't feel bad about the usual glum factors of ingredient quality or service, but bad about the food itself and how it might never get the chance to truly to show its amazing delissh factor & hidden tasty potential

Foodie Addict: Xi2

4th Floor, 3.3 Sanlitun 三里屯酒吧街3.3大厦南侧那里花园4层

5208-6082

PURE LOTUS 净心莲

2008-09-29T11:22:00.000-07:00

Cuisine: Vegetarian – Fusion

Yum Factor: 4.5/5

Fu to the Wu (service): 4/5

FengShui: 5/5

Moolah: $$$ - Costly Business Class

Repeat-Worthy: Yes

Pure Lotus is your vegan utopia heaven for both vegetarians & carnivores wanting a meat-free meal. We all agree that this eatery is completely in its own dimension & unaffected whatever dining scene is happening or not happening around the capital. Pure Lotus is definately one of our favorite all-rouner venues with amazing zen-like ambience, consistently excellent service & dishes that not only have unparallel presentation but also taste, uniqueness & creative concoctions unlike anything you've probably tried before

"I cannot believe this isn't...." is a repeated sentence for 1st timers eateing here with mock dishes like black pepper ribs, sweet & sour foil fish, & even the famous Peking duck. Trust us, its hard not to believe you ain't eating animal protein - dishes are quick to convince that maybe vegetarians aren't really missing out much at all

Do not come here & NOT order the simply named 'seaweed hand roll" - a seaweed wrapped cone topped with candied walnut, fresh strawberry that tastes a-m-a-z-i-n-g & leaves you wanting to order another 4 for yourself

The 'half-chicken soy protein' is highly recommended & everyone has to be reminded that its not actually chicken you're eating. For groups of 4+, the cheese fondue is a must & comes fully loaded with baguette croutons, multiple veggie bits & forked prongs for your dipping pleasure (P.S. It's not cheese!)

Fish in foil is also a pleaser with fake skin & texture to match. To finish, bowls of pine-nut rice are always emptied at the end of the meal; individuals can also choose to opt for healthy bowl of 5x multigrain organic rice as well

At the end of each meal, there's a beautifully presented surprise for the foodies (and not alcohol as none is served at this monk-run establishment) Foodies should however be careful with ordering as not paying attention can snap you out of your zen-utopia state when the bill arrives

Definately worth a visit even if you ain't a veggo - though we're sure that once you pure it, it wont be your last

Foodie Addict: Xi2

10 Nongzhan Nanli | 文联大厦院内

Chaoyang Park
in compound below the JVC Tower | 农展南里10号JVC大厦
6592-3627

FIND OF THE WEEK: GUILIN MIFEN 桂林米粉

2008-09-29T00:13:00.000-07:00

[FIND OF THE WEEK: OCT HOLIDAYS]

Local Provincial NooOdles

One of Guilin's famous traditional dishes - you won't find the best bowl of noodle-age at your 5* hotel, but rather a local grotty stool style local eatery.
We were lucky enough to have a local guide who showed us where to get dem' famous noodles

Stopping at a small 'one-you-would-have-passed-by' open air eatery, expat hygiene freaks should beware as this definitely isn't the eating ambience one would favorably choose back home. But hey - we are foodies after all, so no ambiance standard should stop us from trying a famous national provincial dish right?

Orders are taken by the liang (25g) here & one can opt for a standard 3 liang bowl or go for the smaller 2 liang. As the name states, mifen is rice and the noodles come in long white strands resembling a thinner version of the thick japanese udon. Freshly boiled, the bowl comes piping hot with a spoonful of peanuts, cut onions, sauce & a dash of spicy xiang oil.
On the side, you're welcome to add as much homemade selection of chilis, pickled radishes & soy sauce/vinegar

We were told that the best way to eat dem' noodles was dry, but for those that prefer a little soup-age, there's a barrel like bucket of specialty boiled beef bone soup to add to your noodle bowl mixture

Guilin peeps like their food spicy so those that can't handle the hotness should ready some H20 on hand to counter the spice.
Flavors are instant & deliciously strong, the freshness of the daily made noodles are obvious and balances the spicy condiments well by helping tone down the hotness of chilis & pickeled radish bits.

The dining experience is quick & it is not uncommon for foodies to go for 2nd or even 3rds.
Overall, definately one of the better bowls of noodles we've tried around China.
We're just crossing our fingers that our stomachs agree -

Foodie Addict: Xi2

YOTSUBA 四叶

2008-09-23T12:05:00.000-07:00

Cuisine: Japanese - Traditional

Yum Factor: 5/5

Fu to the Wu (service): 3/5

FengShui: 3/5

Moolah: $$$$ - Pimping 1st class luxury

Repeat-Worthy: Yes

Yotsuba=Sushi/Sashimi Guru

Find a Japanese restaurant that serves fish as fresh as Yotsuba in Beijing, let me know!
I've been to a fair few Japanese restaurants in Beijing & Yotsuba ranks top for fresh fare without competition.

What the restaurant lacks for in variety, (no white tuna, yellow tail, etc) it makes up for in their muli-selection of Tuna (ligh,medium, oily tuna, mmmmmm *drool).
The restaurant is tiny, with only three tables & a sushi bar that can hold up to six people, but this holds true to the traditional appeal of the restaurant

Despite this, I am a little disappointed with how there is only one chef serving cuisine ere. When there is a full house, which is normaly the case, one chef is simply not enough. Their salad dishes could be a little more inventive.
Ordering sushi a la carte is recommended, avoid the over-priced sashimi.
Can anyone explain why the sashimi is 3-4 times more expensive than the sushi? I'm baffled here.

Foodie Addict: Patek

Build 2 Xinyuan Xili ZhongJie | 新源西里中街2号楼旁
Dongzhimen
near Yuyang Hotel | 渔阳饭店附近
6467-1837

FIND OF THE WEEK: HONG SHAO ROU

2008-09-23T03:29:00.000-07:00

[CITY WEEKEND: FIND OF THE WEEK]

Contemporary Chinese | Xiao Wang Fu

- All Bellied Out

Elegantly decorated with a dash of Chinese kitsch, Xiao Wang Fu has deservingly become a staple restaurant for incoming visitors and local residents alike. Serving Asian favorites like Beijing duck, sweet and sour mandarin fish and a myriad of other traditional staples - there is a noticeable home-style touch in most of the dishes found at this restaurant. We choose the beloved Hong Shao Rou (RMB32), a favorite of dictator Mao, sometimes also known as Lou Chee Yok in Cantonese

It's true the Chinese love their fat, and this dish boasts every ounce of it. A simple recipe that's relatively easy to make, our Hong Shao Rou order came piping hot with well-proportioned bite sized pieces enveloped in a thick hearty deep reddish black sauce, smelling of caramelized sugar and hint of spring onions. Although somewhat oiler than expected, the rich fattiness characteristics of this dish pairs best with steamed white rice or lightly sautéed green vegetables. Never has pork belly tasted so good. Definitely not vegetable lovers-friendly, this classic dish is a definite hit for dem' meat lovers looking for melt-in-your-mouth-protein-tastiness

XiXi Cheng

Find it: 2 Guanghualu Dongli,CBD/Guomao

光华路东里2号

Tel: 6591-3255, 6594-3602

BANANA LEAF

2008-09-18T00:03:00.000-07:00

Cuisine: Thai

Yum Factor: 4/5

Fu to the Wu (service): 3/5

FengShui: 3.5/5

Moolah: $$ - Not Cheap, Not Expensive

Repeat-Worthy: Yes

Over by Sanlitun NanJie, Banana Leaf rocks through the night, as a band of Asian guys and girls sing pop songs at the request of its patrons, or occasionally without it. Bright and colorful, vibrant with musical entertainment, the B-leaf is a fesat for the eyes, the (not-so-musically-oriented) ears, and - surprising to some - the stomach. Frequently overlooked and underated as a result of its perhaps over-enthusiasm, which many do not appreciate, this restaurant will surprise its patrons with the quality, consistency and gastronomic delight of its fare.

The menu here is vast and diverse, providing a mix of East-Asian cuisine. It must be noted that dishes served here are not of the utmost authenticity; however, the taste of the food is undeniable and the quality of the ingredients impeccable. While it is easy to be distracted by the bright lights and loud bustle, it is a different story once the food arrives. The morning glory is truly glorious, their curries are worthy of special mention, and as for their fresh, hearty seafood: a revolution ensued for these foodies. The steamed mandarin fish in spicy lemon dressing is substantial in size, flabbergasting in freshness, and simply perfect in preparation. It is the absolute must of every B-Leaf meal, and has become the very symbol of good dining at reasonable prices. Ever since that first mesmerizing taste, we have come to name the star dish of each restaurant its "Mandarin Fish". It is to this extent that this fish is remarkable, to this degree that it is delectable. And what's more, I don't think they know it. The money spent at this eatery is not that much considering the quality of food that it buys.

Something has to be said for the superior management of this establishment. Feeding large swarms of diners on a daily basis, Banana Leaf still manges to provide fine service and consistent excellence at an entirely reasonable price. It somehow manages to do so without cutting corners or shaving costs. And yet still, the quality control applied to its fare is upstanding and somewhat rare in the city of Beijing. Fuwu is mostly friendly and dependable, but on occasion can be rather slow, overshelmed by the hordes of hungry hippos. This could possibly use improvement, but is too small a factor to affect the irreplaceable dining experience had at the Leaf.

Foodie Addict: Mr.Crabclaws

4 Gongti Beilu | 工体北路4号
Behind Comfort Inn Suites
6506-8855
www.bananaleaf.com.cn

THE TREE

2008-09-17T23:23:00.000-07:00

Cuisine: Pizza - European

Yum Factor: 3/5

Fu to the Wu (service): 3/5

FengShui: 3/5

Moolah: $$ - Not Cheap, Not Expensive

Repeat-Worthy: No&Yes

Commanding prime real estate within the heart of Sanlitun, and boasting one of the longest histories of serving pizza in Beijing, The Tree is a borderline historical artifact for expats in the city. Formerly known as “The Hidden Tree”, this subtle alcove was among the first to be run by expats for expats, and has been doing so since ’96. Just as the prologue does for this review, the first entry into this restaurant will intrigue visitors and persuade them to proceed.

Decked out in walls and floors reminiscent of the Stone Age, and covered by partial glass ceilings, the place provides a warm refuge from cold winter nights and a breezy escape from the heat of summer afternoons. The wooden furniture and platforms succeed in giving the space a sense of warmth and homeliness. A large stone oven placed snugly in the far corner of the main room further enhances the cozy, somewhat primitive feel of the eatery. Chinese art adorns the walls throughout, somehow managing not to clash with the olden European furnishings.

The setting of this restaurant, as well as the fabulously convenient location, seems to attract a wide variety of patrons. Lunchtime brings in a surprising amount of families, as well as a bunch of other expats, out for their afternoon pizza fix; while dinner hosts a mixed horde of dudes swigging on Belgian beer and feasting on the renowned pizzas.

Finally: The food itself. The Tree serves the standard pastas, sandwiches and salads; however, it is most known for its pizza. Speaking from the perspective of a true lover of food, and a fond appreciator of quality, I must say that their pizzas fall quite short of what one would expect from the restaurant awarded "best pizza in Beijing". While providing a rather scrumptious munch-out, with its crispy crusts and oily cheeses, it fails to satiate the more perceptive tongues of food connoisseurs. In spite of this, credit must be given to The Tree for preparing its pizzas with the thinnest possible crusts.

Unfortunately, it is everything above the crust that lets down the final product. The tomato sauce hardly exceeds average quality; the locally produced cheese is excessively oily and evidently low grade; and the toppings, though not deficient, simply do not reflect the quality of the pizza’s base.

The Tree’s pizzas are certainly fitting for grabbing a fair bite while in the area; absolutely ideal for that after-boozing foodfest; but will not quite meet the needs of a foodie out for a real pizza. In addition, the prices charged are relatively steep and do not reflect the quality provided.

Foodie Addict: Mr.Crabclaws

43 Bei Sanlitun Nan | 北三里屯南43号

100m west of Sanlitun North Bar Street

6415-1954

www.treebeijing.com

EDOMAE SUSHI

2008-09-17T23:13:00.000-07:00

Cuisine: Japanese - Traditional

Yum Factor: 3.5/5

Fu to the Wu (service): 3/5

FengShui: 3/5

Moolah: $ - Economy Class

Repeat-Worthy: Yes

Do not turn urself away when u first walk in here as u do get that woof of raw fish smell that can drive away most customers. Fortunately, u are greeted by 3 large smiling Japanese cat porcelains and with their little traditional décor and knowing that it is a super popular lunch joint, u quickly forget the funk.

The little spiraling staircase does give it a distinct look, but impractical when someone above is coming down and can’t see u coming up. When u open the menu, u will be warmed by their friendly pricing and comforted by their little Japanese text. The waiters also have little Japanese name tags and supposedly they can speak Japanese, which makes me warm and fuzzy inside.

Set menu is impressive. Soup is nice and warm (hey, some places here just don’t cut it), and salad is not blasted with dressing (unless u like that) and the eel had no bones (I’ve been to a place that cost twice as much and they had some bones). Overall my little expectations were exceeded and I will go back. And it’s n too loud, and that is important for me, especially at lunch.

Foodie Addict: LG Cheong-Fun (star guest foodie)

Jianwai Soho Building 9 | 建外Soho9号楼

5869-8112

BITEAPITA

2008-09-17T23:02:00.000-07:00

Cuisine: Middle Eastern - Pitta

Yum Factor: 3.5/5

Fu to the Wu (service): 3/5

FengShui: 3/5

Moolah: $ - Economy Class

Repeat-Worthy: Yes

Established and managed by an Isreali couple, Biteapita offers it clients the best Lebanese mezzes & Shawarma as well as other Isreali delights. Here is a great place to stop by and enjoy light, yet flavorful mediterranean cuisine.

The hummus is splendid; tabbouleh salad is replenishing; and shawarma good enough to please an Arab!

Fare at this pita joint is as authentic as it gets in Beijing.

Overall, service is friendly, consistent and definitately worthy of multiple return visits. The restaurant layout is casual, providing a comfortable ambience for foodies to sink into the delicious home-made mezzes.

Ideal for a relaxing afternoon; where good friends can meet to have great conversations while munching on some even greater healthy fare that won't leave you induced with food coma

Foodie Addict: Mr.Crabclaws

Xingba Lu, NurenJie | 星吧路, 女人街
6467-2961

TIME CAFE

2008-09-17T02:48:00.000-07:00

Cuisine: Western - Homestyle

Yum Factor: 4.5/5

Fu to the Wu (service): 4.5/5

FengShui: 3/5

Moolah: $ - Bargain Basement Price

Repeat-Worthy: Yes Yes

It is a high-return investment of your time to seek out Time Café. Tucked away in a corner of Jianwai Soho西区, this low-key hideout has our vote for best lunch set in the city. Set lunch meals start at ￥38 which includes a salad starter, main course, coffee & dessert. This might sound like nothing out of the ordinary until we share the dishes in greater detail:

Salad: Tuna Nicoise is a big enough portion to compete with the ￥30 salads in other western restaurants – green beans, apple slices, sizeable pieces of tuna topped off with cherry tomatoes will make this a repeat order for anyone.
Main: Duck leg Confit w/ grilled vegetables – Surpasses all expectations of just being one of those dishes with a sophisticated name typical of many western restaurants in BJ. Confit it is – the accompanying sweetish sauce balances perfectly with the green/yellow zucchini, roasted pumpkin, eggplant, topped off with the leg of an obviously well-fed duck. The meat is cooked to “slide-off-the-bone precision” with a crispy skin that can be eaten or peeled off according to taste. Again, the extremely generous portion alone is enough to justify the ￥38 on its own.

Already full to the brim, we just had force some space for the crème-brulee dessert that comes hot with torch-melted brown sugar on top served with a coffee/tea. A meal of this quality elsewhere would cost at least ￥150+ . But at Time Café, all this will cost you an unbelievable ￥38. For those out there who think that they can get tired of Time Cafe, the whole menu is revamped every couple months.

We are fully aware that this review might sound too good to be true. Well it is, heed our advice - Time cafe is a hit every time

Foodie Addict: Xi2

3F Building 10, Jianwai Soho | 建外Soho10号楼3晨
CBD Guomao
5869-3488

PHO 88

2008-09-17T02:30:00.000-07:00

Cuisine: Vietnamenese - Traditional Pho

Yum Factor: 3/5

Feng Shui: 2/5

Fu to the Wu (service) : 3/5

Moolah: S - Bargain Basement Price

Repeat-Worthy: YES

Tucked away on the corner of the Vantone building, the initial impression of Pho88 is not one that would attract many foodies on the hunt for a good meal.

But the night was already old, & Xi2 just wanting to more "fill da' stomach" vs/ "have a nice meal" was delightly surprised when the meal turned out to be both.

The green papya salad was freshly made to order - well-proportioned order matched with delicious sweet minty vinigrette that leaves a pleasant aftertaste of lime & chilis. 15rmb Rice-paper shrimp rolls exceeded our expectaions as 4 large pieces were consumed within minutes. Undoubtedly though, the most impressive dish has to be awarded to the Tom Yum Shrimp. The serving bowl was MASSIVE & much better than the displayed menue picture! We were even further astounded to find 7xpieces of large succulent shrimp floating with pineapple bits, mushrooms, other vegetables. There was literally enough to fill up 8 small bowls of soup - all for the bargain price of ￥22.

Xi2 finally managed to convincee herself that the kitchen must have made a mistake with the shrimp or either that, the price on the menue must be wrong...But crazily enough, after all the large shrimps were peeled & eaten - and chop sticks picking the last bit of the papaya salad. The bill came to a mind-boggling ￥32.

Yes, this all sounds like crazy talk - Don't just take our word for it - the only way out of this is to test out repeat-worthy Pho88 yourself.

Foodie Addict: Xi2

1. Wanda - 93 Chaoyang Jianguo Lu | 万达广场- 建国路93号

5820-6860

2. Vantone Building - 6 Chaowai Street | 网通中心-朝外大街6号

ALAMEDA

2008-09-17T02:13:00.000-07:00

Cuisine: Brazilian

Yum Factor: 4.5/5

Feng Shui: 4/5

Fu to the Wu (service) : 4/5

Moolah: $$- Not Cheap, Not Expensive

Repeat-Worthy: Yes

Alameda's 60rmb set lunch in itself has established a cult-like following that leaves walk-in customers with no reservations waiting a longgg longg time. Yes, for the regulars - it is synonmously known that lunchtime reservations are a must.

The bustling chitchat, floor-to-ceiling glass decor, & minimalist settings is the perfect venue to visit on a sunny day. The comfortable vibe paired with creative, innovative, well-presented quality starter & mains will throw out any bad mood - Alameda will turn that frown upside down.

The infamous olive-drizzled starter bread & cheese balls is a perfect pre-starter dish to get dem' stomachs ready for eating. The frequently chaging set lunch menu offers a broad selection that is sure to satisfy all picky tastebuds. Filet mignon / Pasta / Duck / Fish dishes all populate the selections for the mains. Starters are equally impressive with creations like Fried squid with polenta nougats, Round Beetroot with Salad & Aged Brie paired with Nutmeg sauce - yes, yes, you foodies get the idea.

Pacing of the meal is just right - with mains following the starters promptly & the Fuwu is well trained throughout servings. (Re-filling water, etc.)

Perhaps the highlight of Alameda is that the description of the dishes on the menu is ACTUALLY representative of the food that arrives on your table. An extremely refreshing change from the latter overly descriptive elaborate menu choices at other restaurants that DO NOT match what arrives.

Some say dinner is the same as the lunch set but I beg to differ as we felt that the Dinner experience at Alameda offers bigger portions & a completely different selection from lunch. (158rmb) Regardless, lunch or dinner - you can't go wrong with either. Alameda is a sure bet every time

Foodie Addict: Xi2

Sanlitun Beijie | 三里屯北街

Inside Nali Mall, 50m south of 3.3

6417-8084

KRO'S NEST

2008-09-17T01:43:00.000-07:00

Cuisine: Pizza - American

Yum Factor: 5/5

Fu to the Wu (service): 1.5/5

FengShui: 3/5

Moolah: $ - Economy Class

Repeat-Worthy: Yes

Kro's Nest is THE PLACE to go for a mouth-watering pizza made with fresh ingredients. The menu has a great selection of creative recipes concocted by the owner including titles like: The Magritte, Garbage Pail, Your Greek Mama and other memorable names with the listed ingredients that will be sure to make your selection process a tough one. Prices are accomodating to any student budget; but be warned, you will most likely pass out from disbelief at the ginormous size of Kro's Pizzas...or better yet, probably pass out after the meal as food coma seems to be an enevitable outcome.

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Kro's pizza is that the restaurant makes serving good quality food its primary & churning a healthy profit is secondary.

Unknowingly to many customers, Kro has gone to extraordinary lengths to make his pizza creations perfect to the taste. Mozarella cheese is imported from Australia, Cheddar from France and all the Feta is made daily fresh in-house.The pizza sauce on its own is enough to make the trip worthwhile out to the slightly inconvenient location. (made daily from fresh tomatoes & paste)

Although service isn't anything noteworthy; all is forgotten once your orders hit the table. Kro's pizza has definitely been agreed amongst the foodie team as the best in town - we shall say no more about this pizza parlor in fears of overstating it; but trust us on this, we absolutely bet that you'll agree with us after trying out the place.

Foodie Addict: Xi2

www.thekrosnest.com

1. GongtiBeimen | 工体北门 (next to vics)

6553 5253

2. 1 Fuheyuan, Yiheyuan Lu | 符合园路, 从北大西门往北走400米

6252-8057

EL FOGONCITO

2008-09-17T01:27:00.000-07:00

Cuisine: Mexican - TexMex

Yum Factor: 2.5/5

Feng Shui: 3/5

Fu to the Wu (service) : 3/5

Moolah: $$ - Economy Class

Repeat-Worthy: No

While better than the standard Tex-Mex joints on offer in the capital, EL Fogoncito is still only a substandard choice for satiating a real Mexican craving. Dishes served here are satisfactory, at best, but the fare lacks the juicy flavorful elements that are characteristic of Mexican authenticity. Meat and seafood are fresh and of decent quality; although flavors were seemingly tamed down to suit more commercial taste buds. An open kitchen set is incorporated into the dining area, giving an impression of cleanliness while creating a comfortable dining atmosphere.

Service was friendly with most Fuwuyuans able to communicate in basic English.

Located slightly out of the way and somewhat tedious to find, this new eatery is suitable for the local office bodies looking for a quick lunch bite but disappoints food addicts looking for a genuine Mexican/Tex-mex fix. Not worth the journey but worth checking out if you’re in the area; preferably already standing in front of the restaurant.

Foodie Addict: Mr. Crabclaws

37 Dongdaqiao | 37 东大桥37号
CBD Guomao
5820-6551
www.fogoncito.com

CHERRY GARDEN

2008-09-17T01:14:00.000-07:00

Cuisine: Japanese - Teppanyaki

Yum Factor: 4/5

Fu to the Wu (service): 3.5/5

FengShui: 3/5

Moolah: $$ - Not Cheap, Not Expensive

Repeat-Worthy: Yes

Along with the bountiful array of a-la-carte selections, Cherry Garden has an excellent selection of set teppan-meals. The imported Australian Beef sirloin set alone is enough to make a repeat visit; portions are unstingy,generous and should leave you feeling very contented.

The fuwu of the fuwuyuan is comfortable, but the points have to be given to our chef - who very happily "teppanyakied" the dishes exactly as we wanted them (minimal oil, no butter). Usually quite heavy on the stomach, our skillfully-cooked-oil-less chows were light and healthy. (a rare sensation when eating in beijing).

The layout of the eatery is quite modest and simplistic, reflective of true Japanese style. Teppan-tables are placed spaciously throughout the restaurant; making this restaurant an ideal dining option for a group of friends - as you will most likely have your own personalized chef with no other strangers joining in on your table.

Cherry Garden's humble demeanor & consistency tops our list for repeat-worthy teppanyaki restaurants. This eatery will satiate your meat fixes & cravings everytime

Foodie Addict: Xi2

Elisa's Italian

2008-08-28T01:56:00.000-07:00

Cuisine: Italian - Traditional

Yum Factor: 3.5/5

Fu to the Wu (service): 3/5

FengShui: 3/5

Moolah: $$ - Economy Class

Repeat-Worthy: Yes

Elisa's Ristorante Italiano was actually much more Italian than we expected. Although reviews by the other expat magazines have questioned the authenticity of the food served, the felt that it mirrored more the hearty American Italian style and less of the classical European Italian fare that it may have been judged by.
Although we agree its not 5-star St.Regis Danieli's quality, but in defense, we honestly don't think Elisas is trying to target the high-end clientele anyway - but rather, targeting a more casual, family-oriented, group-of-friends customers.
And to this fact, Elisas passes with flying colors.

Beef Carpaccio was fresh & followed the traditional recipe with no surprises. The calzone was of massive proportions & for the first time in a while, was even better then its simple menu description. We loved the fresh-out-of-the-oven steam as we cut through the melted cheese of the calzone. Lamb chops was slightly overdone for our tastes but made up for the accompanying sauce served with salad. Our final penne pasta was exactly as one would expect. Just a simple penne with tasty tomato sauce - nothing out of the ordinary, we got what we ordered & were happy with it.

Service was friendly & the checkered table cloths further emphasized that Elisas target clients are not high-end but just foodies looking for an appetizing italian fix "next door". Don't come to Elisas expecting a michelen-trained waiter that can give you a full speech of the wines offered, do come to elisas for an unpretentious, well-fed hearty italian meal.

Foodie Addict: Xi2

GANGES

2008-08-13T01:53:00.000-07:00

Cuisine: Indian - Traditional

Yum Factor: 4.5/5

Fu to the Wu (service): 4/5

FengShui: 3/5

Moolah: $$ - Not Cheap, Not Expensive

Repeat-Worthy: Yes

Consistent wholesome authentic Indian food has been the backbone of Ganges success. Since opening its original location at Wudaokou, Ganges has unsurprisingly opened 2 more branches in the areas of Lido & Silkstreet.

Upon entry, one is greeted by the wafting scents and enticing spicy aromas of earthy Indian cooking. The chill-laxing Indian background tunes put us in an almost pre-eating meditative state - that is, until our freshly prepared dishes arrive on the table, releasing even more pugnant mouth-watering fragrances.

Starting with the tomato soup & cucumber raita; both leave the foodie salivating for the mains. Perhaps the only fault to point out is the questionable cleanliness of the green salad we ordered with the raita (which we recommend foodies to avoid ordering during the hot summer months)

The palak paneer is cooked to perfection - an all-time favorite spinach dish oven-baked with fresh in-house produced cottage cheese. The mutton maratha is just as enticing with its succulent chunks of lamb simmered in a coconut milky tomato broth. All the dishes need to be eaten with the tandoori roti, the perfect accompaniment to any of the mains. Conversation is minimal at the restaurant, as it seems that every customer is too hypnotised with the food to conversate about anything; a perfect place for having a date you don't want to speak to.

For those who find Indian cuisine on the heavier side (like myself), you can order all dishes to forego the use of butter and oil.

Lastly, forget the utensils & use your hands the way the Indians do...because eating it any other way would be an injustice to the bloody excellent straight-up-no-nonsense food served at Ganges.

Foodie Addict: Xi2

W DINE&WINE

2008-08-12T04:01:00.000-07:00

Cuisine: European - French

Yum Factor: 4.5/5

Fu to the Wu (service): 4/5

FengShui: 3/5

Moolah: $$$ - Costly Business Class

Repeat-Worthy: YES

W is the closest thing to being a flawless if not the best restaurant in Beijing. From the weekly changing amazing lunch set menus, unparallel consistency both in service & dishes, talented innovation & skillful presentation of the food, to the freshly baked bread that comes hot accompanied by in-house dips - There is just simply too many pros about W to name them all.No foodie in the group has ever been disappointed by ANY DISH (we've tried everything on the menu!), the service staff are well-trained, professional, chillaxing music playing in the background - You can truly feel the time and effort put into the creation of each dish by Owner Mr.Geoff Weckxs.

Us foodies never speak in absolutes, but there are rare exceptions to that rule & W would be it. This eatery always exceeds our expectations & choosing to dine here will always be a great options - One dining experience at W will be enough to convert you to loyal repeat customer. We highly suggest booking the 'purple room' at the back of the restaurant with a group of friends for a guarenteed night of fine "Dining & Wining" - Just like the name states

Foodie Addict: Xi2

BELLAGIO

2008-08-12T03:59:00.000-07:00

Cuisine: Chinese - Taiwanese

Yum Factor: 4/5

Fu to the Wu (service): 3/5

FengShui: 3.5/5

Moolah: $$ - Not Cheap, Not Expensive

Repeat-Worthy: Yes

Ready to serve the hoards of drunken Gongti party-goers, Bellagio somehow manages to tame the wild packs of the hungry & intoxicated with extremely graceful ease. For foodies looking for a late-night Chinese fix, Bellagio is probably your best bet in terms of both quality & taste. Although our usual standards may be lower considering the blasphemous time we usually eat @ Bellagio (3-4am), the restaurant has managed to unfailingly dish out good quality chows @ very unreasonable hours of the morning.

Fuwu is not the best, though completely understandable considering how much fun it is to deal with waves upon waves of impaired customers throughout the midnight work shift.

The Hainan chicken rice has become one of our staple dishes along with the large assortment of surprisingly healthy cold dishes including: Marinated Radish, stewed wa-wa cabbage & kelp rolls in special house sauce. The ho-fun beef (glass noodles w/beef) is brought to the table simmering; with a very balanced ratio of beef chunks to noodles – only to be devoured by Voodoo & Mr. Crabclaws within minutes. The tastes and presentation of all the chows should blast all expectations of what one would expect to find at these hours. Notably, meals at the Bellagio do much more than just fill a hunger pang, leaving us contentedly plumper & ready to pass out from a long night of alcohol consumption. Finishing off with one of Bellagio’s signature gargantuan Mile-high pile Ice desserts is also a must, as you would probably never order the incredibly tasty dessert when sober and clear-headed.

By the time we stumble out of the restaurant, the sun has risen & the old-timers are already in the middle of their tai-chi routines. Before parting, we all convince ourselves that this is “the last time we’re going to do this”....even though we all secretly know that another late-night visit to Bellagio for their delissh chows has become an irreplaceable part to our weekend clubbing routine.

Foodie Addict: Xi2