Aug 22 2008
Sichuan Foods in Beijing
What’s you most familiar Chinese food? Beijing Roast Duck? Dumpling? Hotpot?
Actually, these dishes above are Beijing flavor foods. You might have heard or eaten “Kungbao Chicken” or “Mar-Boh Tofu” before. They belong to another style of food - Sichuan Cuisine. Sichuan food is getting popular in Beijing during the past two decades. Sometimes we think there are more Sichuan restaurants in Beijing than any other type of restaurants.
If you have tried the real Sichuan food, the first and maybe only impression is HOT HOT HOT. Yes, Sichuan food is famous for its distinct and various flavors. Hot pepper is the most important flavoring in Sichuan Cuisine.
Sichuan province has been known as the land of plenty since two thousand years ago. This place produces abundant domestic animals, poultry, and crayfish and freshwater fish. Sichuan province has high humidity and many rainy or overcast days. Hot pepper helps reduce internal dampness, so people in Sichuan have a reason to eat a lot of hot foods. The hot Sichuan food is very popular in the capital city of China, although Beijing is a thousand miles away from Sichuan and has a totally different climate. I guess the reason is very simple, “It’s too delicious to resist it.”
Recipes (Example about how to make a Sichuan Dish)
鱼香肉丝 ：Yu-Shiang Shredded Pork （Sautéed with Spicy Garlic Sauce）
Materials:
200g lean pork
50g bamboo shoots
50g black fungus
20g pickled chillies
25g scallion
15g garlic
10g ginger
Preparations
1. Shred the pork, bamboo shoots and black fungus.
2. Mix the seasonings, add to soup-stock, bring to the boil and thicken with cornstarch.
3. Saute pork shreds in 6-fold hot oil, add ginger, garlic, and pickled chillies till the fish-flavor comes out.
4. Drop in bamboo slices and black fungus, add the thickened soup.
12 MUST order Sichuan dishes.
(Caution: HOT HOT HOT)
蒜泥白肉 ：Pork with Garlic Sauce
夫妻肺片：Pork Lungs in Chili Sauce
酸辣蕨根粉 ：Hot and Sour Fern Root Noodles
麻婆豆腐：Mar-Boh Tofu
鱼香肉丝 ：Yu-Shiang Shredded Pork （Sautéed with Spicy Garlic Sauce）
宫保鸡球：Kung Pao Chicken
水煮牛肉 ：Poached Sliced Beef in Hot Chili Oil
酸辣汤：Hot & Sour Soup
四川虾球：Szechuan Shrimp
蚂蚁上树 ：Sautéed Vermicelli with Spicy Minced Pork
口水鸡 ：Steamed Chicken with Chili Sauce
水煮鱼：Fish Filets in Hot Chili Oil
酸辣蕨根粉 ：Hot and Sour Fern Root Noodles (Wide)
水煮鱼：Fish Filets in Hot Chili Oil
口水鸡 ：Steamed Chicken with Chili Sauce
Famous Sichuan Restaurants in Beijing
Sichuan food was mainly for common people, it’s neither expensive nor sumptuous. But this has been changing recently that many innovative entrepreneurs added some “side-flavor & services” to Sichuan cuisine. A Sichuan restaurant could be a very deluxe and expensive dining place. And there are more and more seafood which is relatively expensive has been add to the menu.
1. Sichuan Representative Office (Restaurant)
Chinese name: 川办餐厅（chuān bàn cān tīng）
Average Cost per Person: CNY50
Address: No.5, Gongyuantoutiao, Jianguomennei Dajie, Dongcheng District
It is one of the best and most original Sichuan restaurants in Beijing. You can taste the genuine dishes of Sichuan cuisine in hot flavor. All flavorings are “imported from Sichuan province rather than from the local market in Beijing.
2. Spice Spirit
Chinese name: 麻辣诱惑（má là yòu huò）
Recommended Dishes: Boiled Hot Fish
Average Cost per Person: CNY60
Chinese Website:http://www.spicespirit.com
Foods at Spice Spirit is a little bit less original than the food at Sichuan Representative Office (Restaurant). However, we still recommend it. Because it is more business oriented, and that means they provide more professional services to its customers.
This well operated Sichuan restaurant chain has several locations in Beijing:
- Spice Spirit (Juntai Branch)
Address: 7/F, Juntai Department Store, No.133, Xidan Beidajie, Xicheng District
- Spice Spirit (Dongzhimen Branch)
Address: 3/F, Tianheng Mansion, Dongzhimenwai Dajie, Dongcheng District
- Spice Spirit (Guanganmen Branch)
Address: No.81, Guanganmennei Dajie, Xuanwu District
- Spice Spirit (Souxiu Branch)
Address: 7/F, Souxiu Shopping Mall, No.40, Chongwenmenwai Dajie, Chongwen District
3. Fei Teng Yu Xiang
Chinese name: 沸腾鱼乡（fèi téng yú xiāng）
Recommended Dishes: Boiled Hot Fish
Average Cost per Person: CNY70
Address: Yanhua Yuan, Huaqiao Village, No.24, Jianguomenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District
The most famous dish at Fei Teng Yu Xiang is “Fish Filets in Hot Chili Oil”. Unfortunately, this restaurant does not accept any credit or debit cards so far. By the way, please do not go to this place during the “peak hour”, otherwise you will be patiently waiting in a line for 30 to 60 minutes.
4. South Beauty
Chinese name: 俏江南（qiao jiang nan）
Recommended Dishes: Almost everything on its menu
Average Cost per Person: CNY150
Address: more than ten locations
Website: www.qiaojiangnan.com
South Beauty is an upscale Sichuan restaurant chain served in many locations. Fans love the spicy, numbing food and the gorgeous environment. Voted “Best Sichuan” in our 2008 Reader Restaurant Awards. It is also one of the most expensive Sichuan restaurants in Beijing. One tip, please do not order what recommended by the waiter/waitress, especially seafood. Because they just want you to order the most expensive foods to fulfill their monthly sales quota.
