Beijing has an abundance of great Japanese joints, in part because the Japanese are the biggest foreign community in the capital, but also because the ingredients can be flown in fresh and it’s damn good food. The only thing is that the best are usually the hardest to find, as they tend to be spread over the city, in locations that you’d never expect to find food, let alone the restuarants that you wished you knew existed. You will need the skills of a shinobi to track down the finest fare but luckily, we are here to help you. Here are five of our faves:
Brick & Wood
This restaurant, located down a hutong that seems deliberately dimly lit, is perhaps Beijing’s finest kaiseki, which determines that you put your dining fate completely in the hands of the chef. The food will be fabulous but it’s always a better experience if you turn up in a smaller group (three tops) and shell out for the most expensive menu.
Ninja difficulty: 3 shuriken stars – the hutongs can haunt you (and they often do)
Where? 14 Qianliang Hutong, Off Dongsi Bei Dajie (west of Dongsisitiao). Tel: 186 1270 8750
Okra
Okra may be the brainchild of American chef Max Levy but it is among Beijing’s best Japanese restaurants and one of the most exciting places to eat in the city full stop. Levy puts his years of sushi training to excellent use with ingredients that are exactingly sourced, including those from Okra’s own farm. It’s all very carefully thought-out – the food is superb, with plating and decor to match, while the sake and cocktail lists only add to the modern Japanese experience.
Ninja difficulty: 2 shuriken stars – not for amateurs
Where? 1949, Courtyard No.4 on Gongti Bei Lu (head southeast from the compound entrances by The Bookworm and Comfort Inn). Tel: 010 6593 5087
Hatsune
This Californian-style Japanese restaurant has long been one of the few restaurants in the city where a reservation is a must, and it’s no secret that Hatsune is a Bespoke fave. The hand rolls might not win any awards for authenticity, but they certainly do for taste and style – so good you’ll be swooning with the first bite. From the delicate and delicious Butterfly Roll to the spicy tuna in the 119 Roll, it’s all we can do not to order every one on the menu. There’s still plenty on the menu for sashimi fans as well.
Ninja difficulty: 1 shuriken stars – a delightfully straightforward experience for first timers, this place is so accessible it’ll even convince non-seafood eaters what they’ve been missing.
Where? S8-30, 3/F, Taikoo Li South, 19 Sanlitun Road. Tel: 010 6415 3939
Sake Manzo
Sake Manzo certainly adheres to the formula that demands good Japanese be hard to find, lying as it does in a back alley between a bus station and a hospital. It’s worth the likelihood of getting a little lost to get to this izakaya and you’ll never forget where it is. Make sure you try the tofu, which is made fresh daily, and work your way through the lengthy sake list. If you acquire a taste for the tipple, you could also try Happy Sake, their boozier spin-off.
Ninja difficulty: 3 shuriken stars – many have failed in their quest
Where? Tuanjiehu Beisitiao (find the bus station on the south side of the street, opposite the golf club, and look for an alley on the east side). Tel: 010 6436 1608
Vin Vie
This cosy neighbourhood wine bar/restaurant is easy to overlook, especially as you would never stumble upon it, but there is good reason that it’s always packed with Japanese folk and reservations are usually required. A combination of yakitori grill, Japanese comfort food and a distinct European influence might not be what you expect, but it works. Velvety offal stews and horse carpaccio sit alongside pork belly skewers and Earl Grey pudding on the menu. Your taste buds are in for a wild ride but you’ll struggle to pick a bad dish.
Ninja difficulty – 4 shuriken stars – no one has ever stumbled upon their secret hideaway
Where? 8 Maizidian Jie (head to Maizidian from the Agricultural Exhibition Hall station and it’s the last possible left on the north side of the street, opposite China Post). Tel: 134 6657 8804
Xiyilang
Tempura is often overlooked by non-Japanese diners, but Xiyilang will ensure that it will become front and centre next time you think of Japanese cuisine. Part of the Geba Geba group, responsible for a number of terrific Japanese eateries including Geba Geba itself, Xiyilang is hidden upstairs from a Japanese bakery. Behind the curtain it’s like a tempura Narnia: set menus cooked to perfection by a 70-year-old master from a globally renowned dynasty.
Ninja difficulty – 5 shuriken stars – it can only be found once you can accept you are lost
Where? Vanke Park, Tianshuiyuan Jie (on the north side of the compound from Pizza Hut). Tel: 010 6501 4377
Yotsuba
Yotsuba has long been regarded as Beijing’s best Japanese by those in the know. Now the tatami-style original has spawned multiple venues yet reservations are still recommended to guarantee you can get a chance to enjoy the fresh sushi and sashimi. We’d suggest you try the newest location, as it’s easier to find, or plan for a long lunch and take advantage of their decadent deals.
Ninja difficulty – 1 star – it’s easy to find but only after a journey of 1,000 miles
Where? 9-3 Jiangtai Xilu. Tel: 010 8420 0998
If you want an itinerary that takes your love of Japanese, or any other cuisine, into account then contact us about our Trip Customization Service.