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.