The Best Chinese Cuisine: all the favorite local grub in China's capital city

This nameless restaurant goes only by an address and is the other half of the "No Name Bar." Soft lighting and gentle waterfalls create a more soothing atmosphere than the usual noisy Beijing restaurant, and the food is excellent. The chef's signature dish is "seshao niurou," a juicy, foil-wrapped beef marinated in mountain herbs. Also try "nongjia shao jian ji" (spicy, sauteed chicken fillet) or the grilled lemongrass fish ("daizu xiangmao cao kao yu").

Beijingers love "jiaozi" (dumplings), and they come here in throngs for the choice of no less than 30 different fillings at this simple yet delightful courtyard diner. From traditional pork, fish, lamb and beef to pumpkin and eggplant, some dumplings are spiced with dill, fennel and chives.

Beautifully located on the banks of Beihai Lake just northwest of the Forbidden City, this courtyard restaurant serves up imperial dishes once favored by the emperors of the Qing Dynasty. The restaurant was established in 1925 by three royal chefs, and the traditional ambiance is maintained right down to waitresses in period costume. This is a banquet-style meal, and it's always popular. Reserve in advance and arrive early.

A cheap and cheerful option, but one that offers great value for money. Inside an old grey building with latticed wood screens is a pleasant little Chinese diner. Interestingly, the menu is written on pieces of wood and hung from the rafters. The food is fresh and tasty, and service is fast. Recommended dishes include "zha qiehe" (slices of eggplant deep-fried with pork), "kao yangrou" (thin-sliced roast mutton), and the "banli shao chizhong" (soy chicken wings with chestnuts).

Locals love to crowd into this diner late at night for the generous portions of home-style Beijing fare. You must try the spicy crayfish ("mala longxia") and the "larou douya juanbing" (pancake rolls of spicy bacon and bean sprouts). Wash it all down with green beer. A good place for meeting people.

Located on the west side of the city, this is a Peking Duck restaurant popular with locals, especially Communist Party officials. Whole ducks, relatively low on fat and crispy, are very reasonable for 88 CNY. They roast only 200 birds a day, so get there early. Another branch opened in late 2007 inside the east gate of Workers Stadium (phone 6508 5830).

An open-kitchen restaurant specializing in Beijing cuisine, located inside one of the city's major hotels. All the local street food is served here, except that it's guaranteed fresh and elegantly presented. Try some of the small dishes as appetizers - oder dou zhi (fermented bean puree), ma doufu (mashed soybean), and zhajiang mian (wheat noodles with black bean mince). Peking duck and Beggar's chicken are the pick of the entrees.

This stunning restaurant was opened by acclaimed chef Jereme Leung who also boasts a Shanghai branch of the same name. Proclaimed as "New Beijing" cuisine, the delicious dishes are inspired by ancient imperial cuisine coupled with modern Chinese fusion. The results are delightful – try the soy-braised pomfret fillet terrine; the cabbage and spinach rolls with shrimps and scallops, flavoured with yellow mustard and wasabi jelly; and the Beijing pancakes with goose liver and pork filling. Scrumptious!

Delicious, tender Peking roast duck baked in a traditional oven. This is a more authentic option than the commercial Peking duck restaurants that most tourists are lured to. A very friendly atmosphere in this tiny, family-run restaurant, which is situated in an old courtyard house and hidden down some backstreets in the Qianmen neighborhood.

An elegant but traditional Chinese restaurant set in an old courtyard house, beautifully located on the south side of Houhai Lake. The restaurant is named after Mei Lanfang, a famous actor from Peking opera who starred in women's roles. Opera memorabilia decks the wooden walls in this ornate setting. Set meals start at 200 CNY for lunch and 300 CNY for dinner. Delicious Shanghai and Zhejiang favorites such as shrimp with water chestnuts and pineapple salad are offered along with traditional but light Chinese fare.