Din Tai Fung
Best Xiao Long Bao
Cuisine: Chinese (Shanghainese)
English-language menu: Yes
Kid-friendly food: Most kids love xiaolongbao (soup-filled round dumplings).
Three healthiest items for kids: Steamed shrimp and pork xiaolongbao, steamed green vegetable pork buns, fried rice with shrimp.
Kid-friendly staff: Very friendly towards kids, although not too many of the waiters/waitresses speak English.
Bathroom: Very clean washroom (hands-free soap dispenser and taps) and sit-down toilets.
Kids’ play area: Clean area with non-stop looping cartoons and stuffed animals.
Seating: Booths and comfortable high-back chairs; many highchairs available.
Average price: RMB 250
Parking: Yes, plenty of street parking
Credit card: Yes
Atmosphere: Comfortable and classy.
Must-order item: Xiaolongbao and baozi. The steamed shrimp and pork dumplings were also excellent.
In a nutshell: Great xiaolongbao and baozi in a comfy and classy environment that is kid-friendly to boot. MR
Daily 11.30am-2.30pm, 5-10pm. 24 Xinyuan Xili Zhongjie, Chaoyang District (6462 4502) 朝阳区新源西里中街24号 See Directory under Chinese for more locations.
Dongbeiren
Best Chinese-Themed Restaurant
Cuisine: Chinese (Dongbei)
English-language menu: Yes, with pictures
Kid-friendly food: Not too spicy, not too sweet – kids will love everything on this menu (barring some of their more extreme options, like fried cicadas). You can’t go wrong with a selection of colorful jiaozi – try tomato and egg, pork and cabbage, or beef. Ditch the rice and go for one of their many varieties of bread (the fried chive pancakes are wonderful).
Three healthiest items for kids: Try their chive jiaozi, any of their qingcai (green vegetable) dishes – we recommend the celery with yellow beans, or the family can share a giant sample platter of raw veggies, tofu skins and dipping sauce, all cut up into perfect kid-sized shapes.
Kid-friendly staff: The English is very poor here but the staff love kids.
Bathroom: Fairly clean bathroom with both sit-down and squat options. It’s up a few flights of stairs, though.
Kids’ play area: None, but the kids can run riot chasing each other up and down the restaurant’s three stories.
Seating: Tables and chairs, as well as a few kang (Chinese beds).
Average price: RMB 180
Parking: No
Credit card: Chinese cards only
Atmosphere: The atmosphere is lively, fun and playful. If you ask, a waiter might even sing a folk song for you.
Must-order item: Jiaozi
In a nutshell: Dongbeiren is great for a fun night out – bring an appetite, a box of wet wipes to clean up the mess, and a cheery disposition. IK
Daily 11am-10pm. A1 Xinzhong Jie, Dongzhimenwai, Dongcheng District (6415 2855) 东城区东直门外新中街甲1号
Grandma’s Kitchen
Best Affordable Family Breakfast
Cuisine: American
English-language menu: Yes
Kid-friendly food: The kids’ menu has “mini” versions of adult dishes. Tots will love the scrambled egg and bacon, happy face pancake (it’s decorated with fruit!), and quesadillas – they come fast and satisfy those hungry tummies!
Three healthiest items for kids: Fresh fruit juice, scrambled egg, happy face pancake (skip the butter and syrup!)
Kid-friendly staff: Yes, kid-friendly.
Bathroom: Clean bathroom with sit-down toilet. They put heaters on in the winter, so it’s not so cold.
Kids’ play area: While there is no specific play area, the kids love playing in the outdoor courtyard in all seasons. As soon as you sit down, the wait staff provide markers and coloring paper.
Seating: Seating is indoors and outdoors. Some highchairs available.
Average price: RMB 100
Parking: The closest car park is out the end of the hutong and across the street; don’t try to park in the hutong itself.
Credit card: Yes
Atmosphere: Simple and cozy
Must-order item: Fresh orange juice and breakfast dishes with eggs.
In a nutshell: Affordable, family-friendly, and the kids love the food and playing outside in the courtyard. This restaurant makes it a lovely “getaway” for a family breakfast without leaving the city. JC
Daily 10am-10pm. 28 Shique Hutong (across from Beixinqiao subway exit C), Dongcheng District (8403 9452) 东城区北新桥石雀胡同28号(地铁五号线北新桥站C出口 See Directory under American for more locations.
Traktirr Pushkin
Best Place to Stuff the Kids on the Cheap
Cuisine: European (Russian)
English-language menu: Yes
Kid-friendly food: The food here is very kid-friendly but not always healthy. There are several simple meat and potato dishes (steak, grilled pork, chicken Kiev), dumplings, soups and salads (many of them with generous lashings of mayonnaise). And who can resist pancakes for dessert?
Three healthiest items for kids: Borscht, cabbage rolls and carrot salad.
Kid-friendly staff: Waiters can be harried because the restaurant is often busy, but they are experienced and far from unfriendly. Some staff speak some English.
Bathroom: Bathrooms are clean, have sit-down toilets and, as an added cultural bonus, are decorated with murals depicting scenes from Russian folklore.
Kids’ play area: N/A
Seating: Some booths downstairs. There are private rooms.
Average price: RMB 130
Parking: No, but you can often park on the sidewalk in front of the restaurant or at the Raffles City mall.
Credit card: Yes
Atmosphere: Unpretentious
Must-order item: Borscht
In a nutshell: It’s cheap, cheerful, filling, foreign and easy to sell to the kids. If you and your kids enjoy being entertained as you eat, then request a table in the downstairs grotto where a Russian band plays in the evenings. Mom and Dad can enjoy imported Russian vodka or Russian beer. AP
Daily 10am-10pm. 5-15 Dongzhimennei Dajie, Dongcheng District (8407 8158, 6403 1896) 彼得堡餐厅, 东城区东直门内大街5-15号
