Blue Frog
Best Family and Date Night in One
Cuisine: American
English-language menu: Yes
Kid-friendly food: Hamburger, hotdogs, milkshakes
Three healthiest items for kids: Hamburger, salad, fruit juices
Kid-friendly staff: Yes
Bathroom: Clean
Kids’ play area: Includes computer stations with computer games and a separate enclosed area with toys for younger children. Also, crayons and coloring menus.
Seating: Tables and chairs
Price: RMB 400+ includes drinks, appetizer, entrées and dessert
Parking: Yes
Credit card: Yes
Atmosphere: Comfortable and fun
Must-order item: Their famous hamburger with a variety of toppings.
In a nutshell: Blue Frog is a great place where adults can enjoy a candle-lit atmosphere and hearty comfort food while kids have plenty of kid-friendly menu choices and entertainment options. Janie Butler
Daily 10am-1am. L312, Europlaza, 99 Yuxiang Lu, Tianzhu Zhen, Shunyi District (8046 6337) 顺义区天竺镇欲翔路99号北京欧陆时尚购物中心(欧陆广场)L312室 See Directory under American for more locations.
Cici’s Burger
Best Hamburger Award
Cuisine: American
Non-smoking section: No
English-language menu: Yes
Kid-friendly food: If your kids like hamburgers or chicken fingers, they’ll be thrilled with the menu.
Three healthiest items for kids: Grilled chicken sandwich, crispy chicken sandwich, and the hamburger.
Kid-friendly staff: The owner/manager is a Chinese woman, who’s married to a Chinese-Canadian. Her English is very good.
Bathroom: The bathroom is next door in Cross Borders.
Kids’ play area: No play area, but markers and paper are provided if you ask.
Seating: This restaurant has just four tables, two with stools and two with bar stools (raised up). No highchairs yet, but Cici is looking into getting some.
Price: RMB 230
Parking: Yes
Credit card: No
Atmosphere: Clean and simple.
Must-order item: A hamburger! The onion rings are also a hit.
In a nutshell: It’s a tiny place full of Canadian photos and flags. Great hamburgers with inventive toppings, all cooked to order. Donna Scaramastra Gorman
Daily 10am-6.30pm. 3 Jingmi Road, Homeware Lifestyle Village Complex (1km from exit 4 on Airport Expressway), Chaoyang District (138 1194 6806)
Elaine’s Vegetarian Restaurant
Best Vegetarian Restaurant in Shunyi
Cuisine: Vegetarian
English-language menu: Bilingual, with a few photos.
Kid-friendly food: Vegetarian sausage on a stick, fried tofu (crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside, with the sauce on the side), vegetarian Beijing Duck. They have some specific kids’ items, like vegetarian spaghetti bolognaise, and most of the menu’s items can be made non-spicy and are great for kids. But be sure to mention any nut allergies.
Kid-friendly staff: English-speaking staff.
Bathroom: Squat toilet, but clean.
Average price: RMB 200
Parking: Yes, free on-road parking.
Must-order item: Vegetarian sausages, simple, served fast and everyone loves them.
In a nutshell: The location of this family-friendly vegetarian restaurant on Roma Lake is superb. With a great playroom and extensive menu, it satisfies the whole family. JC
Daily 10am-9.30pm. Walk 800m along the banks of Luoma Lake, 100m north of Luoma Roundabout, Houshayu, Shunyi District (8048 5088) 顺义区后沙峪镇罗马环岛向北100米左转(沿罗马湖畔800米)
Note: Elaine’s is undergoing a renovation and will be closed until spring.
Haru Teppanyaki and Sushi Bar
Best Sushi in Shunyi Award
Cuisine: Japanese
English-language menu: Yes
Kid-friendly food: Portions are on the large side, but sushi and teppanyaki cuisine allows you to order and share accordingly.
Three healthiest items for kids: The Hibachi Chicken, Salmon Sashimi and the Gary Roll, which combines roast duck, cucumber and avocado.
Kid-friendly staff: The staff are incredibly friendly from the moment you walk through the door – all are English-speaking.
Bathroom: The bathroom has been tastefully designed and is well-maintained. No changing table, but very clean with a sit-down toilet.
Kids’ play area: No play area, but the flames created by the chef should keep the kids entertained.
Seating: Prop yourself up at the sushi bar on high stools or sink into the swank chairs in the main room. Highchairs are available, but no outdoor seating.
Average price: RMB 400.
Credit card: Yes, which is convenient, as bottles of sake can cost up to RMB 3,000
Atmosphere: Just like the food – fantastic.
Must-order item: Salmon Sashimi
In a nutshell: Watch and listen to your food as it sizzles and cooks to your preference. Haru impresses from the sleek decor to the supreme quality of the food – well and truly worth spending a few extra kuai here. NF
Daily 11.30am-2pm, 5.30pm-10pm. 902 Pinnacle Plaza, Jingshun Lu, Shunyi District (8046 5112) 顺义区天竺镇开发区荣祥广场902.
Hungry Horse
Best Hunger Buster
Cuisine: American
English-language menu: Yes
Kid-friendly food: Grilled cheese, hotdog, and chicken fingers.
Three healthiest items for kids: Cheese quesadilla, salad, veggie wrap (on adult menu).
Kid-friendly staff: Yes, they will sometimes give out a free cookie. Bathroom: Sit-down toilet. Clean.
Kids’ play area: Foosball table and separate area with toys for young children. Crayons and coloring menu.
Seating: Tables, highchairs available.
Average price: RMB 350
Parking: Yes
Credit card: Yes
Atmosphere: Comfortable and casual
Must-order item: Buffalo wings or nachos
In a nutshell: The hearty American food at Hungry Horse is a good bet to satisfy all your comfort food cravings. Very large portions; enough to take home for lunch the next day. JB
Mon-Fri 10am-10pm, Sat-Sun 8.30am-10pm. Unit 609, Pinnacle Plaza, Tianzhu Real Estate Development Zone, Shunyi District (8046 5519) 顺义区天竺开发区荣祥广场609
Mexican Kitchen
Best Chips
Cuisine: Mexican
Non-smoking section: No
English-language menu: Yes
Kid-friendly food: Kids will like the chicken taquitos, the quesadilla and the tortilla soup. They also have warm, crispy chips, served with salsa or guacamole.
Three healthiest items for kids: Chicken tenders, tortilla soup, quesadilla.
Kid-friendly staff: Yes
Bathroom: Clean, with a sit-down toilet and a changing table.
Kids’ play area: Play area is okay – not super-clean, not a lot of toys. But the kids seem to like it.
Seating: Booths and chairs. Highchairs available. Outdoor seating in the summer.
Average price: RMB 200
Parking: Yes
Credit card: Yes
Atmosphere: Comfortable and colorful.
Must-order item: The tortilla soup is great on a chilly day. And the chicken taquitos have just the right amount of crisp.
In a nutshell: Fast service, consistent kitchen. Great place for a chips-and-margarita get-together with friends. DSG
Daily 11am-9pm 705 Pinnacle Plaza, Euro Village, Shunyi District (8046 4558) 顺义区天竺开发区日祥广场705号
Michael’s Place
Best Italian
Cuisine: Italian
English-language menu: Yes
Kid-friendly food: Spaghetti bolognaise, macaroni and cheese, chicken fingers
Three healthiest items for kids: Spaghetti, mini burger, salad.
Kid-friendly staff: Yes
Bathroom: Clean, sit-down toilets.
Kids’ play area: A playhouse, puzzles, games and children’s books.
Seating: Tables and highchairs.
Average price: RMB 350
Parking: Yes
Credit card: Yes
Atmosphere: Comfortable
Must-order item: Spaghetti bolognaise or cannelloni.
In a nutshell: A great option in Shunyi for a Italian meal. JB
Daily 10.30am-10.30pm. Central Villa District (opposite North Gate of Capital Paradise), Shunyi District (8046 7803) 北京明天意大利餐厅, 顺义区中央别墅区名都园北门西侧
Mrs Shanen’s Bagels
Best Healthy Meal
Cuisine: Cafe
English-language menu: Yes
Kid-friendly food: Mini bagels, pizza bagels, small portions of macaroni and cheese.
Three healthiest items for kids: Pizza bagels, pita and hummus, the organic no-salt corn puffs (take home what you don’t finish!). Also, they add wheat germ and oat bran to the super-thin NY-style pizza crust, making it the healthiest pizza in Beijing – and possibly the tastiest too!
Kid-friendly staff: Excellent. Denise is there every day and speaks superb English.
Bathroom: Clean with a sit-down toilet
Kids’ play area: A separate room with a play Chinese kitchen, blackboard and chalk as well as books. Colored pencils and paper provided.
Seating: Indoors – sofas and chairs, outdoors at picnic tables and highchairs available.
Average price: RMB 200
Parking: Yes, free parking outside.
Credit card: Yes
Atmosphere: Super-cozy and relaxed, but expensive.
Must-order item: Bagels to take home and pizza to eat there!
In a nutshell: The high prices are justified for the high quality of ingredients and excellent quality of the food, which will satisfy even the fussiest of mothers. JC
Daily 7.30am-8pm. 5 Kaifa Jie, Xibaixinzhuang (next to Capital Paradise), Shunyi District (8046 4301) 顺义区顺义北西白辛庄开发街5号 (紧邻名都园).
The Orchard
Best for Celebrations
Cuisine: European
English-language menu: Yes
Kid-friendly food: The set lunch doesn’t have a kids’ menu, and the brunch is served buffet-style. It’s not kid-friendly, per se – it’s fancy food, not hot dogs. But kids really like what they have on offer. They’ll gulp down the freshly baked spiced bread that is served at the beginning of every meal. Spaghetti and grilled cheese are also available.
Three healthiest items for kids: Spaghetti, soup of the day and grilled chicken.
Kid-friendly staff: Yes
Bathroom: Spotless, with a sit-down toilet.
Kids’ play area: Large and clean, with a TV for movies and tables for eating.
Seating: Chairs. Highchairs available.
Average price: RMB 300
Parking: Yes
Credit card: Yes
Atmosphere: Understated elegance
Must-order item: The bread that comes with the meal is addictive. The lamb is superb. The Orchard salad is fresh and healthy.
In a nutshell: Fancy enough to feel special, but with a welcoming atmosphere for kids. This upscale restaurant is worth every jiao. DSG
Tue-Sun noon-2.30pm (Sun lunch until 3pm), 2.30-6pm (coffee), 6-9pm (dinner). From Jingshun Lu, exit at Sunhe Market (we recommend calling for directions), Shunyi District (6433 6270) 顺义区顺义北京顺路孙河市场出口 (建议给餐馆打电话问详细地址)
Piazza Café
Best Quiet Spot
Cuisine: Contemporary
English-language menu: Yes
Kid-friendly food: Great kid options – they can even get involved in making their dinner with Do It Yourself (DIY) margarita pizza. They’ll also like the mac and cheese, and hamburgers.
Three healthiest items for kids: DIY avocado and cucumber roll, cucumber and carrot sticks with yogurt dip, sautéed chicken with sweet corn and pine nuts.
Kid-friendly staff: Yes
Bathroom: Clean
Kids’ play area: A playroom filled with children’s books and a play table.
Seating: Tables. Pleasant outdoor seating in garden piazza when the weather is warm.
Average price: RMB 300
Parking: Yes
Credit card: Yes
Atmosphere: Cozy and homey
Must-order item: Sautéed beef tenderloin with water chestnuts in black pepper sauce.
In a nutshell: The restaurant is part of The Bookmark, which makes for a cozy, homey atmosphere. A great place to relax and have a good meal while browsing books or using their free Wi-Fi. JB
Daily 11am-9.30pm. South gate of Capital Paradise, Shunyi District (8046 7788/2020) 顺义区顺义北名都园南门外
Smallville
Best Place to Relax with Kids
Cuisine: American
English-language menu: Yes
Kid-friendly food: Chicken nuggets, grilled cheese sandwich, peanut butter and jelly.
Three healthiest items for kids: PB&J; Egg, bacon and toast; grilled cheese sandwich.
Kid-friendly staff: Yes
Bathroom: Clean, with a sit-down toilet
Kids’ play area: Lots of toy kitchen supplies. Markers at the table; paper provided if you ask.
Seating: Booths, comfy chairs, regular wooden chairs. Highchairs available.
Average price: RMB 150 – unless you order milkshakes (which are RMB 24 each).
Parking: Yes
Credit card: Yes
Atmosphere: Comfortable and homey
Must-order item: Grilled chicken salad and cinnamon rolls.
In a nutshell: Comfort food for Western kids and their grown-ups. 100% of their proceeds are donated to local charities, so you can feel good about eating here. DSG
Mon-Thu 7.30am-7.30pm, Fri-Sun 7.30am-8pm. 3 Kaifa Jie, Xibaixinzhuang, Houshayu, Shunyi District (8046 5448) 顺义区顺义北后沙峪西白辛庄开发街3号
Za’atar
Best Lakeside Setting
Cuisine: Middle Eastern
English-language menu: Yes
Kid-friendly food: Kids will like the chicken skewers, falafel, pita bread.
Three healthiest items for kids: Hummus, chicken skewers.
Kid-friendly staff: The staff speaks English and is friendly.
Bathroom: Clean with sit-down toilets
Kids’ play area: The kids can be outside in warm weather and horse around on playground equipment outside the entrance to the plaza.
Seating: Tables and outdoor seating by the lake.
Average price: RMB 400
Parking: Yes
Credit card: Yes
Atmosphere: Bright and airy
Must-order item: Chicken couscous or lamb shank
In a nutshell: For some of the most delicious and authentic Middle Eastern food in Beijing, Za’atar is the place to go. JB
Daily 11.30am-10pm. Unit 2, Bldg 3, Lakeview Place (by Dragon Bay Villas), Shayu Huanlu, Houshayu, Shunyi District (8042 2248) 顺义区顺义北后沙峪镇沙峪环路3号2单元
