Blue Frog
Cuisine: American
Non-smoking section? Yes, but it can get smoky at night.
English Menu: Yes
Kids’ menu: Yes
General kid friendliness of menu: Very kid-friendly with lots of options for sharing.
Kid-friendly staff? Chinese staff speaks some English.
Bathroom: Located on the second floor. Clean but small and no change table.
Best items for kids: From the kids’ menu, try stir-fried chicken and vegetables over rice, a beef burger with French fries or fish sticks. Fries can be exchanged for veggies.
Kids’ play area: No, but its outdoor seating area gives kids space to run around.
Seating: Booths, tables and chairs. The outdoor seating is very popular in warm weather. Highchairs available.
Price: RMB 400
Accepts credit cards? Yes
Must-order item: Burgers
Award: Best Burger Deal
In a nutshell: Relatively quiet during the day with natural light from big windows. Choose a hearty soup (pumpkin, lamb stew) or salad (garden, greek, Cobb), but the highlight is their burgers. Try their famed two-for-one Monday burger deal. Be sure to bring a few favorite toys and games for the kids.
Daily 9.30am-2am (1.30am last order). S4-30, 3/F, Bldg 4, Sanlitun Village South, 19 Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang District (6417 4030) www.bluefrog.com.cn; 朝阳区三里屯北路19号三里屯Village南区4号楼3层S4-30. See Directory for more locations.
Colibri
Cuisine: Café
English menu: Yes
Kids’ menu: No
General kid-friendliness of menu: Lots of kid-friendly options. Portions are for adults, so items are best shared.
Kid-friendly staff? Very-friendly English-speaking staff, but you have to order at the main counter.
Bathroom: Shared with the Village North, it has a clean, sit-down toilet. Has a separate room with a change table but it was closed at the time of reviewing.
Best items for kids: Tuna niçoise salad, smoked chicken panini, carrot and zucchini cupcake. Also, try their silky-smooth pumpkin soup or any of their sandwiches (panini, sourdough, wrap, baguette).
Kids play area: No, but there’s a paved outdoor area with trees just outside. Floor-to-ceiling windows make it easy to keep an eye on the kids.Seating: Café-style tables and chairs, a few long wooden tables with backless benches, as well as stools at the bar. Highchairs available – just ask. Outdoor seating in warm weather.
Price: RMB 250
Accepts credit cards? Yes
Must-order item: Any of their cupcakes, baked fresh on-site.
Award: Best Panini
In a nutshell: Have your cupcakes to go or take a seat in this hip café among the laptop junkies. Enjoy a warm cheese panini, a cup of organic tea and a freshly baked cupcake. Deceptively affordable considering its posh Village North location. KC
Daily 10am-10pm. LG51, Sanlitun Village North, 11 Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang District (6417 0808); www.colibricupcakes.com 朝阳区三里屯路11号三里屯Village北区地下1层
Rumi
Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Non-smoking section? Smoking section located on the first floor by the windows. No division between the smoking and non-smoking areas.
English menu: Yes
Kids’ menu: Yes
General kid-friendliness of menu: Lots of healthy options that are perfect for sharing. Food is not spicy but has lots of flavorful spices.
Kid-friendly staff? Friendly, English-speaking staff.
Bathroom: Clean, with a sit-down toilet. No change table.
Best items for kids: From the kids’ menu, the salmon kebab with green vegetable rice and Persian shole zard (saffron rice pudding). From the main menu, any of their delicious dips (first serving of warm bread is free).
Kids’ play area: The small play area has colorful stools and some wooden toys, but it’s sparse. Bring your child’s favorite toys.
Seating: A few booths, but mostly tables and comfy chairs. Highchairs available.
Price: RMB 350
Accepts credit cards? Yes
Must-order item: Hummus with tahini and warm bread.
Award: Best Hummus
In a nutshell: A tranquil dining experience in a minimally decorated restaurant. Main courses are large and can easily be shared by two adults, along with an appetizer. Enjoy grilled meats (all of which are halal) and fish along with fresh salads. Note to parents: No alcohol is served, but you can BYOB. KC
Daily 11.30am-midnight. 1A Gongti Beilu (opposite Zhaolong Hotel), Chaoyang District (8454 3838) www.rumigrill.com; 朝阳区工体北路甲1号(兆龙饭店对面)
Rumi
Bita Mohebati, co-owner and mother
Where did you grow up?
Iran, UK and Macau.
What was your favorite food as a kid?
Ghormeh sabzi [an Iranian stew of sautéed herbs served with lamb and rice].
Where can you find that favorite childhood dish in Beijing?
Rumi, of course.
What do you miss about good old-fashioned home cooking?
The freshness, variety and the love with which it’s made.
If you could bring one dish to Beijing, what would it be?
Tah chin [partially cooked rice flavored with saffron, yogurt and egg yolks, then layered in a dish with chicken or lamb].
What’s Rumi’s best kid-friendly option?
Chicken Kebab
Ganges
Cuisine: Indian
English menu: Yes
General kid-friendliness of menu: Lots of kid-friendly dishes and the menu indicates the spice level. Special requests for diners with dietary requirements can be made.
Kid-friendly staff? Friendly staff speaks English.
Bathroom: Public restroom around the corner in the Sanlitun Village complex. The sit-down toilet is fairly clean.
Best items for kids: Vegetable samosa (the chefs can make them bite-sized for kids), butter naan, reshmi kebab (chicken marinated in cream). The mango lassi is always a hit.
Kids’ play area: No, but kids will love the Bollywood dancers who perform (Thu-Sun, 6.30-9pm at both the Sanlitun and The Place branches).
Seating: Plenty of booths and tables with comfy chairs. Highchairs available.
Price: RMB 300
Accepts credit cards? Yes
Must-order item: Tandoori chicken, marinated in a traditional yogurt and spice sauce, or the palak paneer (spinach and Indian cheese).
Award: Best Indian
In a nutshell: Dip naan or roti into a creamy curry or ladle it onto some saffron rice. Vegetarians will love the range of chickpea, potato and tomato-based curries. All food served is halal and is delicious. KC
Daily 10.30am-11pm. S93-3, Sanlitun Village South, 19 Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang District (6416 0181/6121) www.ganges-restaurant.com; 朝阳区三里屯路19号三里屯Village南区S93-3. See Directory for more locations.
Haidilao Hot Pot
Cuisine: Chinese hot pot
Non-smoking section? Smoking is not allowed on the upper floors.
English menu: Only some items are listed on the English photo menu and the translation is not always accurate. The prices are not listed. Best to bring a Chinese-speaking friend.
Kids’ menu: No
General kid-friendliness of menu: Very kid-friendly with a range of fresh ingredients. There are spicy and non-spicy broths – you can ask for both in a divided pot. Caution: Look out for boiling water, steam and fire.
Kid-friendly staff? Very friendly, but don’t expect them to speak any English.
Bathroom: Clean, squat toilets.
Best items for kids: Steamed or fried mantou pieces with condensed milk. Also try the fish balls and hand- pulled noodles.
Kids’ play area: Located on the second floor, it’s a padded room with toy blocks, a TV and an ayi to watch the kids. Toys are sparse, so best to bring your own.
Seating: Chairs and a table with hot pot in the middle.
Price: RMB 250
Accepts credit cards? Yes
Must-order item: Order your favorite hot pot items, but be sure to ask for the Haidilao pulled noodles for an amazing noodle dance performance. Also, go to the self-serve sauce station to mix your own sauce from ingredients such as sesame paste, Thai chillis and garlic. The station also has a small selection of fresh fruit.
Award: Best Hot Pot
In a nutshell: Notorious for its long waiting times (even for those who book in advance), the restaurant offers free manicures, snacks (popcorn, fresh fruit) and games (Chinese checkers) to queuing patrons. The wait is worth it for the freshest, tastiest hot pot in town. KC
Daily 24hrs. 2A Baijiazhuang Lu (next to No. 80 Middle School), Chaoyang District (6595 2982); 朝阳区白家庄路甲2号 (八十中学西侧). See Directory for more locations.
Hatsune
Cuisine: Japanese
English menu: Yes
Kids’ menu: No, but you don’t need one here.
General kid-friendliness of menu: Lots of bite-sized options and descriptions of menu items mention whether or not they are spicy.
Kid-friendly staff? Staff speaks English. Friendly service, but can be slow.
Bathroom: Public restroom around the corner, shared by the Sanlitun Village complex. Sit-down toilets are clean but there’s no change table.
Best items for kids: Assorted vegetable tempura, chicken teriyaki over rice, or the California roll.
Kids’ play area: No
Seating: Comfy booths can fit two families or six adults. Standard tables and chairs. Highchairs and private rooms available.
Price: RMB 400
Accepts credit cards? Yes
Must-order item: Sushi rolls – the array is endless: salmon, tuna, eel, sweet potato, avocado, and caviar to name a few.
Award: Best Date Night
In a nutshell: Surprisingly family-friendly, you’ll see more than one stroller here during the busy weekend lunch service. Diners get complimentary green tea as well as a small appetizer and a small dessert. A great choice for date night but best to make a reservation. KC
Daily 11.30am-2pm, 5.30-10pm. S8-30 (opposite Element Fresh), Bldg 8, Sanlitun Village South, 19 Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang District (6415 3939) www.hatsunegroup.com; 朝阳区三里屯路19号三里屯Village南区8号楼S8-30. See Directory for more locations.
Biteapitta
Cuisine: Middle Eastern
English menu: Yes
Kids’ menu: No
General kid-friendliness of menu: Very kid-friendly, with lots of healthy options.
Kid-friendly staff? All staff speaks basic English.
Bathroom: Clean, sit-down toilet, though a tad small.
Best items for kids: Hummus and pita bread, carrot and chickpea salad (lightly spiced), and the grilled lamb.
Kids’ play area: No, but Sanlitun Village and Mega Box cinema are close by.
Seating: Standard tables and chairs. Highchairs available.
Price: RMB 200
Accepts credit cards? Yes
Must-order item: Any of the dips along with a serving of their famous pitta bread. Their falafel is also great.
Award: Best Pita Bread
In a nutshell: This restaurant is for families who want a healthy, perfect-for-sharing lunch in the heart of Sanlitun. The restaurant is light-filled, the staff are friendly and anything you don’t finish can be taken home for later. The only downside: It’s located on the second floor, making it tough for parents with strollers. Imogen Kandel
Daily 11am-11pm. 2/F, Tongli Studio (same block as Le Petit Gourmand), Sanlitun Houjie, Chaoyang District (6467 2961); 朝阳区三里屯后街同里2层
Orient Kitchen
Cuisine: Southeast Asian
English menu: Yes
Kids’ menu: No
General kid-friendliness of menu: Very kid-friendly. When ordering, it’s helpful to know key Chinese phrases regarding allergies, spice and meat. Dishes can be adjusted for spice.
Kid-friendly staff? Yes, but most do not speak English.
Bathroom: Very clean, but cramped. No change table.
Best items for kids: Stir-fried organic Chinese cabbage, rice noodles with beef brisket, tapioca with mango and Thai pomelo.
Kids’ play area: No
Seating: Some booths, mostly chairs and tables. Highchairs and outdoor seating available.
Price: RMB 250-300.
Accepts credit cards? Yes
Must-order item: Lemongrass chicken wings or any of the fruit drinks (available either hot or cold).
Award: Best Asian Options
In a nutshell: Enjoy MSG-free Asian cuisine that is not too greasy. Dishes are on the smaller side and designed for sharing, so order as much or as little as you like. The color photo menu makes ordering easy. The restaurant itself is clean and quiet, but it tends to fill with hipsters after 8pm. KC
Daily 11am-11pm. S4-31, Bldg 4, Sanlitun Village South, 19 Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang District (6417 4070) 朝阳区三里屯路19号三里屯Village南区4号楼S4-31. See Directory for more locations.
