Circle Restaurant
Cuisine: Asian
English menu: Yes, with plenty of pictures.
Kids’ menu: No
General kid-friendliness of menu: Lots of options for kids who like Chinese food; there’s even a few pizza and pasta options for fussier eaters. You can also request little or no spice.
Kid-friendly staff? Chinese-speaking staff, so the picture menu comes in handy.
Bathroom: Squat toilets
Best items for kids: You can’t go wrong with the mountain of fried crispy potatoes or the toffee fruit (banana, apple or yam); other hits are sweet and sour chicken or pork.
Kids’ play area: The restaurant has a mini indoor ball pit and some toys. Next to the play area, you’ll find a large fishpond. There’s an outdoor area for kids to play in when the weather is warm. Seating: Booths and standard seating. Highchairs available.
Price: RMB 150-200 (with leftovers to take home)
Accepts credit cards? Yes
Must-order item: Sautéed chicken with peanuts and chilli oil, simple and delicious.
Award: Best Value
In a nutshell: Excellent value. With an extensive menu and good prices, you won’t go home hungry!
21 Shunhuang Lu, Chaoyang District (8459 0999/1616/1625); 朝阳区顺黄路21号 京广园
Little Italy
Cuisine: Italian
English menu: Yes
Kids’ menu: Yes
General kid-friendliness of menu: There’s always something for the kids to choose from here.
Kid-friendly staff? Yes
Bathroom: Clean unisex bathroom but no change table.
Best items for kids: The make-your-own-pizza option is good for kids. Any of the pasta choices are great.
Kids’ play area: The restaurant has a play area surrounded by a plexiglass wall. You can see but not hear kids play, which makes for a quieter dining experience for all.
Seating: Standard chairs, booths and high chairs available.
Price: RMB 200-250
Accepts credit cards? Yes
Must-order item: Select any pasta with your sauce of choice and you can’t go wrong!
Award: Best Crowd Pleaser
In a nutshell: With a very homey atmosphere and predictably good food, you can’t go wrong. The extensive menu offers families a lot of variety.
Daily 10am-10pm. 813 Pinnacle Plaza, Tianzhu Real Estate Development Zone, Shunyi District (8046 4680/79); 顺义区天竺开发区荣祥广场813号
Elaine’s Vegetarian Restaurant and Bar
Cuisine: Vegetarian
English menu: Yes
Kids’ menu: No
General kid-friendliness of menu: Kid-friendly with fun food presentation for kids and adults alike. Also has pasta, pizza and fries for fussy eaters.
Kid-friendly staff? Basic English is fine and the staff are all used to kids. It’s worth mentioning any nut allergies.
Bathroom: Clean squat toilets. No changing table.
Best items for kids: Vegetarian sausage on a stick, pizza, and any of the sweet "dumplings" for dessert. They also have veggie Peking Duck.
Kids’ play area: There’s a small play area that’s mainly for younger kids.
Seating: Standard tables and chairs, as well as booths and couches.
Price: RMB 200
Accepts credit cards? Yes
Must-order item: The vegetarian sausage come highly recommended by the staff and is a favorite with the kids.
Award: Best Vegetarian
In a nutshell: Newly renovated, Elaine’s has an inviting atmosphere. Positioned on the edge of the lake with a lovely courtyard, it is perfect for kids. The unique and tasty vegetarian dishes offer families a healthy change.
Daily 11am-late. Walk 800m along the banks of Luoma Lake, 100m north of Luoma Roundabout, Houshayu, Shunyi District (8048 5088/5566); 顺义区后沙峪镇罗马环岛向北100米左转, 沿罗马湖畔800米
The Mexican Kitchen
Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Non-smoking section? There are only two tables in the small smoking section but the restaurant is small, so the smoke permeates.
English menu: Yes
Kids’ menu: Yes
General kid-friendliness of menu: The usual fare of burritos and quesadillas. You can’t go wrong.
Kid-friendly staff? Yes
Bathroom: There’s a clean, unisex, sit-down toilet. A large countertop can double as a change table.
Best items for kids: With tacos, nachos and quesadillas it’s hard to find something here that the kids won’t want to eat. Also worth trying are the tortilla soup and corn chips with salsa and guacamole.
Kids’ play area: The play area is small with stuffed animals only.
Seating: Standard tables and chairs with outdoor seating during the warm weather.
Price: RMB 200
Accepts credit cards? Yes
Must-order item: Fajitas offer tableside flair. The eight varieties of very-filling burritos are a must.
Award: Best Burritos
In a nutshell: The Mexican Kitchen serves up large, hearty portions, perfect for satisfying those cheese and guacamole cravings.
Daily 11am-9.30pm. 705 Pinnacle Plaza, Tianzhu Real Estate Development Zone, Shunyi District (8046 4558/59); 顺义区天竺开发区荣祥广场705号
Fuel, Langham Place
Cuisine: American
English menu: Yes
Kids’ menu: No
General kid-friendliness of menu: Smaller portions can be made for children and monthly specials offer all-you-can-eat deals.
Kid-friendly staff? Friendly, English-speaking staff
Bathroom: Located outside the restaurant in the hotel lobby. The bathroom is clean with sit-down toilets, but no changing table.
Best items for kids: Pineapple and salami pizza, cheese burgers with fries, spaghetti.
Kids’ play area: There’s a separate area that can be used by kids (providing you remove the ashtrays). It has couches, karaoke and video games.
Seating: Standard tables and chairs, as well as booths and stools.
Price: RMB 350
Accepts credit cards? Yes
Must-order item: With eight different varieties of ribs, it’s a no-brainer.
Award: Best Ribs
In a nutshell: Fuel has a fresh, modern atmosphere that gets lively in the evening with DJs and karaoke. Their claim-to-fame (ribs and pizza) is worth the ride to the airport. Modern décor with open spaces means that the kids will have room to move.
Daily 11am-late. 1/F, Langham Place, 1 Er Jing Lu, Beijing Capital International Airport (southwest of Terminal 3), Chaoyang District (6457 5555); 朝阳区首都机场二经路1号朗豪酒店(T3航站楼西南)
Mark Francis, General Manager of Langham Place and father
Where did you grow up?
I was born in Brandon, Manitoba (Canada) and lived there until I was 13.
What was your favorite food as a kid?
Hot dogs were – and sadly they still are – one of my favorites.
Where can you find that favorite childhood dish in Beijing?
Luckily, Beijing has some great hot dogs! One of my favorites is Stadium Dog in Gongti.
What do you miss about good old-fashioned home cooking?
The first thing that comes to mind is the smell of a Sunday roast filling the house. It’s hard to explain how much that makes me feel at home.
If there was one dish you’d like to bring to Beijing, what would it be?
The Kiwis [New Zealanders] are famous for their meat pies. When we go back to New Zealand to visit my wife’s parents, it is always on the top of my list of "must eats."
What’s Fuel’s best kid-friendly option?
The pizza and burgers at Fuel are always kid-friendly. If you ask ahead, our chefs will invite your kids into the open pizza kitchen to make their own pizza.
Michael’s Place Italian Ristorante
Cuisine: Italian
English menu: Yes
Kids’ menu: Yes
General kid-friendliness of menu: Very kid-friendly with no-fail pizza and pasta options.
Kid-friendly staff? Yes
Bathroom: The bathroom is located inside the adjoining mall with both sit-down and squat toilets. No change table.
Best items for kids: Spaghetti, pizza and chicken fingers.
Kids’ play area: There’s a small play area in the mall, just outside the restaurant, containing puzzles, games and books. It’s still within sight and helps cuts down on the noise inside the restaurant.
Seating: Standard chairs inside with outdoor seating in the summer. Highchairs are available.
Price: RMB 250
Accepts credit cards? Yes
Must-order item: Try the tasty risotto.Award: Best Italian
In a nutshell: With a reputation for consistently good Italian food, Michael’s has a fine dining atmosphere with family friendly service. The Euro Plaza location makes it especially convenient for Shunyi-dwellers.
Daily 10.30am-10.30pm. L112, Euro Plaza, (Opposite the Exhibition Hall), Central Villa District, Shunyi District (8042 4457); 顺义区顺义区天竺镇裕翔路99号欧陆时尚购物中心1层112 (国展对面）
Mrs. Shanen’s Bagels
Cuisine: American café
Non-smoking section? Yes, but the restaurant is small enough that smoke can travel.
English menu: Yes
Kids’ menu: No
General kid-friendliness of menu: There are many healthy options for kids as well as plenty of treats at the counter when meals are finished.
Kid-friendly staff? Friendly English-speaking staff.
Bathroom: The unisex bathroom is around the corner from the restaurant. Has a sit-town toilet.
Best items for kids: Pizza bagels, macaroni and cheese, and a great children’s teatime (3pm-5pm). For healthier options, try the pita and hummus or the organic no-salt corn puffs.
Kids’ play area: In the play area next door, kids can play in their mini-kitchen, read books or draw. Inside the café itself, paper and colored pencils are provided at the tables.
Seating: Standard tables and chairs as well as booths. Picnic tables outside for summertime dining.
Price: RMB 200
Accepts credit cards? Yes
Must-order item: Chicken salad or falafel hummus sandwich, and of course their famed bagels.
Award: Best Organic Food
In a nutshell: Offering great tasting organic food, this café is perfect for lunchtime dining. Though Mrs. Shanen’s is a bit on the pricey side, it hasn’t seemed to ebb the flow of regular patrons.
Sun-Thu 7.30am-8pm, Fri-Sat 7.30am-8.30pm. 5 Kaifa Jie, Xibaixinzhuang (next to Capital Paradise), Shunyi District (8046 4301); 单太太贝谷面包房. 顺义区西白辛庄开发街5号 (紧邻名都园)
New York Style Pizza
Cuisine: Italian/Pizza
Non-smoking section? No
English menu: Yes
Kids’ menu: No
General kid-friendliness of menu: It’s pizza – what more can we say?
Kid-friendly staff? Yes
Bathroom: Located in the adjacent office building, the bathrooms are clean with sit-down toilets but no change tables.
Best items for kids: Any of their pizzas are sure to please. For little kids, pizza by the slice is available.
Kids’ play area: No
Seating: Limited seating with only six tables and chairs.
Price: RMB 150-200
Accepts credit cards? Yes
Must-order item: Their huge 20-inch pizza
Award: Biggest Pizza
In a nutshell: This is a fun New York-style pizza joint. Pizzas have catchy names such as the Brooklyn or the Manhattan. The size of these pizzas are guaranteed to satisfy a horde of hungry teens. Free delivery within a 3km radius.
Daily 11am-9pm. 7 Riverville Square, Shunyi District (6450 8790); 顺义区温榆广场7号
Malacca Legend
Cuisine: Malaysian
English menu: Yes
Kids’ menu: No
General kid-friendliness of menu: Kid-friendly and the level of spice is indicated next to each item.
Kid-friendly staff? Not much English spoken here, but communication is fine with picture the menu.
Bathroom: Clean with a sit-down toilet. No change table.
Best items for kids: Poh piah (build-it-yourself spring rolls), Hainan chicken rice set, or their signature fried rice.
Kids play area: Small children’s section with plexiglass walls. The play area itself only has a table and chairs and balloons so it’s best to bring some toys from home.
Seating: Standard tables and chairs. Highchairs are available.
Price: RMB 250
Accepts credit cards? Yes
Must-order item: The nasi lemak set – it’s a national dish of Malaysia.
Award: Best Malaysian
In a nutshell: This restaurant offers an extensive Malaysian menu paired with a lovely lakeside setting. There’s plenty of seafood and spicy dishes for more discerning palates.
Daily 11am-10pm. 6C Dongbeisan Lu, Luogezhuang Village, Houshayu Town (8049 8902); 顺义区后沙峪镇罗马湖畔. See Directory for more locations.
Smallville
Cuisine: American
English menu: Yes
Kids’ menu: Yes
General kid-friendliness of menu: Typical kid favorites offered, and breakfast is available all day.
Kid-friendly staff? The English-speaking staff are used to kids.
Bathroom: Located in the adjoining restaurant (The Yard). There are sit-down toilets but no change table.
Best items for kids: Chicken tenders, spaghetti and either the grilled cheese or peanut butter and jelly sanwich.
Kids’ play area: The clean play area has a TV and toys.
Seating: Many tables as well as a couch area for relaxing with a coffee.
Price: RMB 200
Accepts credit cards? Yes
Must-order item: Anything from the set lunch or dinner menus, which include a starter, main dish and dessert. Selections change monthly.
Award: Most Improved
In a nutshell: Smallville has undergone a restaurant makeover and now offers a weekend brunch (Western brunch 8.30am-11.30am, Asian brunch 11.30am-2.30am), set menus as well as a la carte options from the new head chef. All proceeds go to charity, so you’ll feel good about ordering that extra sweet treat.
Mon-Thu 7.30am-7.30pm, Fri-Sun 7.30am-8pm. 3 Kaifa Jie, Xibaixinzhuang, Houshayu, Shunyi District (8046 5448); 顺义区后沙峪西白辛庄开发街3号
Za’atar
Cuisine: Middle Eastern
English menu: Yes
Kids’ menu: No
General kid-friendliness of menu: Very kid-friendly. The menu even has indicators for kid-approved dishes.
Kid-friendly staff? English-speaking staff. The owner regularly checks in with customers to make sure everything is okay.
Bathroom: Clean, sit-down toilet, no change table.
Best items for kids: Marinated chicken skewers, shorabet sha’arieyeh (chicken broth with vermicelli and parsley), and hummus with pita bread.
Kids’ play area: There’s no play area, but outside seating during the summer means kids can roam around and test out the nearby play equipment.
Seating: Standard tables and chairs with outdoor seating in warmer weather.
Price: RMB 300-350
Accepts credit cards? Yes
Must-order item: Shawerma chicken or lamb and hummus.
Award: Best Middle Eastern
In a nutshell: Za’atar has a warm, inviting atmosphere, beautiful lakeside setting and delicious food. Beyond its many kid-friendly features, it’s also a great option for date night. CM
Daily 11.30am-10pm. Unit 2, Bldg 3, Lakeview Place (by Dragon Bay Villas), Shayu Huanlu, Houshayu, Shunyi District ((8042 2248); 顺义区后沙峪镇沙峪环路3号2单元
Haru Teppanyaki and Sushi Bar
Cuisine: Japanese
Non-smoking section? There’s no designated smoke-free zone, but the teppanyaki rooms are private.
English menu: Yes
Kids’ menu: No
General kid-friendliness of menu: Teppanyaki dishes are family-style and made-to-order, so kids can pick out favorite meats and vegetables and enjoy watching them be prepared. The sushi is best for kids with more adventurous taste buds.
Kid-friendly staff? The Chinese-speaking staff know basic English.
Bathroom: Clean with sit-down toilet.
Best items for kids: The Cherry Roll (tempura shrimp, avocado, tuna and eel sauce) has no raw fish, so it’s good for kids. And the chicken teppanyaki comes with a "volcano onion" – a large onion ring that erupts in flame as it’s grilled.
Kids’ play area: No play area but private rooms are available. Having your food cooked right in front you is entertaining for all.
Seating: The sushi bar has stools while the teppanyaki rooms are private.
Price: RMB 350-400
Accepts credit cards? Yes
Must-order item: Anything from the teppanyaki menu. From the sushi menu, try the Calafornia Roll – simple and delicious.
Award: Best Dining Experience
In a nutshell: It’s not just a meal, it’s an experience watching the chef prepare the food in front of you. The overall dining atmosphere is great with individual service and excellent fresh food.
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.
See Directory for more locations.
Steven Yang, owner of Haru and father
Where did you grow up?
I was born and bred in Beijing.
What was your favorite food as a kid?
Chinese hawthorn cakes and wild jujube noodles.
Where can you find that favorite childhood dish in Beijing?
Hawthorn cakes can be bought in supermarkets, but wild jujube noodles are no longer around.
What do you miss about old-fashioned home cooking?
My mom’s stir-fried shredded potatoes (a popular northern dish).
What’s your recommendation for best family-friendly dish at Haru?
Kids love sushi, and teppanyaki is good for families. I recommend the sushi and Australian beef steak – they’re both really delicious.
The Orchard
Cuisine: European
English menu: Yes
Kids’ menu: Yes. There’s also a separate kids’ buffet on Sundays.
General kid-friendliness of menu: Very kid-friendly, with a wide variety to satisfy the fussiest of eaters.
Kid-friendly staff? Friendly, English-speaking staff.
Bathroom: Very clean, sit-down toilets but no changing facilities.
Best items for kids: Any of their pasta dishes, sweet potato pancake with homemade apple sauce, and delicious artisan breads.
Kids’ play area: The playroom features a TV as well as some toys. The grounds outside are open for exploration in warmer weather.
Seating: Tables and booths as well as outdoor seating in warmer weather. Highchairs are available.
Price: RMB 450; brunch RMB 180 per person
Accepts credit cards? Yes
Must-order item: Unique flavors of ice cream: sage, basil, rosemary and mint. The buffet, which varies weekly, is a must-try.
Award: Best Surroundings
In a nutshell: With wonderful service, locally sourced organic produce and a countryside location, this is a great place to spend a day with the kids.
Tue-Sat noon-2.30pm, 6pm-9pm. Sun buffet noon-3pm, 6pm-9pm. From Jingshun Lu, turn left (west) at Shunbai Lu Intersection, (turn at the driveway just west of the Hegezhuang Village Sign), Shunyi District (6433 6270); 顺义区崔各庄乡何各庄村(过何各庄村路标往南转)
