While it’s practically a meat-lover’s world when it comes to Beijing cuisine, that’s no reason to leave out the vegetarians. Many dishes in Beijing cuisine may seem vegetarian, but still contain slight bits of ground meat or meat stock. We’ve got you covered with 10 dishes and snacks to make yourself or get from a restaurant or store. This is also for food enthusiasts who want something lighter and healthier than the meat-heavy dishes common in Beijing!
Veggie Dumplings 素馅儿饺子 (sù xiàn er jiǎozi)
Even as a vegetarian, you don’t need to miss out on a Chinese classic dish for Chinese New Year and special occasions – dumplings (饺子 jiǎo zi). Many classic dumpling fillings contain either some kind of seafood (ex. shrimp) or pork, yet there are still delectable vegetarian options like chives and eggs; carrots and eggs; wood ear, carrots, eggs and zucchini etc.
Fried Dough 油条 (yóutiáo)
The perfect crunch of a fried dough stick coupled with sweet, lukewarm soy milk is the classic old Beijinger breakfast. Even as a vegetarian, you don’t need to miss out on this simple and soothing classic. Just as its name indicates, fried dough is made from deep frying dough at a high temperature until golden brown. Fried dough sticks are famous for their soft inside and crispy outer layer. Without constantly needing to find a “vegetarian place”, enjoy any type of fried dough with a hot beverage, soy milk, or vegetarian jellied beancurd (豆腐脑 dòu fu nǎo).
Veggie Bun 素包子 (sù bāozi)
Veggie buns are also a can’t-miss snack or dish when you are in Beijing! Though there are many types of veggie buns, one of the most widespread and popular version is the “Vegetarian Three Delicacies” (素三鲜 sù sān xiān) bun. These include a variety of mushrooms, wood ear fungus, and egg for fillings. The filling transforms the bland dough into a flavorful and savory delight – a must try when you visit the Qingfeng Bun Shop (庆丰包子铺 qìng fēng bāo zi pù).
Find it:
Qingfeng Baozi Pu (Hong Lian South Road Branch) 庆丰包子铺 (红莲南路店)
Hong Lian Nan Road, No. 6 Courtyard, No. 8 Building, Xicheng District 西城区红莲南路6号院8号楼
Tel: 6330 5040
Shredded Potato 土豆丝 (tǔdòu sī)
Another Beijing staple is shredded potatoes. This widespread main course is extremely simple yet flavorful, usually containing shredded potatoes, and red or green peppers with traditional Chinese green onions, ginger, and garlic seasoning. It’s also the perfect friend for a plain bowl of rice.
Veggie Spring Roll 素春卷 (sù chūnjuǎn)
The crunch of a spring roll just can’t be forgotten. As a vegetarian, you don’t have to miss out on some good ol’ crispy spring rolls. Similar to dumplings and buns, there are also many variations of veggie spring rolls. One of the most delicious fillings includes chive, bean sprout, carrot, Chinese vermicelli (粉丝 fěn sī), and needle mushroom. What’s special about spring rolls is how easily they can be made and how the fillings can be improvised!
Rolling Donkey 驴打滚 (lǘ dǎgǔn)
As a traditional Tianjin and Beijing snack, the rolling donkey is perfect for your sweet tooth! But…why “rolling donkey”? The reason this snack got its name is because of the outer layer of yellow bean flour (黄豆面 huáng dòu miàn) which resembles the yellow mud/sand (黄土 huáng tǔ) that flies everywhere when donkeys roll on the mud/sand. Rolling donkey consists of the outer bean flour layer, a middle glutinous rice layer as well as the red bean paste as a classic filling. As you bite into it, the softness coupled with the unique flavor melts together in your mouth, making rolling donkey a must-try!
Find it:
Bai Kui Lao Hao Restaurant (Jiao Dao Kou Branch)
Jiao Dao Kou South Street, No. 158, Dongcheng District
东城区交道口南大街158号
Tel: 6404 0967
Open 6am – 9.30pm
Pea Cake 豌豆黄 (wāndòu huáng)
Another traditional Beijing snack is the pea cake. This classic treat is made by peeling, boiling, granulating, and adding sugar to peas. The soft texture and refreshing flavor melt in your mouth on the first bite. Try some pea cake at Nan Lai Shun Snacks!
Find it:
Nan Lai Shun Snacks (Nan Cai Yuan Branch) 南来顺小吃(南菜园店)
Nan Cai Yuan Street, No. 12, Xuanwu District
宣武区南菜园街12号
Tel: 6353 4720
Open 6am – 2pm and 4.30 – 9pm
“Non-stick” Three Ways 三不沾 (sān bù zhān)
Another fascinating Beijing snack is called “san bu zhan”, literally translating to “three non-stick”. This is made out of a combination of egg, cornstarch, sugar, and water. The reason it’s called “non-stick” is simply because it doesn’t stick to your teeth or the plate, despite its glutinous texture. Especially suitable for elders and children, san bu zhan is an aromatic and mouthwatering snack!
Find it:
Tong He Ju (Ri Tan Branch) 同和居(日坛店)
Ri Tan North Road, No. 6, Chaoyang District
朝阳区日坛北路6号
Tel: 8561 8626
Open 10.30am – 9.30pm
Fried Dough Twist/Pretzel 麻花 (máhuā)
Offering both savory and sweet, fried dough twists are again, a timeless yet simple snack originating from Tianjin, Shanxi, Hubei, and Hunan. Beautifully fried to a golden color, dough twists are exactly what they sound like. Two or three pieces of dough are twisted together, then fried in oil, similar to a pretzel-like donut. Fried dough twists come in all flavors, types, and sizes. Tianjin twists, also available in Beijing, are mostly sugary. They are larger than the average twist, with added toppings like cinnamon, walnut, dried melon strip, etc. You can also get savory twists that are seaweed, sesame, or spring onion flavored.
Find it:
Nan Lai Shun Snacks (Nan Cai Yuan Branch) 南来顺小吃(南菜园店)
Nan Cai Yuan Street, No. 12, Xuanwu District
宣武区南菜园街12号
Tel: 6353 4720
Open 6am – 2pm and 4.30 – 9pm
Toad Spits Honey 蛤蟆吐蜜 (hámá tǔ mì)
With a crunchy sesame outer layer dough and soft red bean paste filling, “toad spits honey” is almost like your average red bean bun, except crispier, having larger amounts of red bean paste and scented with the fragrance of sesame. Originating from Tianjin, “hama tu mi” also can be bought in Beijing or even made in your kitchen!
Find it:
Bai Kui Lao Hao Restaurant (Jiao Dao Kou Branch) 白魁老号饭庄(交道口店)
Jiao Dao Kou South Street, No. 158, Dongcheng District
东城区交道口南大街158号
Tel: 6404 0967
Open 6am – 9.30pm
Images: Pexels
This article appeared in the jingkids 2022 Teen Takeover issue
