From Time Out Abu Dhabi Eating Out 2010
At the last count, the population of the city of Beijing exceeded 17 million. By the looks of it, most of them eat here. The scene is basic; a few prints and a bubbling fish tank count as decor, but Beijing is busy, inexpensive and authentic. The food is also very good and the huge servings mean that two mains, rice and a starter to share will leave you begging for mercy for little more than Dhs80. As you glance through the menu, gangs of smiling waiters scan the room in search of plates to clear or teacups to fill. But alongside the ubiquitous badly-taken photos of the dishes, the menu itself reveals a few surprises. The tofu in hunan chilli sauce is a particularly fine, if lip-stingingly spicy, delicacy and the overall quality is uniformly high. Beijing is the epitome of a good backstreet restaurant. You might have to sacrifice plush hotel interiors, easy directions and alcohol, but in return you discover something special – after all, 17 million Chinese can’t be wrong.
