Beijing food tour
BEIJING FOOD TOUR - Behind Beijing's grand avenues and glittering skyscrapers lies a very different city: a maze of narrow hutong lanes, grey-brick courtyards and corner shops where families have lived, cooked and gossiped for centuries. Once home to imperial officials, merchants and craftsmen, the hutongs are where old Beijing still eats, and where some of the city's best food hides in plain sight.
Over four hours and 16+ tastings, we're eating our way through the historic hutongs of Dongsi, from century-old snack shops and a buzzing local market to a neighbourhood wine shop and a classic copper pot hotpot.
First, a true Beijing breakfast at Zeng Sheng Kui, frying up snacks since 1928. Tear into a tangyoubing, a brown sugar fritter that's crisp on the outside and molten within. Next, dive into a bustling neighbourhood market for a hand-pulled noodle demonstration, fennel and egg stuffed cakes and crispy gezhihe mung bean rolls. Then grab a zongzi, sticky rice stuffed with pork and wrapped by hand in bamboo leaves, and a crumbly lΓΌdou bing mung bean pastry.
Time for a toast. At Pan Lao San's neighbourhood wine shop, surrounded by porcelain jars and clay urns, we'll sample baijiu, China's fiery national spirit. Ganbei!
Then follow the steam to a beloved shaomai house for delicate lamb shaomai and shrimp dumplings, served with complimentary black tea. Around the corner, slurp springy braised beef noodles, niurou mian, alongside cold dishes of Chinese celery with tofu skin, black tofu and crunchy purple turnip.
After learning the history of the hutongs at the Dongsi Hutong Museum, grab a crisp sesame shaobing stuffed with braised beef, a plate of dalian huoshao, Beijing's golden "saddlebag" dumplings, Qianlong baicai, the emperor's cabbage, and a bowl of sweetcorn soup.
Still hungry? Good. We're not finished yet. Gather around a copper chimney hotpot, tongguo, for paper-thin lamb and beef swished through bubbling broth, dipped in creamy sesame sauce with sweet pickled garlic and chilli oil. Finish on a sweet note with silky mango wrapped in coconut milk jelly before heading back out into the lanes.
Why this tour is awesome
Over four hours and 16+ tastings, we'll explore the historic hutongs of Dongsi, from century-old snack shops and a buzzing local market to a neighbourhood wine shop and the Dongsi Hutong Museum.
Expect brown sugar fritters, sticky rice zongzi, steamed shaomai and springy braised beef noodles, with a baijiu tasting along the way. Discover the imperial history and everyday traditions that shaped old Beijing's food, before finishing with a classic copper pot hotpot.
Taste your way through the hutongs with 16+ tastings, from brown sugar fritters to copper pot hotpot.
Wander through the quiet hutongs of old Beijing.
Zeng Sheng Kui, frying up Beijing breakfasts since 1928.
The food heroes of Beijing.
Brown sugar fritters, crisp outside and molten within.
Fresh produce piled high at a local neighbourhood market.
Fennel and egg stuffed cakes, fresh off the griddle.
Crispy gezhihe rolls with a shatteringly thin shell.
Sticky rice zongzi, wrapped by hand in bamboo leaves.
Traditional Beijing pastries, stamped with their fillings.
Pan Lao San, a neighbourhood wine shop pouring local spirits.
Porcelain jars of baijiu, the fiery national spirit of China.
Clay jars of aged rice wine, sealed and ready to pour.
An old Beijing shaomai house, beloved by locals.
Delicate shaomai, pleated by hand.
Steamed shaomai, straight from the bamboo basket.
Braised beef noodles with tender bok choy.
Tree-lined hutongs, wrapped in colourful knitting.
Step inside a traditional courtyard at the Hutong Museum.
Traditional storefronts, dressed in red lanterns.
Braised beef stuffed into a crisp sesame shaobing.
Hidden in the hutongs, a beloved copper pot hotpot spot.
Gather round a classic copper chimney hotpot.
Paper-thin lamb, swished through bubbling broth.
Creamy sesame dipping sauce, the secret to Beijing hotpot.
Conclude on a sweet note with mango wrapped in coconut milk jelly.
Includes
- Price US $69 per person
- Language English
- Small group Maximum of 8 guests (private tours or groups of 9+, please contact us)
- Tastings 16+ tastings
- Drinks Bottled water, black tea and a baijiu tasting
- Duration 11am - 3pm
- Guide Led by one of our superb Beijing food hosts
- Cancellation Cancel up to 48 hours before departure for a full refund
- Family friendly Families welcome on all our tours. Children 50% discount.
- Transport Walking tour through the hutongs of Dongsi
- Instant confirmation Book now to secure your space (before we sell out!)
- Pick up / drop off Our guests come from all over the city, so to save time we have a meeting point. Your guide can help you find transport back at the end of the tour
Dietary information
- General advice Many local eateries specialise in signature menus, and may not have alternatives. It is not always possible to cater for all dietary requests at every stop
- Vegetarian Possible, though meat or seafood is used in 11 tastings (out of 21 total), with backup tastings available for 7 of them
- Vegan Unsuitable as meat, seafood, egg or dairy is used in 12 tastings (out of 21 total)
- Pescatarian Possible, though meat is used in 9 tastings (out of 21 total), with backup tastings available for 7 of them
- Pork Possible, though pork is used in 9 tastings (out of 21 total), with alternatives available for 7 of them
- Halal Unsuitable as not all vendors are halal-certified
- Gluten intolerance / Celiac Unsuitable as gluten is present in 15 tastings (out of 21 total)
- Lactose intolerance Suitable for no dairy diets
- Tree nut / peanut allergy Possible, though nuts are used in 1 tasting (out of 21 total)
- Seafood / Shellfish allergy Possible, though shrimp is used in 1 tasting (out of 21 total), with an alternative available
- Severe allergies Due to the nature of street food cooking, we can never guarantee any dish to be 100% free from allergens, as there is always the risk of traces and cross-contamination. It is unsuitable for severe allergies. Contact us: info@achefstour.com
How to book
To join our Beijing food tour, use the calendar above to select your preferred date, and secure your tour with your card. For special requests, private bookings, or dietary requirements, please contact us. Safety of our customers is our first priority, so if you have any food allergies, please contact us before booking.
What to expect
This tour is designed for adventurous eaters with an interest in discovering the food locals eat. Itβs a walking tour, but the pace is gentle, and there are plenty of rest (eating) stops along the way. Join us on the best BeijingΒ food tour in the city, you won't regret it.
Meeting point
Meet outside theΒ Zhongguo Meishuguan (National Art Museum) subway, which is easy to reach from most parts of the city via the subway itself.Β There will be more details on your booking voucher.Β
Cancellation Policy
Why you should book with us
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99% 5 star reviews across our tours -
Secure payments through provider Peek
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No hidden charges - all food tastings included in the price
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Authentic food experience, escape the tourist traps