Red Basil (Zi Tian Jiao)
Cuisine
Thai
Hours
Daily 11:30am-2pm and 5:30-10pm
Address
Nan Xiao Jie 8
Location
South side of San Yuan Qiao, opposite Jingxin Plaza on North Third Ring Road, Chaoyang Northeast
Phone
010/6460-2339
Prices
Meal for 2 „200-„250 ($25-$31)
Credit Cards
AE, DC, MC, V

Red Basil is probably more expensive than a Thai restaurant in Beijing should be, but excellent food and a stylish setting make it worth the splurge. The dining room is thoroughly modern, with polished dark wood floors and tall, angular walls. Chefs imported from Thailand produce the city's most authentic pad thai (rice noodles with seafood in peanut sauce), and the tom yum seafood soup draws consistent raves. Round out a meal for two with the rich green vegetable curry or fresh papaya salad with jumbo shrimp.

Chinese

Beijing Dadong Kaoya Dian
Cuisine
Beijing
Hours
Daily 8am-noon and 1:30-5pm
Address
Tuanjie Hu Beikou 3
Location
On east side of East Third Ring Road, north of Tuanjie Hu Park, Chaoyang East
Phone
010/6582-2892
Prices
Meal for 2 (including half-duck) „80-„100 ($10-$12)
Credit Cards
Not accepted

No hundred years of history or obscure hutong location here, just a crispy-skinned and pleasing roast duck that many say is the best in town. The restaurant claims to use a special method to reduce the amount of fat in its birds, although it seems unlikely that duck this flavorful could possibly be good for you.

The birds come in either whole („98/$12) or half („49/$5) portions and are served in slices with a wide assortment of condiments (garlic, green onion, radish). Place the duck on a pancake with plum sauce and your choice of ingredients, and then roll and eat. An excellent plain broth soup, made from the rest of the duck, is included in the price.

The menu, with English and pictures, offers a wide range of other dishes, everything from mustard duck webs to duck tongue in aspic, plus a number of excellent doufu (tofu) dishes with thick, tangy sauces. Every meal comes with a free fruit plate and walnut sago pudding for desert. This is one of the few restaurants in Beijing with a nonsmoking room.