People also call this the Capital City cuisine. Beijing was the capital city for the Liao, Jin, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. Except for the Ming Dynasty, all the rulers of these dynasties were from northern nomadic tribes. For those 500- plus years, the dishes available from Beijing's catering trade were dominated by meat dishes, which corresponded to the eating habits of the ruling class. The Mongolian rulers of the Yuan Dynasty were especially fond of mutton, and 80% of the dishes in their palace were made of mutton. These meat dishes still are made today, like the most famous Dong Lai Shun Hot Pot Mutton, Kao Rou Ji Restaurant (barbecue).

The Qing Dynasty rulers ate pork before moving to Beijing from Shenyang in northeastern China. Their cooking methods were stewing, roasting, and boiling. Pork and mutton have been equally represented in Beijing cuisine since the Qing Dynasty as a result of the dietetic influence of the Manchu. Roast and stewed pig, pork dishes, and pig's offal stewed in ceramic pots offered by the Shaguoju Restaurant (ceramic pots restaurant) were the first to be offered to suit the eating preferences of the Manchus. The most famous Beijing dish - Peking Roast Duck was originated at that period. Quanjude Roast Duck Restaurant founded in 1864 is the best place to enjoy the delicacy.

Beijing was the gathering place of the literati and officials, and many skilled chefs followed these people to Beijing. These chefs brought the different cuisines to the capital and greatly enriched the flavors of Beijing cuisine. The Shandong, Huai-Yang, and Jiangsu-Zhejiang cuisines all strongly influenced Beijing cuisine.

• The quick-frying techniques of the Shandong cuisine and its use of onions greatly influenced Beijing cuisine. For example, quick-fried mutton, a popular, common dish, is a typical Beijing dish that uses the cooking skills and flavoring methods of the Shandong cuisine.

• Literati and officials placed high expectations on restaurant food, and many even created dishes. The chefs in Beijing all boasted of being able to create the dishes of the southern cuisines.

Beijing cuisine is famous for its hundreds of dishes with special flavors that are unmatched by any other cuisine. Beijing cuisine does not emphasize on strangeness or uniqueness, only delicious food made from common ingredients with tastes that are very agreeable.
Beijing Restaurants Guides for Muslim, Indians & Vegetarian

Muslim Restaurant:

Hongbinlou Restaurant
82 West Chang'an Ave.
Tel: 86-10-6603 8460

Hongyunlou Restaurant
A2 Hujialou Beijie
Tel: 86-10-6506 3291

Kaorouji Restaurant
14, Qianhaidongyan, Di'anmen Dajie
Tel: 86-10-6404 2554

Muslim Baikui Century-old Restaurant
158 Jiaodaokou Dajie, Dongcheng District
Tel: 86-10-6404 096

Muslim Mansion Restaurant
B5 Dongheyan, Andingmenwai, Dongcheng District
Tel: 86-10-6426 2990

Indian Restaurant:

The Taj Pavilion Indian Restaurant
China World Trade Center, L-116 West Building, #1 Jianguomenwai Dajie
Tel:( 86-10) 65055866/65052288 (Ext: 80116)
Fax: (86-10)65055866

Tandoor Indian Cuisine (Inside Zhaolong Hotel)
#2 Gongti Beilu, Chaoyang District
Tel: (86-10) 65972211 (Direct)
65972299 (Ext: 2112)

Spices
Add: 2/F New World Courtyard (near Marriott Beijing), # 3C Chongwenmen Wai Street, Chongwenmen District, Beijing
Tel: (86-10)67081188 (Ext: 2210)

The Taj Pavilion
Add: Holiday Inn Lido, Lido Place, Level-3, Jiachang Road, Jiang Tai Road .
Tel: (86-10) 64367678/64376688
Fax: (86-10) 65055866

Omar Khayyam
1/F Chengyuan Plaza,
#9 Jianhua South Street (Opposite Friendship Store), Jianguomenwai
Tel: (86-10) 65675311/65675364

Mirch Masala
60-2, Nan Luo Gu Xiang, Dongcheng District
Tel:(86-10) 64064347

Vegetarian Restaurant:
Gong De Lin Vegetarian Restaurant
158 Qianmen Nandajie
Tel: 86-10-6702 0867