Ranking of restaurants in Beijing’s Eight Buildings

Beijing’s restaurants arose in the late Qing Dynasty after Empress Dowager Cixi took over the government behind the curtain. This kind of Manchu-Chinese restaurants are all located in downtown areas. Their names are auspicious and elegant, their courtyards are clean and quiet, their tables and chairs are antique, and they are magnificent. The "Eight Buildings" in order of fame are Dongxing Building (Cuihua Building), Taifeng Building, Zhimei Building, Hongxing Building, Zhengyang Building, Qingyun Building, Xinfeng Building and Chunhua Building. Let me give you a detailed introduction below.

Dongxing Building

Dongxing Building was opened in the 28th year of Guangxu's reign in the Qing Dynasty (1902) and is the first of the "Eight Buildings". Qingyun Tower was built in the first year of Daoguang reign of the Qing Dynasty (1820). It started selling Shandong cuisine in 1913. It became famous because of the outstanding taste of the dishes and became one of the eight buildings. Cuihua Building opened in 1940. The shareholders Ma Songshan, Lan Liting and others were originally store clerks of Dongxing Building. Because of their good management and superior skills, they won the title of "Authentic Dongxing Building". In 1944, Dongxing Tower closed down due to poor management. Shandong Jiaodong cuisine, famous dishes include hibiscus chicken slices, braised mullet eggs, fried diced chicken with soy sauce, braised sea cucumbers with green onions, fried duck gizzards, etc. It closed down due to poor management by future generations.

Taifeng Building

Taifeng Building was opened in the 13th year of Tongzhi in the Qing Dynasty. It is located on Meishi Street, Dashilan. During this time, more than 60 tables could be opened at the same time, which was the largest number in Nancheng at that time. It has changed owners several times, but the brand name and flavor have remained unchanged, and its reputation is outstanding. Shandong flavor. Famous dishes include shark's fin in casserole, braised mullet eggs, sea cucumbers roasted with green onion, fish in sauce, roasted chicken in pot, etc. The "Yipin Guo" is especially famous.

Zhimei Lou

Zhimei Lou opened in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. It was originally a Gusu restaurant and later changed to Shandong cuisine. It is located on Meishi Street outside Qianmen. The courtyard is beautiful, the winding paths are secluded, quiet, elegant and antique. Dishes pay attention to color, aroma, shape and taste. Famous dishes include four-eating live fish, bear's paw with cloud slices, three-threaded shark's fin, Shoubi Nanshan, etc. In the 28th year of Guangxu's reign, it was expanded again.

Hongxinglou

Hongxinglou is a time-honored restaurant famous for its dumplings. It opened in Caishikou in its early years. Its dumplings can hold more than 20 pieces on one or two sides, and its fillings include Meat fillings, vegetarian fillings, sweet fillings, salty fillings, fish fillings, chicken fillings, etc. are cooked in stock hot pot and are unique. Its dishes belong to Shandong cuisine. Famous dishes include chicken minced shark's fin, pot abalone, sea cucumber roasted with green onion, wine steamed duck, vinegar and pepper fish, etc.

Zhengyang Tower

Zhengyang Tower opened in the third year of Xianfeng period in the Qing Dynasty. It is located at the south entrance of the Qianmenwai Meat Market. They are both famous for their crabs, which are fresh, fat and big. Famous dishes include small steamed crabs, quails with sauce, fresh crabs with sauce, etc.

Qingyun Tower

Qingyun Tower was founded in the first year of Daoguang in the Qing Dynasty (1820). In 1913, its owner was a Shandongese named Tao. Qingyun Building is the largest building in the Eight Buildings. It is a solid wood building with the third floor. Located on Yandai Xiejie and on the north shore of Shichahai, you can sit on the building and watch the sea. It is the only one among the eight buildings that maintains its original building operation. Famous dishes include sea cucumbers roasted with green onions, three-buck noodles, cup cakes, fried spring segments, etc.

Xinfeng Tower

Xinfeng Tower was opened at the intersection of Hufang Bridge Incense Factory during the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty. It is also a Shandong cuisine, especially famous for its braised purple abalone with cabbage, fried belly shreds and plain noodles, and almond yuanxiao. The "Xinfenglou Restaurant" that once reopened on Baiguang Road inside Guang'anmen basically inherited the old famous dishes and snacks and has an excellent reputation.

Chunhua Building

Chunhua Building is located in the Wudao Temple of Hepingmen. It is relatively small in scale and pays attention to fine ingredients in cooking. Its famous dishes include pot sticker chicken, squirrel mandarin fish, etc. . In 1934, after Zhang Daqian attended a calligraphy and painting exhibition in Peking, he dined here and taught him how to cook "Zhang Daqian Fish", which has since become a famous dish here.

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In addition to the above eight restaurants, there is also "Tongchunlou" which opened during the Daoguang period and is located at the entrance of Nanzhu City, Zhengyangmen. Its famous dishes include stir-fried squid and dry roasted fish. , crab racing, etc. The "Chunming Tower" located along the west river outside Qianmen can be called a sister to the "Chunhua Tower" in its features. The grilled prawns are very famous, and there are also "Hongqing Tower" and so on.