Beijing Restaurant

Opening the menu at Beijing Restaurant in the Excelsior is like opening up a copy of Infinite Jest—so if you like limitless options, this spot is for you. We recommend focusing on the northern-style Chinese dishes in the “Beijing special” and “handmade noodles” sections of the menu. We like the well-spiced cumin lamb, the braised chicken with chewy hand-pulled belt noodles, and the sauteed string beans the most. Avoid the onion pancake though—it’s overly starchy and simply flavorless. The interior is basic with a TV that’s often playing the news and a few Chinese paintings depicting food preparation on the walls. But it’s a totally fine environment to enjoy a quick meal on a casual weeknight, or you can just take your food to go.