In Mifan/Mafan, we cover the latest restaurant and bar openings in the form of bite-sized reviews. Here are the best openings of the past month, because all we hope to do is answer a simple question: is the rice worth the hassle?
Living Room Coffee
Dashilar’s newest enclave of freshly roasted hipness is Living Room Coffee, whose coffees are ordered off adorably illustrated menus by hutong-hoppers all week long (or all Design Week long, at least). Its true gift to Beijing’s fledgling third-wave cafe scene, however, is Kopi (RMB25), a delightfully buttery Singaporean-style espresso.
> see listing for details
Pop-Up Beijing
We were intrigued by the idea of drinking in a store – would we have to feign interest in antique photo frames? Would we end up purchasing the stools we’re sitting on? The answer is no, but you can if you like, and that’s exactly the beauty of this bar-within-an-interior-design shop, which has its grand opening this month: wine is also sold at retail prices, with high-quality varieties going for RMB35 a glass.
> see listing for details
Hotalono Korean Barbecue
Otherwise known as That Place Next to Great Leap #12, Hotalono serves low-quality Korean hot pot. Fortunately, the prices are also low – we paid RMB68 for a piping hot bowl that three of us couldn’t finish – which makes this an ideal spot if you’re stumbling out of Great Leap and hankering for
some kimchi.
> see listing for details
Koharu Biyori
Beixinqiao subway station’s Exit C is now home to a veritable war of casual Japanese restaurants. Kidding – Suzuki Kitchen is way too chill to brawl with the equally chill Koharu Biyori, whose sliding-door entrance opens up into a quiet shop serving ramen, sushi rolls and yakitori. The food isn’t spectacular, but good quality for the price (RMB50-70 per person for a bowl of ramen and sides).
> see listing for details
Modernista
Modernista’s empire has fully expanded: after adding brunch this summer, they’ve now started on dinner. Food is high-end without the price tag to match – we loved the salmon wrapped in bacon (RMB88) and the tuna tataki (RMB62), but the highlight was undoubtedly the chocolate fondant at the end (RMB42).
> see listing for details
Colorful Drinks Street
When we found out the newly renovated Yashow had something that its signage refers to as a ‘Colorful Drinks Street,’ we were straight over there. Alas – it’s a couple of bubble tea shops and a durian dessert place. The presence of a new branch of Cheers is the street’s only saving grace.
> Yashow Market, see listing for details
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