A crucial aspect of familiarizing yourself with Beijing is understanding its culinary scene, and food tours are an excellent means to do so. Even if you've been residing in the capital for some time, food tours can help you uncover new dishes, delve deeper into the culture behind them, and perhaps even discover a new favorite restaurant. Several companies offer regular food outings, so here’s a guide to them, along with tips on how to arrange your next culinary experience!
Lost Plate Food Tours
Lost Plate conducts two daily food tours in Beijing: the Beijing Hutong Breakfast Food Tour and the Beijing Evening Food Tour. The breakfast tour allows participants to sample 12 different dishes at six locations within the Beijing hutongs. Expect to enjoy items like jianbing, lüdagun ("rolling donkey"), douzhir, and other local specialties. Additionally, the tour includes a stop at a Michelin-recommended restaurant. The dinner tour begins with a cold beer and features an assortment of Chinese dishes, including Beijing hot pot and a fish dish favored by Empress Cixi, among others.
- **Beijing Hutong Breakfast Food Tour**
- Time: 9am, daily
- Duration: 3 hours
- Price: RMB 280/person
- [Click here for more info]
- **Beijing Evening Food Tour**
- Time: 6.30pm, daily
- Duration: 3.5 hours
- Price: RMB 530/adult; RMB 430/child
- [Click here for more info]
**How to Book**
Scan the QR code below to connect with their customer service team on WeChat, allowing you to book a tour and make payment via WeChat. Alternatively, you can book on their website (www.lostplate.com). Simply scroll down, click on the “China” section, and select the tour and date you'd like. Please note that online bookings require payment via a credit or debit card.
UnTour Food Tours
Much like Lost Plate, UnTour offers regular breakfast and dinner food tours in Beijing. Their Beijing Breakfast Hutong Tour features over 10 tastings, including classics like jianbing and jarred yogurt. Participants will also visit a wet market and sample local baked goods. The Old Beijing Dinner Tour lets guests explore a variety of traditional Beijing dishes such as hot pot, chuanr, and donkey burgers. Throughout the tour, you'll have the opportunity to taste local beers, rice wine, and other spirits while learning about the history of Beijing's renowned cuisine.
- **Beijing Breakfast Hutong Tour**
- Time: 8am, Sat & Sun
- Duration: 3 hours
- Price: RMB 355/adult; RMB 180/child (ages 6-12); free for children aged 0-5
- [Click here for more info]
- **Old Beijing Dinner Tour**
- Time: 7pm, Fri, Sat, Sun, Mon & Tue
- Duration: 3 hours
- Price: RMB 560/adult; RMB 460/child (ages 6-12); free for children aged 0-5 (if no tasting required)
- [Click here for more info]
**How to Book**
Scan the QR code below to access UnTour's calendar, where you can select your desired tour and date. Next, fill out your contact and payment details (debit and credit cards only). Alternatively, you can scan the QR code below to connect with UnTour's customer service on WeChat for booking inquiries.
Secret Bites Society
Next is Secret Bites Society, a new company you may not have heard of. Their food tours emphasize the fusion of food, history, and culture within a relaxed, slow-travel concept. Their signature experience is the Beijing Night Hutong Food Tour, during which you'll explore beloved restaurants and iconic Beijing dishes like hot pot and mendingroubing (Beijing “door nail” meat pie), alongside hidden gems. Spanning 3.5 hours, the tour also shares old Beijing stories and covers cultural landmarks. Currently in its initial phase, Secret Bites Society is developing additional activities, including breakfast tours, late-night hutong bar visits, and Michelin-level tastings.
**How to Book**
Inquire about future tours and make reservations by scanning one of the QR codes on the poster below to contact Secret Bites Society.
The Hutong
Located in a hutong near Beixinqiao, The Hutong primarily specializes in cooking and cultural classes, though they also offer a few food tours. Among them are the semi-regular Chī Le Ma? Market & Street Food Tour, where a guide takes you through a local market, explaining various Chinese flavors and ingredients while sampling street food. The other is the Beijing Breakfast Stroll: S
Explore Beijing's culinary culture more thoroughly with these tours.