Where to Eat: Shinyeh
A number of upscale places have recently opened their doors in the midst of Beijing’s pre-Olympic glamorization and gentrification, but one restaurant is scaling down its presentation in the hope of attracting a more down-to-earth crowd.
Shinyeh started as a small, humble establishment in Taipei 1977, and has since built an empire of 14 restaurants serving Taiwanese cuisine throughout Asia. Its Beijing branch opened next to the Gongti 100 bowling alley on Gongti Xilu in 2005 sporting upscale décor and private rooms to cater to the area’s endless supply of high rollers.
Now, however, the management has decided to strip the regal reds and posh crystal chandeliers for a creamy beige interior. More seating has been put in, private rooms enlarged and the main dining room doubled in size. Judging from the constant crowds and clubbers in Gongti Xilu, it certainly makes economic sense to double the dining area – particularly in light of this year’s big event: “We decided to renovate because we wanted a different and fresh look for the Olympics. And after opening for three years, it was time for a change,” says Shinyeh’s General Manager, William Liu.
Taiwan enjoys a plentiful supply of fresh seafood. The Red Mangrove Crab is a local favorite and an essential dish at Taiwanese weddings, and one of Shinyeh’s key dishes is its eight-treasure sticky rice with Red Mangrove Crab, a glutinous rice dish made with shitake, pork, carrots and red onion. After the rice is cooked, the opened crab is placed on top and steamed to allow the rice to absorb the juices from the crab.
Another favorite Taiwanese dish and Shinyeh specialty is the roasted mullet roe served with turnip. At the end of December, the mullet fish, plump and fatty, migrates to the sea. The luscious roe oozing from the belly of the fish is removed and roasted. This soft and chewy delicacy is then sliced and eaten with turnip, which balances the strong fishy flavors.
The pan-fried pork liver with coriander tastes a lot better than it sounds. Preparing this dish requires fresh ingredients and a skillful chef. Due to the strange odor of pork liver, both temperature and cooking time are crucial to the end result. Here, this savory foie gras is juicy and soft with a hint of caramel.
As for other places to enjoy Taiwanese cuisine in town, check out the following restaurants:
Alexander Creek Park
Daily 10am-10pm. 203 Jixiangli, Chaowai, Chaoyang District. (6552 5296)
鼎溪园, 朝阳区朝外吉祥里203号
Bellagio
1) Daily 10am-10pm. 6/F, Shin Kong Place, 87 Jianguo Lu, Chaoyang District. (6530 5658); 2) Daily 11am-5am. 6 Gongti Xilu, south of the Gongti 100 Bowling Alley, Chaoyang District. (6551 3533); 3) Daily 11am-4am. 35 Xiaoyun Lu, beside Kiss Disco, Chaoyang District. (8451 9988); 4) Daily 11am-2am. Bldg 4, Area 2 Anhui Beili, Yayuncun, Chaoyang District. (6489 4300)
鹿港小镇, 1) 朝阳区建国路87号新光天地6层; 2) 朝阳区工体西路6号(工体100南边); 3) 朝阳区霄云路35号; 4) 朝阳区亚运村安慧北里2区4号楼(炎黄艺术馆斜对面)
Charmant
Daily 11am-4am. Chaoyang Park West Gate, inside the No. 8 Apartments, Chaoyang District. (6593 8888)
小城故事, 朝阳区朝阳公园西门八号公馆内
Danshui
Daily 11.30am-2.30pm, 5.30-9.30pm. 6A Shunhuang Lu, Sunhe Xiang, Chaoyang District. (8459 1688)
淡水复式餐厅, 朝阳区孙河乡，顺黄路甲6号
Fanqian Fanhou
Daily 10am-10pm. A13 Warehouse Complex, Nanxincang, Dongsishitiao, Dongcheng District. (6409 6510)
饭前饭后, 东城区东四十条南新仓古仓群A13
Golden Spoons Taiwanese Food
Daily 11am-11pm. 5/F South Place, The Place, 9 Guanghua Lu, Chaoyang District. (6587 1472)
金汤匙私房菜, 朝阳区光华路9号世贸天阶南街5层
Home Sweet Home
Daily 11am-2pm, 5-10.30pm. 235 Chaoyangmennei Xiaojie, Chaoyang District. (6522 9889)
小城故事, 朝阳区朝阳门内小街235号
Shinyeh
1) Daily 11.30am-2.30pm, 5pm-9.30pm. 1/F, Bldg 8, Central Park, 6 Chaowai Dajie, Chaoyang District. (6533 6746); 2) Daily 11.30am-3pm, 5.30pm- midnight. 6 Gongti Xilu (ground floor of the Gongti 100 bowling alley), Chaoyang District. (6552 5066)
欣叶, 1) 朝阳区朝外大街6号CBD新城国际8号楼1层; 2) 朝阳区工体西路6号(工体100一层)
Taipei Gu Zao Wei
Daily 10.30am-10.30pm. B2-N202 China World Shopping Center, 1 Jianguomen Waidajie, Chaoyang District. (6505 1551)
台北古早味, 朝阳区建国门外大街1号国贸商城B2楼NB202铺(近溜冰场)