Capital Bites: Shanzai Chipotle, New Blue Frogs and Gung Ho! Branches Out

Following up on new "Wu" eats, two of our number gave Avocado Tree a spin the other night. After IKEA and Apple store ripoffs, it wasn't surprising that this turned out to be a shanzai Chipotle. The interior is eerily similar, and the RMB 15 chips-and-guacamole was actually unbelievably good. Chunks of avocado, I tell you. Chunks. Avoid the burritos (from RMB 25), unless you’re fond of soggy plain rice, bullion-like beans and a dire lack of decent protein. Avocado Tree is nestled next to MixBox, opposite Lush, if you’re cruising for a tasting. And for RMB 15, why wouldn't you be?

Blue Frog is set to spawn two new locations in the next six months, both in shiny new Beijing complexes. One will be in U-Town Phase 2 near Chaoyangmen, the other in Swire’s ambitious new Indigo project at 798. Indigo has also confirmed a new Element Fresh, as well as Swire’s new business hotel brand, East. East will have a few eateries of her own, so keep your eye on this space.

In other northeasterly news, the Lido location of Peter's Tex-Mex is schlepping just around the block to a spot next to Frank’s Place. Gung Ho! will be taking over the Peter's space, bringing that ridiculously-addictive pesto-tofu pizza to the masses (at least, those in northeastern Beijing) sometime late October/early November, though their PR told me it'll happen "when we're good and ready!" Note to Lido residents: this is how you eat Gung Ho!: Ask for an extra Xinjiang spice packet. Sprinkle as appropriate over slice. Shovel into mouth. Repeat to heart’s content. Vote in our Burger Cup.

OK, well, that last part is not strictly necessary. Nor does it have anything to do with the consumption of pizza. In fact, vote before the pizza. Do it now, because voting ends in one short hour (ie. noon on Friday).

Oh, and just in case you think magazine dining editors eat glamorously and well all the time – we really don’t. One of our dining team was caught snarfing down pizza-flavored Pringles late last night (shock! horror! trans-fats!) and this was my 4pm lunch yesterday. What are you having for lunch today, Beijing?

Photos: Josh Ong & Susan Sheng