Get Grilling: Taolu Grill and Bar Hits CBD

There must be thousands of places in Beijing where you can pay to cook your own meat, but few of them come with the style and service you'll find at Taolu Grill and Bar, the first restaurant to open in Beijing from the Tokyo yakiniku chain Shotai-en.

From the cheerful greetings to the staff's eager recommendations, the service at Taolu Grill shines in a city known for surly wait staff. Upon seeing that we had grown distracted by our edamame (RMB 10) and charred our first strips of short sliced beef (RMB 78) on the coal grill, a server stepped in gently to cook the remainder to a sizzling, tender perfection. Usually, I'd balk at such interventions, but I surrendered to her mastery of the grill. She clearly knew what she was doing as she doled out juicy stripes of beef to us in turns, like a fair-minded mother to two carnivorous kids.

To green up the meal, we ordered lettuce for wrapping the meat (RMB 10) and vegetables for grilling alongside (RMB 25). We opted for chunky abalone mushrooms and green bell pepper from a wide range of vegetable options. Hungry parties can order Taolu's set meals for two (RMB 260) or four (RMB 520), which feature an assortment of meat, vegetables, kimchi, and other sides. Heartier meat cravings can be satisfied with plates of steak starting at RMB 99. At lunchtime, half-priced meals are available.

While Taolu probably can't beat your local kaorou dive on price, the quality of meat will triumph and the attentive staff will ensure that you’re well taken care of.

Also try: Kagen, Tairyo Teppanyaki

Daily 11.45am-1.45pm, 3.45-midight. Unit 2332, 3/F, Bldg 2, Soho Shangdu, 8 Dongdaqiao Lu, Chaoyang District (5900 9739)