All By Myself: Where and What to Eat on Singles Day

As a self-confessed fan of both dining and traveling alone, I fail to see the fuss about solo dining. Whether out of necessity or by design you're gonna have to do it at some point so we say, embrace it. Grab a book, catch up on all those the Beijinger blogs you've missed, or just gaze wistfully out of the window – trust me, no-one cares that you are dining alone.  

In celebration of Singles Day (November 11), I've come up with a few suggestions for where you can go to grab a meal alone and actually enjoy it.

Personal hot pot
Hot pot is traditional somewhat of a convivial food, but there are options for the solo diner too. Skip the ubiquitous Taiwanese chain, Xiabu Xiabu, and head instead to Little Faigo Hot Pot in Parkview Green. This upscale chain serves Cantonese-style hot pot (although there is a spicy option available too) in adorable mini bronze burners. They even have a lunchtime deal for single diners on Dianping, priced at just RMB 55.9, that includes a meat dish, a platter of mixed vegetables, a platter of their famous Chaozhou-style meat balls, a choice of noodles, and a drink.

Grab a seat at the bar
Bar seating is kind on the single diner, away from the forest of two and four tops and avoiding the inevitable "table for one, sir?" Prop up the bar at Union Bar and Grille and order up a plate of their famous wings or a tasty Reuben sandwich. The bar at Mosto is also a pleasant, if slightly noisy after dark, place to grab a bite – try one of their pastas.

(Rice) Bowled over
Known as one of Korean cuisine's banner dishes, bibimbap is perfect for the solo dinner. The hearty combo of rice, meat, and vegetables means you won't need to order any other dishes. For fast, fuss-free dining, we like Korean chain Bibigo, which has branches in The Place, Guomao, Indigo, and more.For bibimbap with a Chinese flavor, try Shi Da Shi in the Yintai Center, from the same group that manages Nanjing Impressions. 

Use your noodle
Noodles were practically invented for solo dining - you can hardly share a bowl of soupy Lanzhou lamian with a friend now can you? Still, not all noodle restaurants were created equal and when I want to treat myself to a slightly more upmarket atmosphere I head to Noodle Bar in 1949 for a bowl of their delectable braised beef noodles. Alternatively, you can't go wrong with a rich bowl of ramen and nowhere does it better in our minds than internationally-acclaimed chain Ippudo.

Still stuck as to what to do on Singles Day? Why not fill your day with a hedonistic, capitalistic orgy like everyone else.

More stories by this author here.

Email: robynnetindall@thebeijinger.com
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Photo: pinpple.com