Bright and Inviting Japanese From Dao Yin in Andingmen

While many Japanese restaurants in Beijing are gently lit and intimate (at best) or claustrophobic and dingy (at worst), Dao Yin takes another tack entirely. Far from trying to hide in the shadows, this Andingmen sushi spot is light, bright, and welcoming with bold and colorful scroll paintings hanging above the long, woodgrain counter.

The second floor is adorned with equally vibrant vintage movie posters from renowned Japanese directors (Kurosawa, Miyazaki, and the like) and features private rooms with authentic chabudai low tables and reed screen doors.

The food is also colorful and inviting. Whether it be the vibrant pink, Faroe Island-imported sashimi (RMB 58) or the plump and juicy yakitori chicken skewers (RMB 39 for half a dozen) served with tangy teriyaki sauce, the Dao Yin team pull each of the dishes off with aplomb and for a decent price.

We also recommend Dao Yin’s RMB 38 fried salmon cutlets, which crackle delightfully with a crispy batter, while the addition of cotyledon leaves from Korea give them an enticingly bitter edge. The tender barbecued Brazilian beef tongue meanwhile is flecked with enough spices to make your tongue tingle.

Dao Yin isn’t trying to corner the top-tier Japanese restaurant market here in the city, but the tasty, well-prepared dishes, quality imported ingredients, and unpretentious atmosphere make it a straightforward option to satisfy your Japanese food cravings in the hutong area.

Keep reading Long Jing Brings High-Quality Japanese Classics to Overlooked Qianmen

Dao Yin
Daily 10am-2am. 308 Andingmen Nei Dajie, Dongcheng District (6406 6881)
东城区安定门内大街308号

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Photos: Uni You