Moutai Steak, Crab Cakes and More at Morton’s Steakhouse
You’ll have undoubtedly heard of Luckin Coffee’s recent collaboration with Moutai, but did you know there’s a restaurant in Beijing that was using Moutai first? That's right, at the legendary Morton’s Steakhouse, they've been serving up Moutai Steak long before Luckin ever jumped on the bandwagon.
For those non-American readers who may be unfamiliar, Morton’s is an American style steakhouse chain that was established in Chicago way back in 1978. They now have 65 restaurants worldwide including their Beijing branch, located in The Regent, which opened up in 2012.
As you’d expect from any steakhouse worth its salt, Morton’s have an excellent array of steaks, however it’s their Moutai Steak that’s particularly intriguing. A Moutai-soaked muslin cloth is wrapped around a premium ribeye steak, which is then aged for 60 days, with Moutai regularly drizzled on during the aging process. As the beef ages, it slowly aborbs the baijiu, which amplifies the flavor to create a delicious steak that’s like no other*.
If Moutai Steak doesn’t sound like your cup of tea, then no worries, you can select from Morton’s vast array of USDA Prime Dry-aged and Wet-aged steaks or Australian Wagyu Dry-aged and Wet-aged steaks. They’re aged for 30-60 days, and before you choose your cut of meat you can request to see it beforehand so you’ll know how fatty or lean it will be. Morton’s open kitchen counter also gives you the opportunity to watch your steak being cooked so be sure to ask your server to alert you beforehand so that you can see their masterful chef in action!
Aside from steak, Morton’s also specializes in seafood, with one of their standout dishes being their Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes (RMB 218). They’re cooked until perfectly crispy and have large chunks of delicate crab meat in them rather than it being barely discernible, as is often the case at other restaurants, and come served with an avocado and a sweet pepper dip.
Other must-try dishes are their oysters on the half-shell. You can choose either French Gillardeau (RMB 708 for six) or New Zealand Moana (RMB 408 for six). We went for the Moana and these were some of the biggest and freshest oysters we’ve had in Beijing. Other impressive dishes are the Baked Shrimp Alexander (RMB 228) which comes served with a rich butter sauce and the Iberico Ham Platter (RMB 368) which has been aged for 36 months.
Of course, it isn’t just the food at Morton’s that’s appealing but also the décor and ambiance. The restaurant has a 1920s feel, complete with its entrance which looks like something out of The Great Gatsby. The main dining room has plenty of natural light thanks to large windows on the left and they also have a number of private rooms if you’re after something more intimate. They have a bar area too, for those who are just looking to enjoy a drink.
The staff are very attentive and if you’re going for a special occasion like a birthday or anniversary just tell them ahead of time and they’ll add personalized touches like balloons, flowers, etc. Morton’s will soon be celebrating their own special occasion, with this year marking their 45th anniversary so be sure to keep an eye out for news on that!
*Please note: as the Moutai is a specialty menu item, you will need to request it in advance of your visit.
Morton's Steakhouse
2/F, Regent Hotel, 99 Jinbao Jie, Dongcheng District
东城区金宝街99号丽晶酒店2层
Hours: 11.20am-2pm, 5-9.30pm
Phone: 010-65237777
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Images: Vivienne Tseng-Rush, Morton's Steakhouse
