50 Shades of Gravy: A Complete Guide to Thanksgiving Dinner in Beijing

A time for family, food, and football, the American holiday of Thanksgiving (which falls on Nov 28 this year) can be hard to replicate when you are so far away from home (as can any close-to-home-holiday). Luckily, there are plenty of venues willing to try, especially when it comes to food. Whether you're looking for turkey, pumpkin pie, or just a little camaraderie with friends, you should be able to source everything you need with these events or order-in options.

Dinners are on Nov 28 unless otherwise indicated.

* Asterisk indicates the restaurant also has a take out/delivery option.

Restaurants

Nov 25-30: Arrow Factory Brewing
Arrow Factory is throwing a traditional American Thanksgiving, priced at RMB 198 per person, featuring American turkey with stuffing, mashed potatoes, and sweet potatoes, green bean casseroles, cranberry sauce, gravy, and pumpkin pie. Vegan options available.

Boxing Cat*
Boxing Cat are pushing the boat out with an all-you-can-eat buffet featuring turkey and plenty of sides from healthy salads to indulgent mac and cheese. Dinner is priced at RMB 388 per person with the option to add free-flow drinks for RMB 98. Take out turkey sets also available for RMB 1,088 or RMB 1,388.

Great Leap #12 x 3 Little Pigs
The Murrica group, never the ones to do things in halves, have brought together two American favorites – Great Leap and 3 Little Pigs – together for one massive buffet this Thanksgiving. Head to GLB #12 for mountains of American ranch-raised roast turkey, sausage links, pulled pork, pumpkin pie, and all the sides. The RMB 299 price tag also includes two GLB beers.

Home Plate BBQ *
Home Plate gives Thanksgiving their signature southern twist with a buffet of smoked turkeys and hogs, plus sides of whipped garlic mashed potatoes, pecan-crusted sweet potatoes, country green beans, cornbread dressing, and smoked giblet gravy. Priced at RMB 388 per person, the buffet also includes free-flow beer, wine, and mixed drinks. Turkeys and sides are also available for takeaway, from RMB 1,688 for a full set.

Hutong'er Pie x Capital Spirits *
Hutong'er Pie pair up with Capital Spirits for a family-style Thanksgiving dinner. Now in its fourth year running, you're unlikely to get a much more close-knit experience this holiday season, with a dinner and all the trimmings (and, of course, lots of pie) served by the pie purveyors at Capital Spirit's latest incarnation at Longfusi. Additionally, Hutong'er Pie is also selling pumpkin, apple, pecan, and turkey pies for pickup and delivery (approx. RMB 200 for a nine-inch pie, order one day in advance) as well as whole roasted turkeys (6.5kg) for RMB 888 with free delivery in Beijing.

Jing-A Brewpub Xingfucun/Longfusi Taproom *
Jing-A spread features quarter (RMB 600), half (RMB 1,200), and whole birds (RMB 2,400) along with a generous spread of sides, so you can easily partake whether your Beijing Fam is big or small. Turkeys come with chorizo stuffing, crispy brussels sprouts, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie. Thanksgiving dinner sets are also available for pick-up at the Xingfucun location between Nov 23-Dec 1.

Nov 28-Dec 1: Lily's American Diner *
Lily's have been serving Thanksgiving dinner for nine years and it shows. They will be offering a Thanksgiving dinner with turkey and all the trimmings in-store for RMB 219 per person, available at all three branches of Lily's. Whole roasted turkeys are also available for delivery or take away for RMB 139/kg. See the LAD website for more information.

Luga's (Dongzhimen)
Luga's is offering Thanksgiving options for groups (RMB 1,488, six to eight people) or single plates (RMB 228) this year, with a menu that includes a welcome beer, roast turkey, ribs, pumpkin soup and fall salad, and all the Thanksgiving trimmings.

Until Dec 31: Miam Miam*
Sanyuanqiao restaurant Miam Miam is offering a well-priced turkey package including a 5-6kg turkey, four garnishes, and two sauces for RMB 888. Alternatively, dine in store for RMB 1,180 (good for around eight people).

Oh Yeah! Brewing
Whether you're a group or a couple, Oh Yeah! has a Thanksgiving set for you. Grab a turkey leg set for two for RMB 398 or a whole turkey set for six to eight people for RMB 1,118, the latter of which even includes a spicy beef pizza as a side in case you're still hungry. 

The Local*
Join The Local for a traditional Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings, including brown butter mashed potatoes and homestyle mac and cheese. Dinner is priced at RMB 338 per person (RMB 238 for vegetarians) and bookings are available from 6-8pm. Thanksgiving feasts for 8-10 people are also available to eat in or take away from now to Dec 1. 

The Orchid Lodge (with Tianmi Bakery)
Southern chef Olivia Nadine will be taking over The Orchid Lodge on Thanksgiving, preparing a soulful menu that not only includes turkey but also roast leg of lamb and many, many trimmings. Dinner is priced at RMB 268 for a family-style feast.

Hotels

Until Dec 31: Beersmith, Hotel Jen Beijing*
Perfect for large family or friend gatherings, Beersmith's turkey set serves up to eight people, featuring a 5-6kg bird with chestnut stuffing and an array of sides including sweet potato and squash with dried cranberries and pecans, braised red cabbage, carrots cooked with Chardonnay, gravy, and cranberry sauce. Get your turkey for RMB 1,288 to eat in or RMB 988 to take away.

The Brickyard
Head to The Brickyard to celebrate Thanksgiving by the Great Wall. Dinner is priced at RMB 388 per person or they’re offering a special rate of RMB 2,488 on Nov 28 and RMB 2,688 on Nov 30 including private transfers from/to Beijing for two people, a superior queen Great Wall view room, a traditional Thanksgiving feast for two, and breakfast for two in the Lodge. 

Nov 30: The Emperor Hotel Qianmen (with Tianmi Bakery)
The Emperor Hotel Qianmen is teaming up with Tianmi chef Olivia for a family style feast of Thanksgiving classics against a beautiful rooftop sunset view. The menu including turkey and all the trimmings as well as roast beef brisket and delicious desserts like Bourbon pecan pie. Dinner is priced at RMB 308 for a family-style feast.

The Patisserie, Grand Hyatt *
Ease yourself into Thanksgiving with the help from the Grand Hyatt's The Patisserie, who are preparing everything from roast turkey (RMB 698 for a 5-6kg bird) to delicious pumpkin pie to take away this holiday season. Other items include on-the-go snacks, coffee, freshly baked bread and cakes, and gourmet gifts, all available at the hotel's main lobby.

The Opposite House *
The Opposite House has prepared a series of different Thanksgiving sets to take away. Choose from one whole turkey, a turkey and roast chicken or two whole turkeys, with sides like cranberry sauce and gravy, as well as a pie of your choice. Get 15 percent off if you order before Nov 22.

Signature's, Kempinski Hotel Beijing Lufthansa Center 
Priced at RMB 388, Signature’s restaurant features a festive buffet of holiday dishes, including whole roasted turkey, Thanksgiving ham with sweet potatoes, homemade pastry, and pumpkin pie. Highlights also include various live cooking stations, pass-around specialties, and a live DJ. Price includes free-flow Paulaner beer and house wine.

Other

Nov 22, Nov 30: Thanksgiving at home with Be Our Guest
Be Our Guest is a community of houses in Beijing that offer culinary experiences. For Thanksgiving, "Casa ValeRau," a host house in the Sanlitun area, will be holding two dinners in November because there's more than just one day to be thankful for! The hosts Romer and Linda have prepared a six-course meal, priced at RMB 388 per head, including pumpkin risotto, turkey leg roulade, and pumpkin pie.

Can you believe that's not even all of this year's Thanksgiving events?

More stories by this author here.

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Images: Shutterstock, courtesy of the venues