Class Cantonese: Mei King Opens in U-Town

Mei King’s roast goose is so memorable that after the original Guangzhou branches closed down, some loyal customers still fly to Beijing to get their goosy fix.

The restaurant only uses a special black goose native to northwest Guangdong. Like Peking duck, these birds have a layer of fat that makes them tasty. However, Mei King’s roast goose (RMB 68) has so much flavor that just a slight dip into plum sauce will suffice to balance out the grease.

Their third Beijing branch, at U-Town, is elegant and spacious, headed by a Hong Kong-born chef who used to work at Lei Garden. Dim sum and Cantonese standards (RMB 38-58) give good value for lunch. The carrot buns with creamy yolky filling (甘笋流沙包 RMB 9) are worth trying, although they’re not available at the U-Town branch yet. Luckily, you can relish the stewed radish with gravy (肉汁烧萝卜 RMB 32). The claypot rice (RMB 68/98) with cured meats and sausages will delight a crowd of four to six.

Also try: Lei Garden, Lotus Garden

Mei King 美京锦苑
Daily 11am-2.30pm, 4.30-9pm. 5/F, U-Town Shopping Center, Chaoyangmenwai Dajie,
Chaoyang District (5977 5798)
朝阳区朝阳门外大街悠唐生活广场5层

Photos: Emily Young