Family Dining in Beijing

Feeding kids in a country with an unfamiliar culture is no easy task. Traveling to China is a rewarding experience for you and your children, but making sure they stay happy and well fed can be quite a chore, particularly if you have a picky eater on your hands.

The best family dining in Beijing can make your life easier, by offering appealing options for kids of all ages. Do your best to introduce them to the local fare, but if that doesn't work, rest assured that there are other options for family dining in Beijing that will make your kids happy, even though they may not be culturally authentic.

Macau Street

One of the best ways to introduce your children to local Chinese food is by having them try dim sum. Dim sum is a traditional Cantonese food style, in which you'll try small portions of different foods. Getting to try multiple dishes in limited quantities makes dim sum perfect for kids, and one of the best places to take your family for it is Macau Street. Macau Street is a good place to swing by for some quick dim sum, in a family-oriented atmosphere that is great for kids. This restaurant also offers other Hong Kong and Chinese favorites, like roast goose and fried rice.

If you have young children, you'll be happy to know that Macau Street has high chairs available to make your meal easier. Family dining in Beijing can be tricky when trying to introduce children to local fare, and Macau Street is one of the better places for offering a comfortable atmosphere.

Annie's

When all else fails, head to Annie's, the preeminent pseudo-Italian local chain for family dining in Beijing. Pizza and pasta are the heavy hitters at Annie's, and you'll find more than enough of both to put even the most finicky of eaters into a cheese and carb-induced food coma.

Each Annie's restaurant has a play area for kids to run around in (and for parents to chase after them, in the name of calorie burning), as well as the opportunity for kids to make their own pizzas. The food may not be gourmet, but it is certainly tasty, and thankfully for you, pretty inexpensive. For (slightly) more sophisticated menu options than pizza, opt for the calzones or salads. Annie's is regularly chosen as the best choice for family dining in Beijing, and it's a great last resort, or a break from the unfamiliarity of local foods.

Delivery

Sometimes a long day of sightseeing can leave even the most enthusiastic kid too tired to deal with eating in a foreign restaurant. On those such occasions, the best family dining in Beijing may be done in your own hotel room. Many places deliver, and you can get a list of menus and phone numbers from your hotel's front desk. If you find that you and the person on the other end of the line have a language barrier, you may be able to ask the hotel concierge or someone at the front desk (if they're not busy, and if you ask politely) to place the order for you. This may be the best of both worlds.

You can feed your kids authentic Chinese cuisine within the comfort of your hotel room. Family dining in Beijing can be just about the family, and doesn't necessarily need to be in a restaurant. Ordering delivery can be a low key way to show your children another side of food that they might not have experienced before.

Find more family dining options in Beijing.