Right next to the Forbidden City, there is a restaurant that offers imperial cuisine: Tian Di Yi Jia. Its refinement and simplicity combine with the richness of its dishes to make it a privileged place.

Once you are through the door, the tone is already set. A stone's throw from the Forbidden City you can find Tian Di Yi Jia, an impressive restaurant with a large traditional portal, on which four characters are majestically calligraphed, and that offers imperial cuisine. The interior is full of serenity and pleasure.

Your eyes are immediately attracted by the high glass ceiling strewn with white Chinese umbrellas and from which emanates a soft filtered light. The scene is poetic and inspired by the Tang dynasty. In a large basin thrones an island of black granite, and the flamboyant colored koï carps accentuate the impression of dreaming awake, just like the imposing stone rocks decorated with tiny animal figurines.

Although the menu has no photos, it still proposes at least two dozen dishes particularly costly including shark fins, swallow nests and haliotis. If these classics Chinese dishes do not appeal to you, Tian Di Yi Jia offers a quasi-exhaustive list of soups, pots, seafood, as well as dishes from Beijing, and Cantonese and Shanghai specialties, as well as a dozen vegetarian preparations.

An impeccable service

It's hard to choose among the 37 proposed entries. We finally opted for chicken marinated in ginger sauce (48 RMB), crab salad with mango (38 RMB) and sweet and sour pork (32 RMB). The appearance and portions of the dishes are quite modest.

But the beauty of the setting and the impeccable service from an always attentive staff offsets the lack of aesthetics of presentation, such as the chicken with fish fillets and bamboo sprouts (78RMB). Its melting texture and rich flavor will nevertheless put a smile on the face of the most demanding of you.

Lovers of seafood will appreciate the tofu pot with crab eggs served on a stove (RMB98), which goes well with "choi sum" sautéed green vegetables (RMB88), a classic Hong Kong dish that won't disappoint.

Many dishes can be ordered per person, not per serving. It is therefore recommended to pick as many as possible to vary the pleasures. Dare to be gluttonous with the choice of Chinese, Western and fusion desserts such as the swallow eggs and nest tart (RMB28), a Macau specialty, or the crispy chocolate mousse. It will be gone in a mouthful!

Practical Information:
Tian Di Yi Jia (天地一家): Open daily from 11AM to 2PM and from 5PM to 10PM. 140 Nan Chi Zi Dajie, Dongcheng District, Beijing. 南池子大街140号,东城区,北京市. Tel: + (86) -10-8511-5556
Price: Count 400 to 500 RMB for two people, drinks not included.

Text: Maïka Endo
Photos: Wang Zhuo
June 2008