Dining and Drinking

In a city of 9 million, it is reasonably safe to assume that Tianjin enjoys an abundance of restaurants. Its scope of culinary deliciousness is vast and varied, encompassing tastes from France, Italy, Germany, Japan, and Korea. Chinese cooking styles are bounteous too and come within one regional chicken recipe variation shy of becoming confusing. So unlike most other cities, Tianjin’s evening dining quandary does not center on "what to eat," but more so on "where to eat."

The priciest restaurants generally tenant inside the major hotels. While some may lack the charm and authenticity of independently owned eateries, they easily compensate with attentive service, elegant atmospheres, bilingual menus, well trained chefs, and consistent meal quality. The Hyatt Regency’s Xiang Wei Zhai Dumpling Restaurant specializes in northern China fare with a heavy emphasis on, yes, you guessed it, dumplings. The Holiday Inn’s Loong Yuen Restaurant matches the hotel’s four-star rating with four-star service. Diners can choose from authentic Cantonese or Japanese fare in an oh-so-nice setting.

If the tongue starts flapping for local cuisine few, if any, can match the Goubili Restaurant for popularity. Its kitchen serves the best baozis (dumplings stuffed with pork or various other seafood and vegetable fillings) in Tianjin, if not all of China. Lust, crave, covet, desire, hanker, hunger and pine are all suitable adjectives in describing Tianjin’s addiction to these delectable dumplings. Even former United States President George Bush Sr. caught the dumpling craze while stationed in China during his pre-power years. Do not expect an elegant dining setting, however, for the dumplings are delicious, not highbrow. The Tianyi Fang Restaurant also prides itself on dumpling mastery, and enjoys a zealous retinue of diners addicted to its special minced meat concoction. For something other than dumplings but still with a local flare opt for the Xiangjiang Seafood Company. Its menu is so deep with fish options that rumor has it that even visiting marine biologists have been overheard to ask, "I have never heard of this fish. What is it?"

The Royal Court enjoys a strong reputation for authentic Beijing/Shandong style dining. Designed and decorated in the regal manner of an ancient Chinese palace, it is extremely popular with tourists. All that it is missing is the sounding of a gong upon entering. The Quanjude Roast Duck Store enjoys an impressive reputation for being one of the very few restaurants in Tianjin to serve true, bona fide Beijing roasted duck. And better yet its prices are budget-merciful. The Dengying Building Restaurant also enjoys delicious duck status. Its popularity can easily be gauged by the eye-bulging fact it boasts a seating capacity of 1,200.

Tianjin’s Cantonese options taunt the concepts of infinity. Yet, out of this maw, the Ancient Well prominently distinguishes itself as one of the deans of Cantonese dining. It rates as the oldest restaurant in Tianjin and prepares all its dishes with water drawn from its ancient well. Hence, the name. Shark’s fin, Bird’s Nest and snake meat are just a few its menu mentions. The Hong Kong Café also rates high, as does the Jixian Restaurant for its special Cantonese lobster.

For a taste of true Americana consider no other restaurant than the Broadway Café. Owned and managed by an American family diners can enjoy everything from biscuits and gravy to cheeseburgers and french fries. For a burger and a beer in an eclectic setting join the college crowd at Ali Babba’s. The Bader Brauhaus offers a variety of western tastes including Weiner schnitzel and Mexican fare. Or if the belly beckons for Japanese try the Fusang Garden Restaurant, or the highly acclaimed and highly priced Ganbeiyiding.

Tianjin’s famous Food Street deserves mention too. More than 100 restaurants pack this "dining mall" creating a scene that depending on your view borders on either being fantastic or a blatant tourist trap.

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