The fastest way to understand Beijing is through its food, and this walking food tour is the most popular way to do it. It leads you into the hutongs, the grey-brick lanes and courtyards of the old city, to small, family-run places that are easy to walk past and hard to order in without a guide or a menu in English. The tastings are rooted in northern Chinese cooking, which leans on wheat rather than rice: hand-made noodles, juicy beef buns, rolled spring pancakes and a bubbling hotpot, washed down with unlimited beer and soft drinks, and a stop at a craft brewery for a local beer. Along the way, the guide explains how the hutongs grew up around the old courtyard houses, how people still live in them, and how to order, eat and drink like a local for the rest of your stay. This page links to the tour on Viator, a best seller rated 5.0 from more than 1,500 reviews.
How to visit: the tour lasts about three and a half hours on foot and runs in small groups. The meeting point, start time and the exact restaurants are confirmed when you book, and free cancellation is available. The price covers the food and drinks, so come hungry and skip a big lunch. Tell the operator about allergies or dietary needs when you book, as northern Chinese cooking uses wheat, meat and chilli liberally, and vegetarian options may need to be arranged in advance.
What to expect: you will walk through narrow, uneven lanes and sit in simple, crowded eateries rather than restaurants with tablecloths. November evenings are cold, so dress warmly, although a steaming hotpot does a lot to help. Expect plenty of food, and pace yourself across the stops.
Making the most of it: book the tour early in your stay, so you can use what you learn about dishes and ordering at other meals. Ask the guide for recommendations near your hotel, and photograph the menus of the dishes you liked best, so you can point and order them again.
What to expect
The experience
A guided small-group walk through the hutongs, stopping at several hidden local eateries and a craft brewery for tastings with drinks.
Best time
Early in your stay, so you can use what you learn for the rest of the trip.
How long
About three and a half hours.
Tips
Arrive hungry, dress warmly in November, and tell the operator about allergies or vegetarian needs when you book.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Food lovers and first-timers who want to eat well in the hutongs without struggling with menus.
- Families
- Fine with older children who like trying new food; the beer is for adults, with soft drinks for everyone else.
- Couples
- A fun, sociable evening of hotpot and craft beer in the old lanes.
- Pair with
- The private hutong walk around the Drum Tower and Houhai lakes earlier the same day.
- Time needed
- About three and a half hours.
Good questions
What food is included on the Beijing hutong food tour?+
The tastings include northern Chinese favourites such as hotpot, noodles, beef buns and spring pancakes, at several small local eateries. The exact dishes can vary with the restaurants on the day.
Are drinks included on the hutong food tour?+
Yes, beer and soft drinks are included at the food stops, and there is a stop at a craft brewery for a local beer. Non-drinkers can stick to soft drinks.
How long is the Beijing food tour?+
The tour lasts about three and a half hours on foot. The meeting point and start time are confirmed when you book.
Can vegetarians do the hutong food tour?+
Northern Chinese cooking leans heavily on meat, so tell the operator when you book and ask what they can arrange. Do the same for any allergies.
Is it worth doing a food tour in Beijing?+
Yes, especially early in a trip, because many of the best local places have no English menu. A good guide shows you what to order and where for the rest of your stay.
