FOOD

Cuisine: American
English menu? Yes
Kid’s menu? Yes
General kid friendliness of menu: Chef Too goes out of its way to be kid-friendly. There’s free breakfast for kids, and the regular menu has plenty of American favorites to choose from.
Kid-friendly staff? The staff speaks fluent English and is very attentive.
Bathroom: They are located outside and are quite small.
Best items for kids: Kids will like the sassily-named Yo Momma grilled cheese sandwich (RMB 58) and messy barbecue ribs to share (RMB 168). There are also sandwiches, burgers, and pancakes.
Kids’ play area? No, but Chaoyang Park is close by.
Seating: Booths, tables, and highchairs.
Price: RMB 300-350 (+10% service charge)
Accepts credit cards? Yes
Must-order item: Try the weekend brunch options, like the Eggs Sardou (poached eggs over artichoke hearts). If you’re missing the American classics, order the Ruben (RMB 98) or NYC Chicken Po Boy (RMB 68).
In a nutshell: Chef Too is wildly popular with families, especially on Sundays. The prices are definitely higher than at other brunch places, but regulars would argue that the stellar service and high-quality dishes are well worth every mao. With Chaoyang Park just across the street, this cozy eatery is the perfect starting point for a weekend romp in the park.

• Read more

Cuisine: Brunch (International)
English Menu? Yes
Kids’ menu? Yes
General kid friendliness of menu: Kids will find plenty of choices in their rich variety of Thai, Japanese, Indian, Cantonese and Western fare, as well as delectable desserts.
Staff: Friendly, bilingual speakers.
Bathroom: Clean, sit-down toilets.
Best dishes for kids: The pizza and pasta selections in the Italian section, an extensive selection of Chinese noodles, freshly squeezed juices.
Kids’ play area? No, but China Central Place is next to Shin Kong Place and a few minutes walk from Soho Xiandaicheng.
Seating: Standalone tables with chairs. Highchairs available.

• Read more

Cuisine: Italian
English Menu? Yes
Kids’ menu? No
General kid friendliness of menu: Kid-friendly with pasta, pizza, sandwiches and desserts
Staff: Attentive, English-speaking staff.
Bathroom: A clean bathroom is in the office tower next door.
Best dishes for kids: Davola Pizza with salami (RMB 69), a focaccia steak sandwich with roasted vegetables (RMB 59), baked spaghetti with meatballs (RMB 49), a burger (RMB 59), barbeque pork ribs with a side salad and spicy fries (RMB 99)
Kids’ play area? No, but Central Park is across the street.
Seating: Mostly standalone tables seat four to six. There is outdoor seating in warmer
weather.
Price: RMB 300
Accepts credit cards? Yes
Must-order item: There is a good variety of focaccia sandwiches and pizza that kids of all ages will enjoy.
In a nutshell: Cornerstone is mainly geared towards CBD office workers, but is entirely suitable for families, especially on weekends, which feature a Saturday brunch. The environment is clean, comfortable and contemporary.

• Read more

Cuisine: Contemporary (Asian, Western)
English Menu? Yes
Kids’ menu? No
General kid friendliness of menu: Plenty of pasta, rice dishes, sandwiches, juices and desserts.
Staff: No real English speaking staff and attentiveness is so-so.
Bathroom: A clean bathroom is in the office tower next door
Best dishes for kids: Spaghetti bolognese (RMB 68), hot dogs (RMB 44), pumpkin pudding (RMB 18), various rice dishes (RMB 59-98)
Kids’ play area? No, but the CBD Culture Park and The Place are across the street.
Seating: Some booths and mostly standalone tables for four to six, high chairs available.
Smoking/Non-smoking: There is both a non-smoking and smoking section.
Price: RMB 300
Accepts credit cards? Yes
Must-order item: Laksa soup, gaiyang salad with Thai spicy dressing (RMB 68)
In a nutshell: Gori is bright, airy and spacious with a clean and modern environment and open kitchen. With its decent size, menu selection and spaciousness, it’s great for families on the weekends and birthday parties.

• Read more

Cuisine: Chinese
English Menu? Yes
Kids’ menu? No
General kid friendliness of menu: Delicious and approachable Chinese cuisine. Order several dishes in typical Chinese style, and let the kids practice their chopstick skills.
Staff: The staff is courteous and efficient, but their English is limited.
Bathroom: Clean with sit-down toilets.
Best dishes for kids: The award-winning gongbao jiding is delicately coated in a lightly sweet and wonderfully complex sauce, and mild enough for little ones if you set aside the bits of pepper. Try the sweet and sour pork with pineapple, fried spring rolls stuffed with shredded chicken, and Xiao Wang’s house fried rice.
Kids’ play area? No play area, but the restaurant is homey with cozy nooks and crannies for kids to poke around in within sight of their parents’ table.
Seating: Standard tables and plush chairs.
Price: RMB 350
Accepts credit cards? Yes
Must order item: Try their flawless rendition of the ever-popular gongbao chicken, or their best-selling deep fried pork ribs with pepper salt.
In a nutshell: A cozy restaurant with rustic and tasteful ambience and well-executed, classic Chinese dishes. The park location makes it a great place in the warmer months for pre or post-dinner strolls or playtime. The rooftop terrace is also worth checking out.

• Read more

Cuisine: Brunch (Chinese, Western)
English menu? Yes
Kids’ menu? Yes
General kid friendliness of menu: An outstanding array of fresh food.
Staff: Helpful English-speaking staff.
Bathroom: Big clean stalls with Western toilets.
Best dishes for kids: Fresh, handmade pasta and pizza. And plenty of desserts, including cakes, ice cream, and chocolates.
Kids’ play area? Yes. The play area includes a TV, a Wii, mini-slides and toys.
Seating: A range of tables and booths, as well as small tables and stools for dining in the kids’ play area.
Price: RMB 388 (free-flow champagne), RMB 348 (wine, cocktails and soft drinks), RMB 308 (soft drinks and juice), half price for kids (6-12 years), free (kids under 5). All prices are subject to a 15% service fee.

• Read more

Mornings are a busy time for families. Making sure that everyone gets a perfectly balanced meal can be tricky. Cereals are quick and easy, but they are also jampacked with sugars, and their “nutrients” are synthetic and hard to digest. Making your own muesli is a great alternative. Just sit everyone down around the kitchen table, let them try each of the ingredients, and add what they like to their batch. Everyone gets a custom treat and it’s also a great opportunity to talk to your kids about nutrition. It’s important to choose dried fruits free of sulfides and keep fruit additions to a minimum, as they can be high in sugar. The muesli can also be made into granola. Pair this with a few slices of homemade banana bread and you’ve got one healthy breakfast.

• Read more

With dry, sub-zero winters, it’s no wonder that most Beijingers are hibernating these days. If you find yourself trapped indoors on these blustery nights, here’s a handy guide for ordering in. Whether you’re craving cuisine from China, India, Thailand, the US , Italy, or elsewhere, we’ve got you covered.

• Read more

Hercules
This spacious establishment in Sanlitun is home to hearty soups, salads and sandwiches. Their selection for soup includes seven mouth-watering flavors (ranging from RMB 22-32): tomato bisque, curried carrot, cream of mushroom, cream of pumpkin, French onion, vegetable minestrone, and chicken macaroni. At an extra RMB 10, diners can request a bread bowl or an extra order of three slices of bread for select soups. Of note, however, is that this restaurant is surrounded by bars. Families are better off sticking to this sandwich joint for lunch or an early dinner.
Daily 11am-midnight. 2/F, Tongli Studio, Sanlitun, Chaoyang District (6415 0299) 朝阳区三里屯同里2楼

• Read more

The chickpea is a staple in much of the Middle East, but this humble (not to mention adorable) little legume gets little attention in western fare outside of hummus. This is a real shame, as chickpeas are little nutritional powerhouses, high in fiber, protein, folate (great for moms-in-the-making), and minerals. Not only that, but they love to take on flavors, and this recipe can be seasoned in a number of ways. If you love it as much as I do, you can also try seasoning it with Chinese five-spice or your own personal spice blend.

Another way to flavor up this recipe is by adding some extra veggies to it. Dark, leafy greens are a wonderful way to add some extra iron to your diet if you’re expecting, or if you’re a vegetarian. Feel free to experiment and have fun, and be sure to set aside some of the chickpeas for some hummus.

• Read more