All this month, we’ll be introducing 50 picks for some of the best family-friendly restaurants in Beijing. These reviews originally appeared in the January/February 2013 issue of beijingkids (see end of post).
Haru Teppanyaki and Sushi Bar 尚水长廊
Type of cuisine: Japanese
Smoking? The teppanyaki rooms are private, so diners may smoke within their enclosed rooms.
English menu? Yes
General kid-friendliness of menu: The tableside food preparation for teppanyaki can be exciting to watch
Best dishes for adults: Teppanyaki dinner sets include an appetizer, miso soup, salad, sashimi, hibachi shrimp, hibachi vegetables, tempura fried rice and dessert – choose from seafood, chicken, beef and more (RMB 210-395); California rolls (RMB 48-68)
Kids’ menu? No
Best dishes for kids: The “volcano onion” that comes with the chicken teppanyaki meal is a crowd pleaser and a great way to get your kids to eat their vegetables (RMB 210); the Cherry Roll (tempura shrimp, avocado, tuna chili sauce and eel sauce) (RMB 85 for eight pieces); thin rolls such as the avocado, cucumber or tamago that have no raw fish (RMB 18-30)
Kids’ play area? No, but teppanyaki rooms are private with a closed door.
Play areas nearby: Pinnacle Plaza
Kid-friendly staff? Yes, both English-speaking and attentive
Bathroom: Clean, sit-down; no changing
table
Seating: Stools at the sushi bar; private rooms have long tables and chairs; highchairs available
Price: RMB 300 (sushi meal); RMB 600 (teppanyaki meal)
Credit card accepted? Yes, both Chinese and foreign
Parking? Free, around the Pinnacle Plaza shopping area
Must-order item: Australian beef steak teppanyaki dinner set (RMB 375-380), which comes with an appetizer, miso soup, salad, sashimi, hibachi shrimp, hibachi vegetables, tempura fried rice and dessert
In a nutshell: A wide variety of sushi options fulfill that craving for Japanese food, and the teppanyaki grill really provides for a great family dining experience.
Additional notes: Because there are limited private teppanyaki rooms available, reservations are required. Business lunches from Mon-Fri offer teppanyaki sets ranging from RMB 85-255. Those with small children should remember that the hot grill is tableside.
Also try: Miso Japanese Restaurant, Hatsune, Matsuko
Photo Courtesy of Judy Zhou