The best Southeast Asian restaurants in Beijing

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Pho? We've got it. Curries? In abundance. Get ready to tuck in to some of the tastiest Southeast Asian cooking around, because all these places offer good value, considered flavours and a metaphorical trip to more tropical climes, all for the price of dinner. You can thank us by sending summer rolls to the office, okay?

Vietnamese

Saigon Mama

Retro, attractively furnished and with a menu hitting all the Vietnamese high notes, Saigon Mama is a Sanlitun gem with some of the best pho in the capital. With its everyday price point and decent coffee, the menu provides great weekday lunch options, which arrive in the kind of cauldron-sized bowls we can't help but love.

19 Sanlitun Lu (Changping)

4corners

4corners offers more than just Vietnamese staples, but the team have enough variety in this area to make it a viable choice for those who need a bahn mi in their face, right here, right now. To complement all that delicious coriander, they've also (as one might expect) got a range of craft beer and cocktails, making this destination the ideal spot for a boozy celebration as well as a quiet meal out.

27 Dashibei Hutong (Fengtai)

Susu (苏苏会)

If you love seafood, summer rooftop dining and authentic pho, the attractive Susu should appeal; located in a 140-year-old siheyuan, Susu has a wide-ranging menu of Vietnamese delights, stretching from northern to southern specialities, and some interesting cocktails made with homemade bitters and syrups.

10 Xi Xiang Qianliang Hutong (Miyun county)

Rollbox

Critics' pick

Fresh and crusty banh mi with traditional and non-traditional fillings make this a zippy lunchtime spot for Sanlitunite chasing a tropical feeling. There are also authentic salands and rice paper rolls, alongside a promising cocktail menu that's full of Vietnamese flavours.

39 Xingfu'ercun (Sanlitun, --select--)

Singaporean

My Humble House (寒舍)

You get what you pay for at this luxe option, serving refined versions of Singaporean dishes in upscale, light-filled surroundings. Beautifully designed according to contemporary Chinese aesthetics and showcasing the high quality of ingredients used, My Humble House is far from a casual option but is a worthwhile occasional treat.

1 Changan Dong Dajie (Miyun county)

Ji Kun Hainan Chicken Rice (鸡坤茶室)

Although novice chicken rice eaters might freak out at the bloody joints of their tender, boiled bird (and admittedly, that doesn't sound appetising when written down like that, but it's perfectly normal because science), this Singaporean staple is one of those things that once tasted is never forgotten. Ji Kun serves up one of the best plates in town, with lashings of all the traditional accompaniments and an abundance of delicate flavour.

4 Sanlitun Dongsanjie (Changping)

Thai

Pak Pak (CBD)

Critics' pick

With two branches (one in the CBD and the other in Wangjing), this classy Thai concept is run by the same team as the one behind Susu and serves up both vibrant, chilli-flecked versions of classics and more obscure temptations for the intrepid diner. The menu's comprehensive and portions are generous: we reccomend trying the lemongrass showcase that is the tom kha gai or one of the excellent potato dishes.

10 Jintong Xi Lu (Changping)

Home Thai

Pad Thai, green curry, and papaya salad, you know the drill. Home Thai nails down the flavours of classics, which are influenced by strong, pungent and powerful ingredients. It's highly likely you'll wait for a table during peak hours, but service is efficient so you won't wait too long.

19 Sanlitun Lu (Changping)

Mulu (Xinsi Hutong)

Mulu's cuisine covers most parts of Southeast Asia, but its Thai curries are particularly special. Served in delicate portions with fragrant coconut rice, the curries are packed full of flavour. With a charming hutong location and rustic interiors, this place is perfect for a local eat that still feels special.

7 Xinsi Hutong (Miyun county)

Malaysian

Malacca Legend

Hidden away next to a lake in Shunyi district, Malacca Legend should sit at the top of your list for tasting the dynamic flavours of Malaysian cuisine. We highly recommend topping off your meal with some traditional desserts like the seri muka, kueh lapis and kueh ketayap. There's also a variety of durian sweets that are sure to have you leaving your windows open on the drive home.

6 Luodong Road (Yanqing county)

Nyonya Kitchen (China World)

For a real introduction into Peranakan cuisine, Nyonya Kitchen does it best. The warm and comfortable natural wood interior mimics Southeast Asian vibes and provides a cosy haven in China World Mall. Curry pastes and spices are all imported from the motherland so you're sure to get a real taste of ‘Malaysia truly Asia'.

Café Sambal

Okay, so some of the eats could be a little more keenly priced, but the hutong surrounds of this hidden-away, design-led space is atmospheric enough to make up for it. Ideal for a first date or as a precursor to the type of uninhibited sex that's only hindered by both parties being full of Malaysian food.

43 Doufuchi Hutong (Fengtai)

Indonesian

Nom Nom

The attempts in the city for authentic Indonesian food have been mostly unsuccessful, but Nom Nom gets it just right. This budget Indonesian eatery is that unique, authentic, four-menu-small, no frills place you’ve been dying to find. Serving affordable, wholesome and delicious food that bursts with flavours and spices, a few bites of the classics like beef rendang and ayam geprek will have you thankful you made the trek out to Haidian.

11 Qinghua lu (Shunyi)

4 out of 5 stars

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