The hutong street of Nanluoguxiang continues to thrive as new businesses snap up coveted spaces on the remodeled ‘old street’. With clothing and accessories stores alongside a healthy range of restaurants, bars and coffee shops – it’s easy to see why some tourists find it hard to leave the quaint area. Gu Xiang 20 is the restaurant attached to a newly renovated two-storey boutique hotel of the same name – a tasteful and traditional mix of beams and grey roofing. Sepia photographs of old Beijing are hung on the walls. The wood and stone carvings with flower motifs--a rapidly disappearing craft occasionally seen in crumbling courtyard house--are dotted through the restaurant, and painted octagonal lanterns hung from the ceiling. The only thing that jar with the oriental mood are the the pair of glittering chandeliers hanging in the middle of the dining room. Booth seating offers an ideal spot for daytime dining thanks to a view over the yard and the abundance of natural light that floods through the glass partitions and ceiling. Gu Xiang’s main focus is Chinese delicacies, hinted at by the huge Sea Tiger shark's fin displayed in the foyer. Dishes made with bird's nest, abalone, and shark’s fin range from 400-800RMB, although there were plenty of moderately priced dishes to pick from. A single sheet inserted in the book-like menu introduced several more dishes at more everyday prices. The xianggan ta, or ‘beancurd tower’ (18RMB) -- an appetizer made with tofu and caixin, (Guangdong kale) – is full of the rich flavor of sesame oil and is delicious. The sweet and sour pork (38RMB) is crisp, tender and served doused with a pungent sauce. Stir-fried lamb with celery and diced hot chilies (32RMB) is exciting, except for the corn flakes that were fried together with the lamb--paper-thin slices of potato or taro would have been a better match. The plum chicken (26RMB) has a similar to the sweet and sour pork, except it was served with plums. If you are going to order just one of the two dishes, make it this one. The plums are a novelty, and their slightly tart flavor of the plums is a nice compliment to the sweet and sour sauce. With great good and super friendly staff who fill tea cups without being asked but still manage to be unobtrusive, Gu Xiang 20 is very promising. The charming traditional structure is full of old Beijing character and certain to go down a treat with locals and tourists alike.
Add : 20 Nan Luoguxiang, Dongcheng district 古巷20号 东城区 南锣鼓巷20号
Tel: 6400 5566
Hours: 11am-2:30pm, 5-10:30pm
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