I have read about "imperial" restaurants in Beijing - specifically the Li family restaurant and Fangshan restaurant. The reviews seem mixed. Has anyone been to either? If so, what did you think of it/them? Any other suggestions? Also have you eaten at the newly "hygienic" booths in Donghuamen night market? When we were in Beijing seven years ago, the dirty water swish through of plates made us shudder. Has anyone eaten there recently and survived without illness?

I have been to Fangshan and the one in Summer Palace when I was there last Nov. Personally, I think Imperial cusine is more an experience- you get many little dishes & sweets, the food itself is good but not excellent. Fangshan is better out of the 2. <BR>I would still recommend NOT eating at those markets- especially during hotter weather.<BR>One place I highly recommend for dinner is Afunti- escpecially in a group, great food and loads of fun!

Ada, thak you for your response. What kind of restaurant is Afunti? Do you happen to have the location - it is not listed in my tour book.<BR>

It is listed in Fodors.com, in Beijing food section. It is food from the ethnic Xinjiang(Western China) area with music and dance performance. Lots of kebabs. Not your usual "Chinese food."

I tried the Li family restaurant. I thought the food and the experience were excellent. We ordered the cheapest of the dinners, and had great food and a lot of variety. We went fairly early - so the 'father' was walking around and explaining the dishes and preparations. Later when more people were there I didn't see him around as much.

<BR><BR>Laura,<BR><BR>We just ate at Li Family Restaurant on March 13th. My wife and I thought the food was very good (2 dishes we did not care for). We bought the "one up" from the cheapest (300 yuan). The fixed price ranged from 200 yuan up to 1,500 yuan per person. For the most part, 23 dishes were prepared. Dr. Li loves his job. He kept coming around talking about no MSG and no artifical ingredients in his food. His grandfather was Chief of Security for the last Emperor ~ including the tasting of foods to make sure they were not poison. Dr. Li's cookbooks were burned during the cutural revolution. Interesting person and experience. Have your cab driver wait for you. <BR><BR>Make reservations prior to trip. Have fun.