Asian food

Boat Quay Restaurant and Cafe
Boat Quay has relocated from Chunxiu Lu to the Lido area where it continues to offer Singaporean favorites in air-conditioned comfort.  Daily 11.30am-2.30pm, 6pm-10.30pm. 2/F, Bldg 3, 3 Jiuxianqiao Shangye Lu, Chaoyang District. (6431 9852)

Cafe Sambal
Authentic up-market Malay food in a lovely courtyard. Voted “Best Malaysian/Singapore” in our 2006 Reader Restaurant Awards. Daily noon-midnight. 43 Doufuchi Hutong (just east of Jiugulou Dajie), Xicheng District. (6400 4875)

Chen Fu Ji
Purple tablecloths inspired by the Singaporean orchid and Chinese food with a Sing’ flair. You’ll have no problem navigating the menu as it’s in English, Chinese and Japanese. Daily noon-9.30pm. 2/F, Bldg A, Winterless Center, 1 Dawang Lu, Chaoyang District. (5100 1786)

Java and Yangon
This bright, colorful restaurant is the first to serve Burmese cuisine in Beijing, also offers Indonesian fare.  Daily 10.30am-2.30pm, 4.30-10.30pm. Sanlitun Xiwujie, Chaoyang District. (8451 7489)

Kafe Peranakan
Malaysia’s eclectic gastronomy mirrors its multiculturalism, encompassing Peranakan (Straits Chinese), Indian and Malay cuisine. Kafe Peranakan captures this variety, for example with its roti re-inventions such as banana, sausage and mayonnaise wraps. Daily 11am-10pm. 17 Kuntai International Center, Chaowai Dajie, Chaoyang District. (5879 0370)

Lau Pa Sak
This Singaporean outlet serves street food indoors: noodles, satay and more. Try their condensed milk coffee. Daily 11am-11pm. Xindonglu (opposite the Canadian Embassy), Chaoyang District. (6417 0952)

Little Penang
A sleek, modern space that serves a variety of authentic Malay and Hong Kong style dishes. Daily 11am-11pm. 32 Tianze Lu (near Nuren Jie, turn at the Grape restaurant), Chaoyang District. (6462 0004)

Nyonya Kitchen
Peranakan cuisine at its finest, and if you don’t know what that is, no problem. The owners seek to instruct and offer up spices and curry pastes fresh from Malaysia. Tue-Sun, 11am-9pm. Across from Gaojiayuan Middle School, opposite the Lido Hotel, Chaoyang District. (6433 7377)

Traders Cafe
With a typical hotel a la carte menu and a sprawling buffet what makes Traders stand apart from the rest of the hotel crowd is the quality of the Singaporean and Malaysian cuisine on offer. Standouts include Hainanese chicken rice, laksa, and nasi lemak, but watch out for the high hotel prices. Daily 6am-11pm. Traders Hotel, 1 Jianguomenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District. (6505 2277 ext 35)