If you are craving some authentic Beijing cuisine, look no further than The Big Bowl House on Nanguang Road with its traditional soybean paste noodles, a daily necessity for Beijingers.

Just like its food, the restaurant's decor resembles a simple eatery in Beijing with wooden tables and pews.

There's no English menu, so either point to pictures on the menu or what other diners are eating. The waitresses and waiters, dressed in either red or blue short gowns, are efficient and considerate. Staple dishes like traditional Beijing-style soybean paste noodles and boiled dumplings are not to be missed.

The handmade noodles are topped with a vegetables and salty bean and pork sauce. This is hearty, traditional food can really fill you up and ward off the sharp northern wind during the winter.