Si Ji Min Fu Restaurant Qianmen Beijing

Mung Bean snacks.

Thinly sliced pig's ears in a refreshing light savoury mix.

The branch of Si Ji Min Fu here in Qianmen runs on a unique profit sharing arrangement between owners, management and staff.    It is reported that this  Qianmen branch made a profit of 3 million Yuan in 2015.   

The service for my group of ten was impeccable.   The staff made sure of our dish orders and then they came out fast, delightfully filling up the table.   Being seated upstairs meant we could look at the upper floors of neighbouring houses, which remained low key, retro and had sounds echoing the street life below.

There was emphasis and care in preparing sauces, ensuring the texture of food and in the harmonisation of overall flavours.   One way I noted in ensuring the desired texture was in the careful slicing and presentation of meat.

There was a family enjoying their food on the next table - the atmosphere was like being invited to a good mate's home.   We were careful with the stair case in this narrow spaced shop but it was worth the effort, even if we could have sat on the street level.   There are other branches of Si Ji Min Fu elsewhere in the Beijing metropolitan area, but this was one that looked and was authentic, chosen by us on gut feel and offered an excellent meal between shopping, walking the lanes and taking it easy.

My impressions of the Si Ji Min Fu Restaurant in Qianmen, Beijing are:


Ambiance:  3 out of 5
Staff Engagement:  4 out of 5
Culinary Delight:  4 out of 5
X Factor:  4 out of 5  (the Beijing Duck)
Overall Score:   3.75 out of 5

Pho Toan Thang Vietnamese Restaurant Homebush NSW

It was a rather early Sunday morning - the crowds had not arrived as yet.   Some shops, cafes and restaurants were already opened for business, including Pho Toan Thang.


PTT is a family run business that has both Vietnamese and Cantonese hues in its food and atmosphere. People were having breakfast here!    The grocery across the paved walkway, Tan Hung Long, was awaking from just opened mood, but next door, K.W. Barbeque, already had people lining up.    The roast ducks, pork and soy chicken were going fast from the display window - and I saw a fresh batch of marinated chicken feet brought in form the kitchen behind.  


The PTT menu can be seen replicated across many such comparable Indo-Chinese themed restaurants across metropolitan areas in Australia today.    Many Aussies are familiar with now staple items like pork chops with tomato flavoured rice, beef Pho and hotpots of seafood.   I was more curious as to why many people would line up at TT for lunch, afternoon snacks and dinner soon later in the day.


The PTT staff spoke Cantonese, but also was conversant in Mandarin and English.   I chose a typical dish to test the waters at PTT.   The chicken rice noodles soup I got had a different taste from traditional Pho in Vietnam.   It may be just me, but it seemed more southern Chinese in character than Hanoi.    PTT provided generous clean cuts of breast meat slices.  The mint and bean sprouts were there on a  separate plate.  The soup however was more clear than expected.   The narrow rice noodles served were what I like best in a  soup, with its rather appetising texture.  A squeeze of lemon, some sauce and the piping hot bowl became better.


The colour of the tomato flavoured rice here is not so orangey.   I noticed the pork trotters, crispy chicken, Bahn Mi, and salt fish flavoured fried rice with chicken at other tables.    Many of my mates with a Vietnamese family background have told me this restaurant is one on the familiar weekend  circuit on countless family routines around Sydney.


 Not much time to ponder more about food....there is more grocery shopping to do, and then head to a home party!




Pho Toan Thang Vietnamese Restaurant visited is located at  Shop 9, 90-95 The Crescent, Homebush NSW.
Opening hours are from 9am to 8pm daily.
Contact +61 2 9764 3687

Qianmen Beijing

The big kettle !   In a traditional food restaurant off a side lane.

Our pawed friends out for an early morning rumble.   Qianmen Emperors Avenue.

Hand pulled or Zha Jiang noodles, freshly made before the soup is poured in.  I note the rather fatty pork bits but most people I encountered are not obese, probably due to copious consumption of tea.   Two doors away from the Jing Tai Long International Hotel.

A demonstration of calligraphy.

Small serves of snacks you may consider from the touristy shops.

Tea sets are popular and come in a variety of designs and materials.

The Beijing suit, circa 2016.   Display from a tailoring shop.

One of those designs street side which caught my eye.

An impressive and interesting Chinese calligraphy related place along Qianmen Emperors Avenue.

Steamed buns with a dash of cooked meats inside are popular in Beijing, especially good in wintry weather.

A celebration of times past, with cultural icons like the abacus and echoing the spirit of trading and learning.

Off a side lane just after dawn.

There are various restaurants preparing Beijing duck.

A uniquely preserved architecture  - the upstairs balcony, glass doors and roof styles caught my imagination.

Starbucks at Qianmen is housed in a retro classical building.

The modern decor inside Starbucks, but notice the traditional windows as well.

Getting ready for the October 1st national holidays.

Rather large sized bird cages hung up as street decorations.