Elisa on the famous Lucky Street may not serve the most authentic Italian food in the world, but people and orders keep coming in because of their considerable service.

My entire office likes to order pizza for lunch, but apparently we're on the ‘wrong' side of town, and it's too far to drive. Even Amigo Pizza and several others in town refused to deliver, but Elisa was willing, no questions asked. The wonderful part is when the food got here, it was still quite warm!

This is enough for me to go to Elisa!  

Beijing Hotels: Nearby Sukhothai Thai Restaurant

As the first Thai restaurant in Beijing, Sukhothai near the Beijing Avic hotel has built a veritable dining dynasty over yummy Thai dishes. The Pad Thai, Praram Pak, and coconut milk infused with curry have left many customers more than satisfied.

Here, the staff is always dressed in traditional Thai clothing, and they are courteous, attentive, and helpful.

The handicrafts displayed around the restaurant are straight from Thailand, and you can even buy things right off the wall!

Seeing the décor, you know that the owner doesn't just want to fill your stomach, but also satisfy your mind.

Beijing Hotels: Nearby Turkish Restaurant

Beijing was lacking a quality Turkish restaurant for a long time, so when the Ottoman settled itself on the famous Lucky Street, it almost immediately got resoundingly enthusiastic followers like me. What's even better, it's just a short walk from the Beijing Taiyue Suites Hotel.

The restaurant mainly serves family-size platters such as the Iskender--a dish with diced pork and beef mixed with tomato sauce, all sitting on a bed of Turkish bread.

Also try the pita bread and their well-known Turkish kebabs and cheese.

Beijing Hotels: Nearby Slow Food Restaurant

Sick of fast food or the small snacks from street food stands?

Well, you'll love the You Jing Ge fusion restaurant tucked in a quiet corner of Worker's Stadium, not far from the Beijing Taiyue Suites Hotel!

The light music, comfort food, and soft sofas are all designed to slow you down a few notches. Chefs prepare yummy fusion food that combines the essences of Beijing and western cuisines. And every dish is organic and healthy!

While enjoying your meal, you're sure to notice that the building itself is a virtual time machine. It is a 250-year-old structure moved brick by brick from Anhui province, some 1,100 kilometers south of Beijing! You will find a peaceful ambience here that doesn't exist in any typical restaurant.

They even spent a small fortune fortune buying a famous wood carving of an ancient Chinese hero and his favorite lady. They now stand in the middle of hall to greet you.

Beijing Hotels: Nearby Punjabi Indian Restaurant

Punjabi hits a home run!

No, not with cricket bat, but with some of the most authentic Indian food you can find in Beijing!

I've been to some Indian restaurants all over the city, and I would say Punjabi is easily the best in Beijing. It's not far from the Beijing Fraternal Cooperation International Hotel. They serve a variety of dishes, and each has a distinctive flavor and aroma. And their soups really bring you to Punjab, a province in Northern India. 

Their set lunch costs only RMB 48 (around $7), which means you can fill your stomach without emptying your wallet.

Note: the restaurant was nominated in 2008 for the Readers' Choice Awards by the local magazine City Weekend.

Beijing Hotels: Nearby Yangjinma Tibetan Restaurant

Folks! Where can you find the most authentic Tibetan food and get a piece of Tibetan culture?

For those in Beijing who are not brave enough to ride the 50 hour train to the plateau, the restaurant of Yangjinma on the famous Lucky Street is the best place to go. It's just a short walk from the Fraternal Cooperation Hotel.

The restaurant serves everything from butter tea to Yak steak, Tsamba to barley wine. The ingredients are all flown in from Tibet and cooked by Tibetan chefs.

So everything is 100% authentic!

In-house artists in Chuba costumes perform traditional Tibetan dances that really bring Tibet alive - it's literally the roof of the world and the land of Yak and Yeti in Beijing!

Say ‘Zha Xi De Le,' that's how they greet people.

Walking on the Wangfujing Food Street in Beijing, you will possibly be attracted by sugar-coated haws ("Bingtang Hulu" in Chinese) for their bright colors.

Sugar-coated haw is a traditional snack of Beijing. As a local, I used to see peddlers selling sugar-coated haws on streets and lanes. So a stick of sugar-coated haws is not only a treat for my taste bud but also a treasure of the past.

The venders make the snack on spot so you can see the whole making procedure. They stick nine haw fruits, which are bathed in rock-sugar syrup and then harden into a shiny candy coating. When it cools off, the sugar coat becomes crispy, transparent and golden yellow. A stick of sugar-coated haws only costs RMB 4.

In addition, you can choose sugar-coated strawberries, orange, and pineapple, priced at RMB 8. Have a try on this sour and sweet snack. I am sure you will like it.