Imperial Court Food is a style of Chinese food that has its origins in the Imperial Palace. It is based on the foods that were served to the Emperor and his court. Now, it has become a major school of Chinese cooking and there are several places where you can sample this unique flavor. Fang Shan in Beihai Park and Ting Li Guan in the Summer Palace are the best ones. 150 years ago you would never have been able to eat this stuff, so give it a shot. It is a little expensive, however.
Imperial Official Food and Medicinal Food
This first type of food is particular to Beijing. In the past, Beijing officials were all very picky about what type of food they ate. The most famous type of Official food is Tan Family Food, which can be had in the Beijing Hotel. This is the preferred food of the Qing Dynasty (1644 -1911) official Tan Zongling, and was later introduced into restaurants. Another type of food is that which is described in the classic novel Dream of Red Mansions. The author, Cao Xueqin, described a number of dishes in the book and now there are several restaurants which serve this style of dish. The most famous place is the Beijing Grand View Garden Hotel. This hotel is right next to the Beijing's Grand View Garden which is modeled after the garden described in the Dream of Red Mansions. Other restaurants featuring this novel type of food are the Jinglun Hotel and Laijinyuxuan Restaurant in Zhongshan Park.
There are hundreds of dishes that are medicated with such choice tonic materials as ginseng, deer musk, bear's paw, Chinese wolf berry and soft-shelled turtle, the cream of the chop of Chinese medicine. The 'Yang Sheng Zhai' Restaurant of Xiyuan Hotel has the best reputation among such food. Although it has been changed to Sichuan Restaurant, it still offers medicinal foods.
Restaurants of Imperial Court Food
 Li Jia Cai Restaurant
Located in a courtyard of Yangfang hutong in Beijing, there is a special restaurant named Li Jia Cai Restaurant (Li Family Restaurant) which is devoted into Imperial Court Food. The initiator of Li Jia Cai is Li Shanlin, a retired professor on mathematics, who also has great interest in cooking genuine Beijing Imperial Court Food. The particular aspects of the restaurant lies on: firstly there is no employee in the restaurant, they whole Li family is both the owner and employee of the restaurant; secondly, the dinner is set-menu by the Li family, that's to say, guest can not order the dishes but only to wait for whatever they serve; thirdly, one banquet daily, if you want to have a dinner here, you should make a reservation; lastly there is no chemic material in dishes, even the flavorings are all natural.This restaurant welcomed many celebrities including the former president of America - Bill Clinton, Bill Gates, the former premier of Britain - John Major and also Chinese superstar - Jacky Chan, etc. Professor Li can talk in English with you on Chinese culture during your enjoying the dainties. Good wine needs no bush. If you are a real gourmand, try to find the restaurant hidden in Beijing hutong.
Address: 11, Yangfang hutong, Denei Dajie
Fangshan Restaurant
Average cost per person: 200 Yuan - 300 Yuan
Location: 1, Wenjin Jie, inside Beihai Park
Hours: 11:00-13:30 17:00-19:30
Tan Family Restaurant Beijing Hotel (Tan Jia Cai)
Average cost per person: 200 Yuan - 800 Yuan
Location: 7/F, Unit C, Beijing Hotel, 33, Dong Changan Jie, Dongcheng District
Hours: 11:30 - 14:00 17:30 - 21:30
Guoyao Xiaoju
Average cost per person: 50 Yuan - 200 Yuan
Location: 58, Jiaodaokou Bei Santiao, Dongcheng District
Hours: 09:00 - 22:00
Haitang Ju
Average cost per person: 100 Yuan - 300 Yuan
Location: 32, Xi Houheyan Jie, Xuanwumen, Xuanwu District
Hours: 10:00 - 22:00
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