If you are someone who complains there is no place in Beijing to get a good Shanghai “shengjianbao” (pan-fried stuffed buns), you will change your mind after visiting Absolute Cate. With chopped onions and sesame seeds sprinkled on top, the restaurant’s shengjianbao sizzles on a black pan when it reaches your table. Its smell – slightly burned and with the fragrance of sesame and meat – makes you wato gobble up the entire plate at once. Take it slowly; they are hotter than you think, especially with flavored soup inside.
A cozy place with contemporary furniture, Absolute Cate serves well-made, home-style Shanghai food at reasonable prices.
Braised bean curd with black mushroom (15 yuan) makes a good appetizer.
For mains, try Absolute Cate’s specialty dim sum and noodles: yadianfang steamed buns (18 yuan), which is great withlightly flavored pork and vegetable gruel (8 yuan). The latter is ideal for people who are trying to stay away from oily food.
There is also noodles with shrimp, fried fish and pork knuckles (25 yuan), and crispy deep-fried noodles with crabmeat and shrimp (35 yuan). Another is fried rib and rice cake in soy sauce (25 yuan), a classic sweet Shanghai dish.
End your meal with fried pumpkin ball (8 yuan), which leaves a hint of coconut on your tongue.
Absolute Cate
Where: Room B118b, B/1 Tower 1, China Central Place, 81 Jianguo Lu, Chaoyang District
