Many people in Beijing believe that the best place to eat local cuisine is at a restaurant affiliated to the local government's Beijing office (zhu jing ban). It is true in the case of Ba Min Shi Fu, which is affiliated to the Fujian Government's Beijing office.

The restaurant serves probably Beijing's cheapest Arhat Buddha jump over the wall soup, at 88 yuan per person. The soup is so called because it is so tasty and fragrant that the legend said a monk living next doors jumped over to try it. The soup features a mixture of abalone, shark fin, fish maw, pigeon egg and mushroom, simmered for more than six hours in a caldron. The result is thick and tasty soup. Buddha jump over the wall soups made with better quality materials cost more.

Another specialty is boiled sea clam in three-meat clear soup, which is simmered with chicken, pork loin and beef. The restaurant's fish meat ball is particularly juicy. It is made with pork wrapping and pork filling. Also try Fujian style oyster pancakes.

The restaurant provides a red rice wine that is a bit different from other places. It tastes even better when heated. It is organizing an autumn Fujian food festival with a special menu until Nov 30, average spending is 150 yuan per person.

11:30am-2pm, 5:30-9:30pm.

3/F Fujian Dasha, 11 Anzhen Xili Sanqu, Chaoyang district.

010-6442-8833 ext 5855.

(China Daily November 11, 2008)