Quality comes in small, delicious package

Old Beijing shaobing

On a two-square-meter booth across from Tiankelong supermarket, on a yellow paper sign, is written “Old Beijing shaobing.” And every time around breakfast and dinner, this hole-in-the-wall, which has been open for a year, sees a long line of people waiting patiently.

Selling at 0.6 yuan each, these baked flatbreads may be the best value in town. They are slightly crispy on the outside and soft and hearty on the inside. The salt-and-pepper shaobing sells the best. Others, like one with black sesame paste filling, are also popular.

The window-front store also sells seven or eight other types of traditional northern China pastries, priced at 0.6 to 1 yuan each.

Customers are mostly those who work or live in the neighborhood, and they usually buy a dozen at a time. When microwaved, halved and filled with vegetables or meat, these shaobing are like the Chinese version of American sliders.

During the winter, shaobing work well with hotpot. During the summer, they are a great after-hours treat, especially when paired with lamb kabobs and cold beer.

The saleswoman at the booth said they have more than 10 workers who prepare flatbreads all day, and that they sell 1,000 to 2,000 each day.

When asked about the secret of making quality shaobing, she demurred. “I’m not going to tell you,” she said.

Lao Beijing Shaobing
Where: Across the street from Beijing Youth Daily’s red road sign, 23 Baijiangzhuang (Yaojiayuan Lu), Chaoyang District
Open: 6:30 am – 8 pm