Vin Vino 萬久: Madcap Japanese Tapas & Wine

From the people who brought you possibly my favourite lesser known restaurant in Beijing Vin Vie 萬火, comes a new opening: Vin Vino 萬久. For those of you who have been to Vin Vie, you will know that it is an izakaya style restaurant that also happens to offer a bunch of wine. Vin Vino extends this concept further. It is based around “Japanese Tapas” and wine.

It must be said that this makes the restaurant a pretty odd place to eat in. None of the Japanese influence is visible in the decoration as it looks more like a pseudo-Mediterranean bistro. At the same time, one glance at the menu and you will notice a lot of shiso leaf, soy sauce, tofu and other classic Japanese staples coexisting with ratatouille and risotto.

Furthermore, you’ll eat to the sounds of a soundtrack that seems to have been assembled by someone with multiple personality disorder. We counted atmospheric orchestral songs, Swedish pop, hardcore hip hop and more all in one evening. Yeah it’s a strange beast but don’t let that put you off. If anything, this should spark your curiosity.

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Zui Yakitori Bar on Xingfucun Zhonglu

Introducing the Newest Kid on the Xingfucun Zhonglu Block – Zui Yakitori Bar

Located on the quickly developing Xingfucun Zhonglu across from April Gourmet and just next to Hercules, Zui Yakitori Bar is the new kid on the block and with an enticing entrance, I was quickly lured in just after they opened their door to the general public.  Potentially related to Hercules as the staff of Zui were all wearing Hercules-branded aprons, but this is a 2-story Japanese Yakitori Bar that has two massive bars set up on both the first and second floor and more seating upstairs for dining.

Currently half open with only its second floor in operation as the ground floor is still a work-in-progress (probably 85% there). At first we found a cozy table for 4 in the back corner of the second floor dining area ready to chow down big time on a big order of yakitori, but we were very quickly put off by 3 chain smokers sitting close-by. What was even more disheartening was hearing their attitude about it – a very curt reply, “We are a bar also, so smoking is allowed.”  Shame when you’re stuck in a tight space with no air ventilation and have come to have a proper dinner, and not sit in a room clouded with cigarette smoke.

Not a great start but read on as it gets better. Kind of.

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Vin Vie: An Incredible Inconspicuous Fusion Izakaya

You Know You’ve Found Something Special When You Step Inside Vin Vie

I was just recently introduced to Vin Vie 萬火and it blew me away. I can’t remember the last time I was this excited about a new find. And it isn’t even new. It’s been around for at least a couple of years, but its inconspicuous location tucked behind a narrow, dark alley in Maizidian (not far from Baoyuan Dumplings) near Chaoyang Park West Gate ensures that only the most adamant and determined foodies will be rewarded with the knowledge that such a special gem exists in Beijing.

I’ve heard Vin Vie’s name thrown about here and there, I’ve heard people sing its praises, but with such a long list of restaurants on my “To Taste List”, it just unfortunately got pulled down the pecking order until it was almost forgotten about. That was, until fellow foodie Tim Hill, of Middle Kingdom Fitness put Vin Vie back on my radar by including it as one of his top three favorite restaurants in Beijing.  With someone who’s been there before, I was on a mission to see what the fuss was all about.

…and it was a mission to find! When I say that it’s tucked away and hidden, I’m really not exaggerating.  I definitely recommend memorizing the map below to make sure you don’t waste hours wandering around lost in Maizidian. When you’re looking down the little hutong it’s on, all that indicates its existence is a little red light box at its entrance door.

Continue Reading » Vin Vie: An Incredible Inconspicuous Fusion Izakaya