Hand in Hand Beijing Restaurant (手拉手京华小馆) in Jalan Besar allows you to enjoy a range of dumplings and other popular dishes commonly found in Beijing. It is a good place to savour Northern Chinese cuisine at reasonable prices.
Hand in Hand Beijing Restaurant
Located at the junction of Jalan Besar and Hindoo Road, Hand in Hand Beijing Restaurant occupies two shophouses. The restaurant offers outdoor seating along a narrow corridor, ideal for people-watching or reliving curbside dining of yesteryears.
The interior is air-conditioned and nicely decorated, looking like a Chinese art shop with many colourful vases on shelves and calligraphy pieces adorning the walls. There are private rooms on the upper floor.
The Menu of Hand in Hand Beijing Restaurant
The Menu of Hand in Hand Beijing Restaurant is extensive. Meat, fish and seafood, as well as dim sum and dumplings are on the menu. There are simple dishes like Preserved Egg with Bean Curd and Braised Noodles with Seafood as well as special items such as Beijing Crispy Duck and Fried Snail Meat with Cucumber. Below are a few pages of the digital menu.
Although the name says Beijing Restaurant, Hand in Hand now also serves Sichuan and Shandong dishes. Below are a few pages of the menu with Sichuan or Shandong items.
Yusheng & Starters in Hand in Hand
We visited Hand in Hand Beijing Restaurant for lunch just before the Chinese New year. Like typical Singaporeans, we started with tossing Yu Sheng ($38.80 for small).
The starters we ordered were Pig Feet Gelatin ($9.80) and Scallion Oil Chicken ($10.80).
Pig Feet Gelatin, also known as “pig trotter jelly”, was a cold dish served with garlic and soy sauce. While the name and appearance might be challenging for some, the collagen-rich dish had a pleasant flavour and texture, making it quite an enjoyable starter.
The Scallion Oil Chicken dish was tender pieces of chicken marinated and cooked in a blend of scallions and other ingredients and sauces. The chicken was succulent and infused with aromatic flavours.
We also had the Old Fire Stew ($17.80 for a pot which was more than enough to be shared by 5 persons). A simple soup with pork, carrot and corn boiled for a long time on low heat. It was rich and tasty.
Dumplings
We ordered the Hand in Hand Beijing Restaurant’s Xiao Long Bao 小笼包 ($6.80 for a basket of 5 pieces), Fresh Cuttlefish Dumplings ($10.80) and Fried Dumplings with Leek & Shrimp ($10.80).
The Xiao Long Bao with smooth, delicate skin and tasty broth was very good. The less common Cuttlefish Dumplings had squid ink skin. The boiled dumplings had a savoury flavour and a strong seafood taste. It was one of those dishes that would divide opinion.
The pan-fried dumplings with leek and shrimp filling had a crispy crust. Some commented on the resemblance to an Indian dosa or apom. Sometimes referred to as “guo tie” or “pot stickers,” the dumplings were served hot and fresh, accompanied by dipping sauces. The combination of crispy exteriors and juicy interiors and delectable sauces, made the dish the star of the meal.
We ended our meal with a simple dessert – Glutinous Rice with Sweet Rice Bowls.
Hand in Hand Beijing Restaurant, open since 2004, delights homesick visitors from PRC and locals alike with authentic Northern Chinese in a comfortable setting. The restaurant in Jalan Besar is a great option for a wallet-friendly meal.
Ratings:
Food: 4
Service: 4
Value: 4
Atmosphere: 3
Overall Rating: 4 TOPs 
Hand In Hand Beijing Restaurant 手拉手京华小馆
141 – 143 Jalan Besar, Singapore 208859
Tel: +65 6297 1398
Opening Hours: 10 am – 3 pm; 4.30 pm – 10 pm
Nearby MRT Station: Jalan Besar( DT22)
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