The best tastes are always hidden in the corners. If you want to dine like a local, Qijiawan comes highly recommended. Once crowded with abbatoirs and cowhide makers; indeed even now, Nanjing locals still buy beef around this area; the traditional lane of Qijiawan features smoked beef, flat food, beef soup, beef fried buns, as well as speciality “Guotie” (more or less, pan-fried Chinese dumplings).
At the intersection of Qijiawan and Dadingxiang, Li Ji Restaurant takes pride of place on the corner; You won’t miss it, no matter from which direction you come. From 5:30 am to 7:30 pm, Li Ji efficiently serves up big portions of Guotie, thanks to a huge pan frying hundreds of the little devils at the same time.
For the last 30 years or so, Li Ji has attracted residents and tourists to dine therein. Before the rush hour is an especially good choice; they can be really busy as it is always where local residents head for breakfast.
Beef Wonton and Guotie as a meal is the standard fare at Li Ji. Guotei with a beef filling, together with boiled beef tendon soup, served with spring onion, for which the skin is fired with rapeseed oil; crispy and chewy. On the other hand, the definitive Guotie should be golden in appearance, crescent-shaped, and crispy on the bottom with its stuffing in clusters.
Li Ji’s recipe secret is hidden in the chefs’ practice of their special cooking skills and the ingredients; all beef selected carefully, tendons inside removed meticulously. Take a bite, and feel the flow of fresh beef in your mouth. No one can resist such a fragrance of fried food.
Such is Li Ji’s reputation that citizens as far away as other districts bother to travel from home just in order to fulfill their appetite. Wan Quan, a retiree who lives in Gulou District, said, “I woke up early this morning just to come and have Guotie here”. He claims that after trying Li Ji’s Guotie, he is no longer interested in other restaurants.
You will be surprised by its affordable prices; ¥7.5 for five Guotie, ¥6.5 for Beef Wonton. With these prices, delicious tastes and the associated success, no wonder Li Ji now is establishing itself as a chain all over China. Here in Nanjing though, remains the original, ever since its opening 30 years ago.
Forget about Laomendong, always swarmed with tourists and the prerequisite fakes and inflated prices; Qijiawan is the best choice for the authentic taste that attracts people from far away, just for a bite.
Li Ji Restaurant is located at 1 Dadingxiang 打钉巷1号. Tel 52257736.
