Afunti is Beijing's largest and best-known Uighur restaurant. The Halal Muslim cuisine ­ from China's far-flung Xinjiang Province ­ includes skewers of seasoned roasted lamb accompanied by Xinjiang salad and tasty nan bread. Arrive early to enjoy the feast before the Xinjiang musicians and dancers (including an Arabian snake dancer and bellydancer) jump out to perform at 8pm. The show is invariably followed by audience participation, which can often be better described as drunken revelry atop the tables. A fun night out, popular with tour groups.

CHAOYANG EAST DISTRICT. Regarded as the best Beijing Duck restaurant in town, this is good, wholesome, local cuisine at its finest. You can even order a whole roast duck accompanied by a variety of condiments, including plum sauce and other fruit chutneys. A picture menu will help you decide your choice. Unlike most places in the city, it also has a non-smoking dining room.

DONGCHENG DISTRICT. Ready for some mouthwatering, spicy Malaysian cuisine? Located down a dark little "hutong" (alley) and marked with a red lantern ­ first impressions of Cafe Sambal might be that you are approaching an old opium den. This cozy Malaysian restaurant does serve up some intoxicating fare all the same ­ the fresh chili crab curry, the mutton curry, and kang kong belacan are especially recommended. Kapitan chicken, a mildly spicy dish with a nutty aftertaste, is the Malaysian chef's signature dish.

One of you wants Chinese and one wants Western fare? Then try Casablanca, a cosmopolitan restaurant that offers Chinese and Asian stir-fries, curries and rice dishes, and at the same time serves up very tasty Arabic dishes, Greek salads, Italian pasta and Middle Eastern kebabs. Something for everyone! Also has Italian ice cream, espresso coffee and some European wines.

DONGCHENG DISTRICT. This Sichuan restaurant flies in its own ingredients from the west of China and is deservedly popular with Sichuanese living in the capital, especially party officials, it seems. Sichuan favorites, such as "mapo doufu" (spicy tofu with chopped meat) are authentic. Highly recommended are the spicy "shui zhu yu" (tender fish on a bed of crisp bean sprouts), and "guoba roupian" (sweet pork with rice crust). Always busy.