When Lily’s American Diner (LAD) first opened in Beijing in September 2009 they made a name for themself in Shuangjing. Since then, they’ve branched out to a total of 3 restaurant locations around town (Shuangjing, Sihui and Sanlitun).
“We think of LAD as a small restaurant with a big heart. The main goal of Lily’s is simple – to make our customers happy by focusing on good service and quality food. We also want to continue to offer new dishes and we are always looking for ways to improve every aspect of our restaurant operations. ” – Lily’s American Diner (LAD)
LAD is not flashy and it isn’t trendy, so while I suspect some foodies may overlook LAD thinking that it’s not “catchy” enough, I really quite like how simple and straight-forward it is. All about comfort American diner food, it just hits the spot in a way that I never felt Paul’s Steak & Eggs (RIP) did. And with many establishments like Element Fresh and Rug Cafe serving the same food at double the price, LAD has positioned itself smartly and rather discreetly in this competitive F&B scene.
Even LAD’s Sanlitun branch is just out of reach of the hustle and bustle that we think of when we hear “Sanlitun”. Located just north of Heaven Supermarket on Xindonglu, turn right to find the Jenny Lou’s branch and turn left to find LAD. Tucked away just before you reach Sanlitun North, this spot is great if you’re in the area for a quick, satisfying bite and guaranteed a seat (it’s never been super busy from any of my previous dining experiences).
Proper Bar Set-Up with Wine List and Cocktails
Arriving on a Saturday afternoon for a late brunch, this is generally when we’re in the mood for LAD – for their Jumbo Breakfast (RMB 65) and comfort breakfast items like their Blueberry Pancakes that come with 2 Eggs and Choice of Sausage/Bacon/Ham (RMB 45). While a few of us just ordered the Jumbo Breakfast, we also shared some fantastic salads and sides as well.
A fan of their burgers and Tex Mex as well, but we find ourselves coming back time and again for their breakfast items.
Soothing Homemade Tomato Soup (RMB 20)
Avocado and Arugula Salad (RMB 65): served with seasonal fruit and walnuts
Lily’s Salad (RMB 65): Bacon, Avocado, Chicken Breast, Tomato, Hard-Boiled Eggs and Greens.
Chicken Spring Rolls (RMB 39)
Jumbo Breakfast (RMB 65): with 2 Poached Eggs, 2 Sausages, 2 Strips of Bacon, 1 Slice of Country Ham, Hashbrowns, 2 Slices of Rye Bread
LAD Details:
- Lily’s American Diner (LAD) – Sanlitun Location
- Address: Around the corner from Jenny Lou’s between Xindong Lu at Sanlitun North Village, 1-037 East Avenue, 5 Xindong Lu, Chaoyang District
- 朝阳区新东路8号院手开铂郡小区底商5号楼1-037号
- Tel: +86 8418 5497
About Kristen
Kristen Lum has an accomplished background in PR, communications and events in China. Born and raised in California, Kristen has been based in Beijing since 2006 and is founder of the lifestyle blog called LumDimSum, covering mostly restaurant news and reviews alongside upcoming events around town that relate to Beijing’s muti-faceted, quickly-developing creative industries like art, music, film, health and fitness, fashion, nightlife, charity events, and travel tips.
