Time slows for no man, and Beijing too, slows for no man.
It’s just my luck for Lau Pa Sak 老巴刹 to move locations just a few weeks after I move into the building just next to its original home, south of the Canadian Embassy. When I first saw the original location gutted, I initially thought Lau Pa Sak was the latest casualty of the endless development of the city, but was pleased to hear that it had already found a new home in Sanlitun SOHO. A place I’ve thoroughly enjoyed over the years for a quick and tasty lunch, I went to check out their new digs and make sure that it still lived up to it’s old incarnation.
Sanlitun SOHO constantly strikes me as a place where hairdressers go to have children, who then turn out to be hairdressers. Somewhere in the mess, there are a few places worth visiting (One Pot by SSAM Korean restaurant, that new(ish), jam-packed Hunan noodle spot, and Jian Archery Bar) but they are never particularly easy to find. The same is true of Lau Pa Sak’s new location. On the ground floor, it is located on the south side of Tower 3. Expect to walk in circles because we did too.
Still in a similar design of casual dining, the new Lau Pa Sak is smaller than its previous location, but I don’t think people have quite figured out that they’ve moved and where they’ve moved to so you don’t need to worry about waiting for a table like you had to before.
Beef Satay (RMB 36)
Pan Fried Omelette with Cai Po (RMB 30)
Chicken Curry (RMB 58)
Black Carrot Cake (RMB 38)
Fried Seasonal Vegetables (RMB 32)
Love Me Some Lau Pa Sak Laksa Noodles
Fried Crispy Chicken (RMB 40)
Kopi Milk Coffee (RMB 15)
Love Me some Lau Pa Sak
Some people say that the Laksa could be thicker or spicier and that the Hainan Chicken can be inconsistent. There is no doubt that Lau Pa Sak pales in comparison to the real deal Hawker’s restaurant that you find in Singapore, but this is just about as close as you’re going to get in Beijing.
Overall, Lau Pa Sak is good value for money and offers a great range of comfort dishes that appeal to people from all backgrounds.
Beijing should be happy and relieved to hear that it’s still around, alive and kicking in Sanlitun SOHO! Now go and celebrate with that irresistible black carrot cake!
Lau Pa Sak Contact Details:
- Address: Sanlitun SOHO, Building 3, Block E, Unit #3-117. 工体北路8号三里屯SOHO 3-117
- Tel: 6417-0952
- Opening Hours: 11:00AM-10:30PM
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.
