Dumplings, egg rolls, and a killer lunch special are staples of Point Richmond’s Bei Jing restaurant. The elaborately decorated restaurant, operated by a shy staff, has served Point Richmond for a little less than a year now. Even so, it has become a go-to for many looking for a Chinese fix.

Walking into Bei Jing, a bombardment of red banners, bobbing lucky cats, and highly-detailed carved wooden walls creates a Wonka-like atmosphere of Chinese décor. Typical hole-in-the-wall Chinese places can’t hold a candle to the extravagant interior design present here. It sets the mood for the fast-paced flurry of food set to come your way that won’t stop until your belly is full. 

The best means to achieve this is through their lunch special. Hot and sour soup, spring rolls, salad, and green tea accompany any dish you order, creating a seemingly endless stream of small bites and contrasting textures. The meal will leave you full, no doubt, but that doesn’t mean it will be good for you. Dabbing the oil from the spring rolls is advised, and it’s hard to determine whether the mental fogginess after a Bei Jing meal is due to an extreme endorphin rush or just MSG. 

Regardless of what’s causing the sensation, Bei Jing will definitely leave you satisfied. General Tso’s Chicken, cabbage and pork dumplings, broccoli and chicken — just about any classic Chinese dish that Americans have come to love is available. It’s all pretty affordable, too. A full, multi-course lunch special is typically between $7 - $10.

Bei Jing’s waitstaff help facilitate the feast, though they can be a little shy and slow at times. This isn’t to say that the services is bad at the restaurant. To the contrary, everyone from the waiters to the managers is very polite. It’s more that a language barrier prohibits any prolonged, casual conversation. When I asked to speak with the owners to get some background on the restaurant, the waitstaff became visibly uncomfortable and simply shook their heads, affirming that it would not happen.

All of these elements — the enchanting and all-consuming décor, the bargain of a lunch special, the delicious Chinese classics, and the charming if shy waitstaff — make Bei Jing a stand-out option among the plethora of similar restaurants in the city. If you want to try a new place, but don’t want to take a risk on anything too outlandish, Bei Jing is a good middle ground. Next time you’re looking for Chinese in the Point, give is a shot.

Bei Jing
199 Park Place, Point Richmond
Tel: 510-215-1688

Business Hours:
Monday - Friday, 11:00 am to 3:00 pm; 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm 

Check out their Yelp page here.