Nuren Jie | Awana

A cozy restaurant drawing a regular crowd of Malaysians and Indonesians, Awana serves up authentic Malay dishes without the salty sensation of MSG. This restaurant makes beef rendang (￥50) like my Peranakan grandmother, who tenderizes the beef in papaya juice and makes a thick, textured gravy out of the fruit. The rendang we had was exactly like that: thick and sweet with just the right hint of spice enhanced by the fragrance of lemongrass and galangal. The beef was tender and though mild on the spice level, it’s the best beef rendang this Singaporean has had in Beijing.

Find it: 32 Tianze Lu, Xingba Lu,星吧路天泽路32号, Tel: 6462-0004

Sanlitun | Pink Loft

A pricey menu and less than desirable service still doesn’t deter us from coming back for this restaurant’s yogurt chicken curry (￥58). The generous serving of curry is gently spiced, both sweet and savory, bursting with the thick creamy goodness of coconut milk and yogurt. Drench fresh bread with the inviting gravy or ladle the sauce over a bowl of steaming white rice while you get your hands on the chicken. Juicy and smooth, the bite-size chicken is easy to eat and great for sharing.

Find it: 6 Sanlitun Nanlu, Gongti,三里屯南路6号, Tel: 6506-8811

Guomao | Taj Pavilion

Choosing the best curry of the menu at our favorite Indian stop was difficult. We decided on an unconventional curry dish not commonly found in Beijing. The chicken lassuni (￥75) was a thick creamy concoction of ground cashew nuts, cream and lots of garlic that tickled our palate and captured the essence of our meal. The chicken was gratifyingly tasty, without the strong sharp flavors of curry spices. Though the creamy gravy was a little heavy, we mopped it up with our naan - nevermind that the cream made its way to our arteries. If you’re looking for something spicy, ask for recommendations from the very attentive wait staff.

Find it: China World Trade Center, L128 West Wing Office Block No. 1 Jianguomenwai Ave, 国贸国际贸易中心西楼L128, 建国门外大街1号Tel: 6505-5866

Juliana Loh