Our readers vote, we tally the results. This year, perennial winners The Tree, Hatsune and Maison Boulud snagged top spots, which should surprise exactly no one in Beijing. Agua and Mosto also came up with big wins. Now, we present to you the best of Beijing dining, year 2011.

See which restaurants retained their top spots from 2010 and 2009, and who has fallen completely off the charts

Chef of the Year

Jordi Valles

It’s not often we meet someone so enthusiastic about what he does and so dedicated to his craft as Agua’s chef Jordi Valles. His seasonal dishes are creative, consistent and perfectly executed, and his excitement for everything, from making homemade sausages to instructing diners in the correct way to eat a prawn, is contagious.

Editor's Pick: Daniel Urdaneta (Mosto)
Honorable Mention: Chan Chih-Ming (Din Tai Fung)

Best Spanish Restaurant

Agua

Diners welcomed the return of Agua’s famous suckling pig and amazing torrija dessert this year, but the growing and evolving menu keeps even the most jaded foodies interested. Expect fine dining, with strong influences from Spanish home cooking, and standout seafood offerings.

Editor's Pick: Migas
Honorable Mention: Carmen, Mare

Most Romantic

Capital M

When it comes to wining and dining that special someone, Capital M is overwhelmingly your choice destination. Why is M guaranteed to impress? It’s got gorgeous décor, a fantastic menu and some of the best service in the city. There’s also nothing else quite like sharing a dessert platter for two on the balcony while overlooking Tian’anmen Square lit up at night.

Editor's Pick: Mosto
Honorable Mention: Alameda

Best Service

Maison Boulud

This Ch’ienmen 23 service champion didn’t miss a beat this year when new GM Nicolas Socquet took over from Ignace Lecleir. Socquet and executive chef Brian Reimer empower servers to continually learn and progress, so that they can anticipate guests’ needs and feel passionate about their work. The waitstaff even gets to take a wine training course. We're jealous.

Editor's Pick: Gung Ho
Honorable Mention: Taj Pavilion

Best Burger

Chef Too

What’s the secret to the best burger in town? Chef Billy claims that there isn’t one. “There’s no real secret,” he says. “Good beef, cooked right, on a good bun ... That’s the simplicity of the dish.” For a burger that tastes just as it should, try Chef Too’s “all-American,” with bacon and blue cheese or cheddar, or go for the luxurious Wagyu beef burger, available at dinner time.

Editor's Pick: One East
Honorable Mention: Let's Burger

Best Japanese

Hatsune

Beijing’s love affair with Hatsune continues as the restaurant prepares to celebrate its 10th anniversary in August. The enduring popularity of the California-style Japanese food here speaks not just to the high quality of the food, but to its consistency—one of the hardest things to get right in the restaurant business. One reason for the consistency lies in the staff: of the 16 staff hired when the original Hatsune on Guanghua Lu opened a decade ago, 10 are still working at the restaurant. The long list of creative rolls might not be quite as cutting-edge as when it arrived on the scene, but these favorites don’t disappoint. And while the restaurant is probably best known for its moto-roll-ah (Hatsune's best-seller) and 119 rolls, don’t underestimate the rest of the menu: the bento boxes and agedashi tofu (pictured) are both some of the city’s tastiest, and we’re crazy about the steak misoyaki.

Editor's Pick: Nishimura
Honorable Mention: Sake Manzo, Haiku

Best Value

Flamme

Flamme's prices are one of the key ingredients to the new restaurant's success. In a city where steaks can run you over a thousand kuai, Flamme offers them for just ¥98. And as if that wasn’t enough, the very same steaks are two-for-one every Tuesday. Thursday and Sunday, you get a special deal on prime rib, and there are big discounts on drinks every day.

Editor's Pick: Alba
Honorable Mention: Let's Seafood

Best Steakhouse

Grange

Grange at The Westin Beijing Chaoyang takes its meat very, very seriously. Where else in Beijing can you find a steak that weighs a whopping 1.8 kilos? “One of the best meals I've had in my life. The Wagyu beef was the most tender, most succulent and tastiest meat ever,” glows web user mcsviere. A terrific wine selection is the perfect accompaniment.

Editor's Pick: The Cut
Honorable Mention: Flamme, Morel's, Compass Grill

Best Indian

Ganges

Having expanded from one restaurant in Wudaokou to four locations across the city that are packed every night of the week, Ganges is a true Beijing success story. On top of fantastic butter chicken, palak paneer and naan, the restaurant stays fresh and relevant by constantly adding new dishes to its already extensive menu. Try the Indian pastries or a healthy, vegetarian dish from the “yogi menu.” Comfortable seating, a pretty turquoise and purple design aesthetic and fun Indian music videos add to the atmosphere, and there’s even live Bollywood dancing at the Sanlitun branch Thursday through Sunday.

Editor's Pick: Indian Kitchen
Honorable Mention: Taj Pavilion

Best Beijing Duck

Da Dong

This famous chain packs in the diners—local, expat and tourist alike—every night of the week, and City Weekend readers can’t get enough of the low-fat duck and its wonderfully crispy skin, paired with endless plum sauce. It doesn’t hurt that the other menu items offer tasty, creative takes on Chinese cuisine to round out your meal.

Editor's Pick: Duck de Chine
Honorable Mention: Fat Duck, Hua's Restaurant

Best Pizza

The Tree

The Tree has won City Weekend’s Readers’ Choice Award for best pizza every single year that we’ve had the category. This Sanlitun Back Street veteran boasts delicious crusts, cooked in a wood-fired oven that was built personally by Belgian owner Patrick de Smet. Pair the pies with one of the tasty Belgian beers, and you’ve got a recipe for ongoing success.

Editor's Pick: La Pizza
Honorable Mention: Gung Ho

Best Thai Restaurant

Purple Haze

With the best pad Thai in Beijing, not to mention stunning satays, killer curries and creative dishes that inject gastronomic elements from owner Tobi Demker’s native Sweden, this Beijing favorite easily maintains its spot at the top of your list of favorites. Readers dig the comfortable, purple-themed décor, and we’re also impressed with how much the service has improved over the past several years, showing that Purple Haze works hard to stay at the top of its game.

Editor's Pick: Serve the People
Honorable Mention: Very Siam

Best Middle Eastern

Biteapitta

It’s no surprise that Biteapitta got your votes for Best Middle Eastern this year. There are few places that garner so many glowing, exclamation point-laden reviews on our website, and the clean little Sanlitun restaurant is busy every time we stop by. The addictive falafel is the best in the city, and the delicious hummus and refreshing minty lemonade keep foodies coming back again and again. Professional, friendly service is a plus.

Editor's Pick: Rumi
Honorable Mention: Alameen

Best French Restaurant

Maison Boulud

No one should be shocked to see that Maison Boulud has again been named best French restaurant. The beautiful setting and excellent service are part of the experience, but food is the focus. From the extravagant DB burger to excellent terrines and patés, to the post-prandial madeleines, MB's menu offers joyous epicurean indulgence.

Editor's Pick: Jaan
Honorable Mention: Le Petit Gourmand, Brasserie Flo, Le Manege

Chinese Restaurant of the Year

Din Tai Fung

The love just never runs out for this tried-and-true staple. The dumplings, including the famous shaomai and xiaolongbao, are off the hook, but other dishes hold their own. Everything from cold tofu to sautéed vegetables stand out for top quality ingredients and meticulous presentation. And the restaurant’s always adding new, delicious items to the menu, like the pork and black truffle dumplings introduced this June. Good service and a great kids’ playroom also earn top marks from readers.

Editor's Pick: In & Out
Honorable Mention: Kong Long Café

Best Buffet

Seasonal Tastes

The Westin Beijing Chaoyang knows its food, and the hotel’s buffet restaurant is no exception. The 11 food stations offer Chinese, Cantonese, Korean, Japanese, Indian, Italian and Western dishes, along with fresh seafood, salads and a dizzying array of desserts.

Editor's Pick: VIC (Sofitel Wanda)
Honorable Mention: Tairyo Teppanyaki, Café 99 (Regent Beijing)

Best Hot Pot

Hai Di Lao

“I honestly have nothing but good things to say about Hai Di Lao,” writes CW user lumdimsum about the perennial winner of our Readers’ Choice Awards. Many rave about the service, but it's also the addictive shrimp paste and hand-pulled noodles—made right at your table—that have hot pot lovers lining up for a table again and again.

Editor's Pick: Peking's Hotpot
Honorable Mention: Taiwan Xiabu Xiabu Hotpot

Best Sunday Brunch

Bubbalicious Sunday Brunch

Seasonal Tastes pulls out all the stops for their Sunday brunch, when the second floor of the Westin Beijing Chaoyang becomes one giant food fair, with tons of live cooking stations. You'll find smoothies and fresh juices, as well as free-flow wine, beer and Moët & Chandon.

Editor's Pick: SALT
Honorable Mention: Fizztastic (Hilton Wangfujing), Bubbly Sunday Brunch (Westin Financial Street), Mumm for Mums (Hilton Capital Airport)

Best Italian

Ristorante Sadler

Widely recognized for serving the most gourmet, best-executed Italian food in the capital, this beautiful restaurant is owned by two-star Michelin chef Claudio Sadler, who makes frequent appearances throughout the year. Expect stunning carpaccio, pasta and tiramisu, numerous wine dinners, a classy lunch special and one of the best brunches in the city.

Editor's Pick: La Pizza
Honorable Mention: Trattoria La Gondola, Barolo

Best Wine Selection

Enoterra

Moving from its location at The Place last fall to an opportune spot in Nali Patio, Enoterra established itself as Sanlitun’s only dedicated wine bar. There are more wines on offer than ever, and a changing selection of wines by the glass helps oenophiles discover new favorites. The new location is roomier than the original, with a rooftop terrace for sipping al fresco all summer.

Editor's Pick: Modo
Honorable Mention: Sureño

Best Mexican/Tex-Mex

Casa Latina

Since arriving on the Beijing dining scene last spring, Casa Latina has been the city’s undisputed leader in authentic Mexican cuisine. The enchiladas, fajitas and various Mexican soups all get high marks. Shanbyers raves, “LOVE LOVE LOVE this place! The crema poblano soup is absolutely amazing. We dream about it at night.”

Editor's Pick: Peter's Tex-Mex Grill
Honorable Mention: Tim's Texas BBQSureño

Best for Families

Seasonal Tastes

At Seasonal Tastes’ Bubbalicious brunch, the restaurant offers a kids' corner with a kids-only buffet, as well as tons of professionally supervised activities organized in partnership with Pop Dino Kids Club. During the week, the restaurant provides a great kids' menu, highchairs and kid-sized utensils.

Editor's Pick: Smallville
Honorable Mention: The Place (Langham Place)

Best American

Chef Too

Taking the concept of American cuisine well beyond the fast-food stereotype, Chef Too offers great quality, gourmet fare. Readers rave about the Sunday brunch, the succulent steaks and the all-American apple pie. This is also one of the most popular spots in the capital for Thanksgiving dinner. Chef Billy’s commitment—obsession, really—with sourcing quality ingredients means you’re sure to be eating food made with the best produce available. Just be sure to make reservations—this place is one of the few Beijing restaurants that's regularly fully booked. “Dead-on delicious,” asserts City Weekend web user lordofthefries, who says diners are safe ordering anything off the menu. User amayola says every bite during her visit was perfect, from the complimentary bread right down to the dessert. She ends her review: “Thank God for Chef Too. There's finally a true America in China!” Need we say more?

Editor's Pick: Element Fresh
Honorable Mention: American Steak & Eggs

Best Dessert

Lollipop Bakery

With fun, creative cupcakes (so good we put them on the cover!), Lollipop Bakery has forever changed the Beijing dessert scene. After its arrival, cupcakes started popping up all over the city, and Lollipop soared to the top of the CW buzz rankings. Readers rave about the red velvet flavor, but our favorite is the Earl Grey.

Editor's Pick: Aria
Honorable Mention: Comptoirs de France

Best New Restaurant

Modo

A new project from the owners of Mosto, Modo wowed diners this year with its stunning flavors, chic décor and excellent wine selection. "It's just paradise in the mouth,” wrote reviewer siennam. “Here I am, one week later, still dreaming of that meal,” added frankylu11. Small plates served to share offer a relaxed, communal dining experience not usually available in fine dining Western restaurants. We especially recommend the goat cheese tortelli and Wagyu meatball, and make sure you try out the fun Enomatic wine machine.

Editor's Pick: Ssam
Honorable Mention: Migas

Restaurant of the Year

Mosto

There are few places as deserving of our Restaurant of the Year award when it comes to consistent excellence in food, service and atmosphere. Owners Alex Molina and Daniel Urdaneta moved here in 2005 and 2006, respectively, and have since left an indelible mark on the Beijing dining scene. The pair are dedicated to constantly evolving and improving, and it’s this—as well as Chef Daniel’s gloriously delicious food—that keeps Mosto at the top of every Beijing dining enthusiast’s list.

Editor's Pick: Aria
Honorable Mention: Hatsune