Founded in 1822, Tong He Ju is one of the oldest Shandong restaurants in Beijing and was heralded the first of the ‘Big Eight’ eateries. The signboard itself is a historic relic, featuring handwriting by Emperor Puyi’s younger brother. Specialities such as braised cuttlefish roe in a spicy-sour glaze; cod fillet in distillers grain sauce; and san bu zhan, an egg yolk pudding fried with mung bean flour and sugar, all adhere strictly to old-time recipes.