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Although many Chinese may not have had the pleasure of dining at Ai Jiang Shan, most of them have heard of it. Certainly this Zen-like restaurant with its highly attentive service staff and fresh meats is worthy of recognition throughout Beijing, however, Ai Jiang Shan is renown for another reason.

This Korean barbeque restaurant very cleverly named itself after a traditional Chinese saying: ai jiang shan geng ai mei ren(Chinese Pin Yin). Ai jiang shan literally means to love rivers and mountains but, figuratively, it means to love power. Geng ai nu ren means to love women more (than power). Romantics like to think that a woman can conquer and domesticate a man’s heart and cause him to forgo his ambition for power. The restaurant, Ai Jiang Shan, cleverly leaves out the second part of the saying because it is a restaurant for the affluent and powerful in Beijing.

Ai Jiang Shan welcomes all patrons, yet most of its patrons are business people who come to the restaurant to discuss money and the power it could purchase. The restaurant is well equipped for entrepreneurs and their potential business partners because it as a total of thirty-five private rooms with a capacity ranging from eight to sixty people. In business, it’s wise to strategize and plan ahead of time. As these private rooms fill up fast, it’s best to reserve one before 4 p.m.

Opened in March 2006, this high-end Korean barbeque restaurant has really perfected its business practices and recipes. The restaurant provides a peaceful, natural environment for diners. Patrons dine in a room with stones, streams and real, leafless trees. Zen-like music plays in the background to complete the tranquil atmosphere. Every night, from 6-9 p.m., the restaurant gives its C.D. player a rest as live musicians play.

Prices at this restaurant are a little steep, but quality meat and service come at a price. Ai Jiang Shan takes pride in its selection of ingredients. It goes so far as to import seaweed from Korea for the soup included in its Dynasty Style Table d’hole. It is the only Korean barbeque restaurant to do so. Ai Jiang Shan has also given up the cylinders and scraps of coal so commonly found throughout China and Beijing. It opts to grill meat over hardwood charcoal, a type of coal that servers say costs five times that of regular coal. Hardwood charcoal, according to the server, is healthier and less likely to cause cancer.

One of the restaurant’s best assets is that you could have fresh Korean barbeque without actually having to cook the meat yourself. Servers grill your meat to perfection, leaving you free to talk shop or enjoy your party’s conversation while you nibble on the colorful arrangement of banchan or side dishes on your table. These side dishes come with your meat dishes. Albeit your selection of banchan vary based on which meat dish you ordered, you will certainly have a side of kimchee or spicy, pickled cabbage.

Sirloin Beef (with sauce) is the most popular dish on the menu. In fact, many Koreans order this dish to take home for the Spring Festival. The Premium Filet Beef Rib also comes highly recommended. Regardless, all of Ai Jiang Shan’s meats are fresh and succulent.

These meat dishes come with a selection of four sauces. You’re free to try the meat with any of the sauces, but true Korean barbeque connoisseurs know which sauces goes with which meats. (The Premium Filet Beef Rib goes with the salt and soy sauce.) Don’t fret if you’re unsure. Just ask the server grilling your meat at the end of your table. He or she will be more than happy to point out the finer points of Korean dining habits. For example, your server might tell you not to use a gigantic leaf of lettuce to wrap your meat. Just rip off an adequate piece. Your meat can optionally be accompanied with some bean paste and garlic. Don’t put the banchan into the wrap. These side goodies should be enjoyed by themselves, adding a variety of spicy and salty flavors to your palate.

After all this pungent, flavorful, spicy, and salty food, shock your senses with some sweets. A complimentary shave ice topped with red beans and condensed milk rounds out your meal and calms your taste buds.

With its superior service, serene ambiance and succulent meats, Ai Jiang Shan is definitely worthy of a visit.

by Zen Vuong

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