Jing-A Goes (Slightly) Upscale With New CBD Location

If you’ve been around the CBD this past week and the air smelled a bit hoppier, that’s because Jing-A was in the midst of a wildly successful soft opening for their brand new location on the first floor of the Kerry Center. In fact, we checked it out on Wednesday and by 7pm every table in the place was filled, a testament to the devout following and enduring reputation the team has garnered over the years.

Housed in the old Stone Brewing Tap Room, Jing-A CBD is a sprawling 260 seat spot divided into three areas: the main dining hall, a small café accessible from inside the Kerry Center, and plenty of outdoor tables to post up during the brief respite between Beijing's crushing summer heat and the biting cold of winter. What's more, the patio boasts unparalleled views of the iconic CCTV tower, and a few tables with an impeccable vantage point have already caught the attention of Beijing's savviest social media crowd.

Despite having a menu that skews slightly more refined, there's no pretension at Jing-A CBD, and it's still the humble hometown brewery and gastropub that we all know and love. Much like Longfusi, one wall in the main dining area features a colorful mural by Chinese artist FCCK, depicting a sci-fi takeover of the 90s Beijing of his childhood, and lending the space that definitive neighborhood feel Jing-A is so adept at cultivating. In a first for the brewery, there's a dedicated cafe-den space set off the main room outfitted with couches, small tables, and an electric fireplace. In addition to a full coffee bar serving Big Small Coffee alongside muffins, croissants, and other baked goods, there's also a fridge stocked with rare brews from around the world that can be purchased to-go or to be enjoyed on site.

Jing-A is nothing if not distinguished, and the CBD location is no different. Whereas Longfusi has become well-known for its Italian-adjacent fare and Xingfucun is where you go for a hearty BBQ fix, CBD has taken a slightly more upscale approach with dishes such as the Moroccan tagine with braised cauliflower, almonds, apricots, and olives on a bed of couscous (RMB 95), crab cakes with mashed potato, sesame slaw, and house mustard sauce (RMB 140), and a 1.2kg charcoal grilled Australian tomahawk steak served with roasted potatoes, horseradish cream, red wine jus, cabbage wedge, and mini Yorkshire puddings. The dish runs RMB 780, however, given that it feeds three to four people, the price tag is a hell of a lot more reasonable than first impressions let on.

There are still a few fan favorites such as the cheeseburger (with optional Beyond Meat patty) and crispy chicken sandwich, although both of the CBD iterations have slightly fancier additions, such as slow-cooked tomatoes and sautéed shallots adorning the burger.

Of course, you're going to find all of the classic Jing-A brews and seasonal and guest beers on tap, however, there's also a comprehensive liquor selection as well as an organic wine menu featuring red, white, sparkling, and orange varietals sourced from France, Spain, Australia, and China's Xinjiang region. As for those beers, though, they're poured through Stone Brewing's proprietary Flux Capacitor, a digitized keg distribution system that ensures perfect pours at the ideal temperature, every time. Doc Brown would be proud – and probably a little tipsy.

Needless to say, over the past few years Jing-A has carved out a special spot in the hearts of Beijing and its residents, and given their ability to create wholly unique menus and locations that remain decidedly grounded in their award-winning brand, we couldn't be more thrilled to welcome Jing-A CBD to the city.

Images courtesy of Jing-A