Men Ding Rou Bing

Men Ding Rou Bing are thick, round meat pies named after the dome-shaped studs on Beijing's city gates. A seasoned beef filling (with onion, ginger, soy sauce, and sesame oil) is wrapped in a wheat flour dough and pan-fried until golden-brown. The crust is crispy on the outside, soft inside, and the filling is incredibly juicy — a hot burst of beef broth explodes with each bite. These are eaten hot, often with black vinegar for dipping.

📖 History

These meat pies date back to the Ming Dynasty, when they were sold to laborers working on the city walls. The name comes from their resemblance to the large bronze gate nails.