Daxing Hutong Miancha

Starting at 6am every morning, you'll notice a motley crew of schoolchildren, middle-aged office workers and grandparents collected around the red doorway of 7 Daxing Hutong, just off Jiaodaokou Nan Dajie. Everyone has a bowl in hand and is attentively sipping on miancha (面茶) or 'flour tea' – a traditional old Beijing millet and rice flour porridge topped with a thick layer of sesame paste and a sprinkle of sesame seeds. 

Wander back into the hutong courtyard to the husband-and-wife team's tiny kitchen (they've been running this breakfast operation out of their home since 1994) and make your order (3RMB per bowl, pay after).