Beijing Opera

I’m Nick Hamman and this is a special one, which any lover of good food needs to know about and if you haven’t ever heard of this spot, don’t worry, because landing on this video is about to change that for you.

This is Yangisung, a stalwart of the South African food scene who has dedicated her life to preserving Chinese food and culture, writing about and of course deliciously preparing her heritage through a plate.

Hidden here, in Blairgowrie Johannesburg, this is Beijing Opera. A small, humble spot from where some of the most incredible food is being made and served. In recent years, South Africa’s understanding of Chinese food as among the most diverse in the world is the result of the efforts of people like Yangisung , whose love of food is deeply linked to history, culture, family and flavour.

Her heritage lies in the South between Canton and Guangdong , with roots in both Hakka and Teochew , and this is reflected in her food.

Here, everything is made from scratch, with the best ingredients sourced from places she’s uncovered through her curious exploration of the city. The tiles of the store are the same ones from her grandmother’s home.

Here, the food is slow, the environment cozy and the experience unmatched, and the menu changes constantly, so if you want to know what she’s serving, give them a follow, but expect flavour-packed dumplings, rich hearty broths, deliciously slurp-worthy noodles, flavour-packed baos and more that will fill your belly and feed your soul.

To me, spots like this are not only beautiful, but important, and if you agree, drop a comment, any comment at all, to make sure that Beijing Opera gets the delicious attention it deserves.

Address: 98 Conrad Drive, Delta Heights, Blairgowrie, Johannesburg