British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s first meal in Beijing at a Yunnan restaurant highlights regional Chinese cuisine and a moment of cultural exchange.
When Keir Starmer arrived in Beijing on January 28th, his first stop was not a government hall or official venue, but a Yunnan restaurant in the city’s Sanlitun area. This choice quickly drew attention online.
The restaurant In & Out (Yi Zuo Yi Wang, 一坐一忘) is a popular Chinese chain known for its Yunnan cuisine. Located near Beijing’s embassy area, it has long been a familiar dining spot for diplomats and foreign visitors. Starmer’s visit added a new chapter to its growing international profile.
Starmer was not the first foreign official to dine there. Former US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen also chose the same restaurant for her first meal in Beijing during her July 2023 visit.
Cultural Moment During Starmer’s Dinner
On the evening of January 28th, the restaurant shared a short video on its official social media account showing Starmer posing for photos with staff after dining at its Sanlitun branch.
During the interaction, restaurant staff presented him with a traditional Yunnan folk print known as Jiama (甲马), a woodblock artwork commonly used to convey blessings. The print featured the phrase “Soaring in the Year of the Horse.” As they took photos together, the staff wished him a happy New Year, and Starmer responded with a smile, saying “xie xie”, which means “thank you” in Chinese.
Jiama has long been part of folk traditions in Yunnan, especially among the Bai ethnic group. Locals see it as a symbolic “messenger of blessings,” created by carving wishes onto wooden blocks and printing them on paper.
A Familiar Choice for Foreign Visitors
The restaurant’s connection with foreign officials is not accidental.
When Yellen visited Beijing in 2023, she came to the restaurant on the recommendation of colleagues working in China. According to He Xiangming, manager of the Sanlitun branch, Yellen showed strong interest in Yunnan cuisine and ordered four portions of “Jian Shou Qing”, a well-known wild mushroom dish.
Starmer’s visit followed a similar path. His group ordered several dishes featuring wild mushrooms, a signature ingredient in Yunnan cooking. Members of the delegation praised the food, the restaurant said.
That appeal is closely tied to the restaurant’s approach to ingredients and cooking. About 70 per cent of the restaurant’s ingredients come directly from Yunnan, with fresh produce flown to Beijing two to three times a week. While the cooking methods remain traditional, the restaurant reduces oil and salt and avoids using monosodium glutamate to make the flavours more approachable for international guests.
Yunnan Flavours from Local Kitchens to Global Guests
In & Out’s kitchens reflect Yunnan’s cultural diversity. About 90 per cent of its employees come from the province, spanning 15 ethnic groups. He Xiangming, a Naxi native from Lijiang, has worked with the brand for a decade.
“We hope foreign guests enjoy the food and get to know Yunnan better,” she said. “At the same time, we are improving our English so we can communicate better.”
Yunnan is one of China’s most biologically diverse regions for edible wild mushrooms. The province is home to around 900 species, accounting for more than 90 per cent of China’s edible mushroom varieties. In recent years, mushrooms such as “Jian Shou Qing” have moved from local markets to national menus and online food trends.
For many foreign visitors, moments like these unfold outside official schedules and formal meetings. A single meal can offer a quieter form of connection — one shaped by taste, tradition, and everyday experience, as experienced by Starmer during his Beijing visit.
If you like this article, why not read: British PM Keir Starmer Begins Official Visit to China
