Food Recommendations in Quanzhou

Quanzhou's culinary scene is not only diverse but also constantly surprising. Any street stall might boast a time-honored establishment with exceptional cuisine, embarking on a journey of culinary delights. Because this city retains the charm of a millennium-old city, many of its delicacies have been passed down through generations and hold a legacy of locals' childhood memories. It's no wonder that Chen Xiaoqing, the director of "A Bite of China," remarked, "Nowhere else in China has as many delicious snacks as Quanzhou. Filming in Quanzhou took a full six months, making it the longest filming location in China."

Best of all, Quanzhou shares many culinary traditions with Taiwan, thanks to its shared proximity across the Taiwan Strait. You don't need a visa to cross the strait, nor do you have to worry about the commercial flavors of some Xiamen restaurants these days. Take a 20-minute train ride from Xiamen to explore Quanzhou's old streets and alleys, discovering the sculpted eaves and carved bricks and stonework. Along the way, you can savor authentic traditional flavors, Taiwanese delicacies, and the authentic Quanzhou flavors of southern Fujian in these unassuming little shops. Quanzhou has so many delicious options you could easily eat your way through a month without repeating yourself. A must-do for a foodie!

Mango with soy sauce

The name might suggest this dish is a dark one, but it's surprisingly delicious, with a perfectly balanced texture. Don't try it at home, though. Quanzhou's mango dip uses local mangoes, known as "suan'a" (in Minnan dialect), for its perfect texture. Slicing the mango and dipping it in soy sauce brings out the mango's natural sweetness. Every summer, you can find roadside stalls selling it for around 5 yuan a piece.

Earthworm Jelly

Earthworm jelly isn't a jelly-like product. It's actually a worm called a sandworm, a high-protein seafood. It's frozen into a round "pudding" and then served with garlic, soy sauce, and vinegar. It has a smooth, melt-in-your-mouth texture, while the earthworms have a nice, chewy texture. Anhai Earthworm Jelly is the most famous, and a must-try for the brave. It costs about 5 yuan each.

Noodle Soup

After the broadcast of "A Bite of China 2," noodle soup became the most representative Quanzhou delicacy. This traditional Quanzhou snack, a cross between a soup and rice noodles, can be paired with your choice of large intestines, vinegar-cured pork, and other ingredients. Fried dough sticks are the perfect complement to noodle soup. Quanzhou residents love to enjoy a bowl of it in the morning, which warms their stomachs and creates a comforting feeling.

Manjiangao

Quanzhou snacks are often associated with legendary stories, and Manjiangao (Manjiangao) is said to have been invented by Zuo Zongtang for easy portability during his marches. A Quanzhou breakfast specialty, Manjiangao resembles a pancake with candied winter melon and peanut powder sandwiched between. It's sweet, soft, and chewy, and paired with soy milk, it makes a perfect breakfast. They cost about 2 yuan each.

Garlic sticks

The traditional flavors of Quanzhou are truly captivating. Passed down through generations, the delicacy of garlic sticks remains undiminished. You'll find that the twisted dough twist, with its rich garlic aroma and icing sugar, pairs wonderfully. The crispy texture and crunchy texture create a delightful, childlike delight, like a child finally finding a treat. A bag costs around 10 yuan.

lard meal

When people in Quanzhou were young, they often ate "lard meal" at their dinner tables. In those days of scarcity, people would scrape off the fat from the pork they bought, use it for frying, and store the fried meat, using a little bit for each subsequent cooking. These days, it's becoming increasingly expensive, costing around 20 yuan a bag, but it's still salty, fragrant, and crispy. With a crispy "crunch," you can enjoy the rich, oily aroma of the fat and the charred flavor of the lean meat, filling your mouth with a delicious, crunchy flavor. It's a representative Southern Fujian snack and a perfect accompaniment to alcohol.

Bowl Cake

"Xia Mi Wan Gao?" means "What?" in Minnan dialect. For Quanzhou residents, Wan Gao represents a taste of home, a simple, sweet flavor. Unlike steamed buns or steamed bread, it's a dense, fluffy "little cake." Because it requires fermentation, it cracks after fermentation, so Wan Gao symbolizes "getting rich," and is eaten during the Spring Festival for good luck.

Food Court

The food court is a beacon for easily lost foodies. The 600-meter-long street is densely packed with a variety of famous dishes, from the often-crowded breakfast shop Guozai Noodle Soup, to the melt-in-your-mouth ginger duck, to the Laobing Food Stalls, which serves a variety of fresh seafood prepared in homely Minnan style. There's nothing you can't enjoy. Interspersed with a game arcade and a cinema, the all-in-one after-dinner leisure area is a true foodie delight.

Address: Food Street, Fengze District, Quanzhou City, Fujian Province
Transportation: Take a taxi from Quanzhou New Station for about 8 yuan
Reference price: 35 yuan/person

Cultural Palace Food Stalls

Food stalls are a beloved lifestyle for Quanzhou residents. Perhaps because the daytime heat is so intense, everyone loves to make the most of the evening by grabbing a late-night snack, drinking beer, and chatting at food stalls. The Cultural Palace food stalls are the busiest spot, with several stalls lined up in a row, offering a variety of side dishes like snails, shrimp, and vinegar pork. The Quanzhou people also enjoy the unique Minnan-style finger-guessing game, a lively affair that only quiets down in the late hours. Finding this spot means you've already successfully integrated into the city.

Address: Workers' Cultural Palace, No. 2 Jiuyi Street, Quanzhou City, Fujian Province
Reference price: 40 yuan/person
Transportation: Take a taxi from the New Station to the Cultural Palace for about 8 yuan

West Street Noodle Soup

This West Street Noodle Soup restaurant is a long-standing Quanzhou establishment. While its storefront is small, its flavor is guaranteed, and its ingredients are fresh. Many people come here for breakfast. After ordering the noodle soup, you can choose a few toppings and pay accordingly. West Street is home to many popular attractions, so breakfast here is a great way to kick off your trip.

Address: No. 17 West Street, Quanzhou City, Fujian Province
Contact: 0595-22253300
Transportation: Take a taxi from Quanzhou New Station, the fare is about 12 yuan
Reference price: 6 yuan/person

Grandma Hou's Roasted Pork Zongzi

The debate over whether zongzi (rice dumplings) are salty or sweet can easily spark a debate between the north and south, but once you've tasted Quanzhou's zongzi, who cares? Opening the freshly steamed zongzi reveals a generous chunk of carefully selected pork belly and half a firm braised egg, drizzled with a special seasoning that's fragrant and glutinous without being greasy. One zongzi is enough to fill you up, and you can also add a bowl of shuiwan soup to alleviate the greasiness, which is incredibly delicious. This unchanging flavor carries the memories of Quanzhou travelers, and only in Quanzhou can you find such culinary delights.

Address: No. 45, East Street, Licheng District, Quanzhou City, Fujian Province
Transportation: Take a taxi from Quanzhou New Station to the Bell Tower, the fare is about 10 yuan
Reference price: 10 yuan/person

Yanzhixiang Soup Dumplings

Yanzhixiang Soup Dumplings is a hidden gem tucked away in a small alleyway, nestled between Tumen Street and Zhongshan Road. Their signature dishes are the soup dumplings and crab roe dumplings, each with a thin wrapper and generous filling. They resemble small lanterns, each filled with a refreshing, yet refreshing, broth. While not a traditional Quanzhou delicacy, they are nonetheless rich in the flavors of the Jiangnan region.

Address: No. 12, Zulusu, Yanzhi Lane, Licheng District, Quanzhou City, Fujian Province (Zhongshan South Road)
Contact: 15159821387
Reference price: 15 yuan/person

Yuanfang Xiaolongbao

Yuanfang Xiaolongbao is a long-established shop. Their handmade dumplings and fish ball soup are both incredibly delicious. The steaming hot dumplings are enough to melt away the cold and fatigue. Dip them in Yongchun aged vinegar, one of the four famous vinegars, and you've got the flavor of Southern Fujian. Locals flock here for breakfast, but the ambiance is rather spartan and the service isn't particularly good.

Address: No. 379-383, Zhongshan South Road, Quanzhou, Fujian Province
Transportation: Take a taxi from the new train station to Zhongshan Road, the fare is about 8 yuan
Reference price: 6 yuan per basket of xiaolongbao

Qiaotou Vinegar Pork

Vinegar meat is a famous authentic Minnan snack in Quanzhou. It's deep-fried, vinegar-marinated lean meat, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with a subtle vinegar aroma. Qiaotou Vinegar Meat is a well-known, time-honored shop in Quanzhou. Every afternoon, a glass case opens at the bridgehead, and the aroma of vinegar meat can be smelled from afar. They also offer fried vegetable balls, fried meatballs, and fried chicken wings, all piping hot from the oven, making for a delicious bite! Despite being fried, they're not greasy at all. They sell out around 5 or 6 PM, so be sure to get there early if you want to try them!

Address: Yingjin Bridge, Yingjin Street, Licheng District, Quanzhou City, Fujian Province (near City Holiday Inn)
Transportation: 15 minutes walk from the new station
Reference price: 10 yuan/person

Original Pangong Braised Noodles

Yuanpangong Braised Noodles has a history of over a decade. Braised noodles are a Quanzhou specialty, with a fragrant, rich broth. It's a bit like Shaxian mixed noodles with a soupier texture, and the flavor is truly unique. You can add your own toppings, including seafood, meat, and vegetables, but be careful when adding toppings; adding too much can make the dish expensive.

Address: Nanjun New Street, Licheng District, Quanzhou, Fujian
Transportation: Take a taxi from Quanzhou New Station, the fare is about 12 yuan
Reference price: 20 yuan/person

Hao Cheng Cai Steak House

Don't mistake this for a Western-style steak. Quanzhou has numerous steakhouses, all of which are delicious and down-to-earth. Haochengcai Steakhouse, located across from Guandi Temple (see page 6), is a time-honored Quanzhou establishment established in 1910. Their bone-in beef is cooked for a long time, resulting in a melt-in-your-mouth texture without being tough, and the sinewy parts are perfectly chewy. Enjoy the steak with a bowl of salty rice, pour the broth over the rice, or enjoy it with Quanzhou's Gaozai chili sauce. It's simply divine.

Address: No. 221 Tumen Street, Licheng District, Quanzhou City, Fujian Province
Contact: 0595-22160502
Reference price: 20 yuan/person

Beef snacks for the masses

This restaurant, owned by the third generation, is a favorite among many Quanzhou veterans. Their oyster omelet is uniquely prepared, not pan-fried, but rather loosely cooked, allowing you to clearly taste the plump oysters. The rice dumplings and beef soup are also delicious; the beef soup is tender and the broth is flavorful.

Address: No. 436, Zhongshan South Road, Licheng District, Quanzhou City, Fujian Province
Reference price: Oyster omelet 6 yuan per plate, beef soup 5 yuan

Grilled chicken legs

Quanzhou Chicken Legs and Wings BBQ is simply amazing! Unlike regular barbecue, this place is smothered in a thick layer of their secret peanut sauce, giving it a salty-sweet flavor. The chicken legs and wings are a must-try. The owner is very friendly and usually opens at 2:30 pm and closes at 5 pm when they're sold out. If you're planning a beachside barbecue, call the owner in advance and he'll prepare all the ingredients and condiments you need, including their secret peanut sauce.

Address: No. 52, Jinyu Lane, Zhongshan Road, Licheng District, Quanzhou, Fujian Province
Contact: 13505923524
Transportation: Take a taxi from the new station for about 10 yuan
Reference price: 30 yuan/person

Fried Chicken Steak (next to the Second Central Primary School)

This place has no name, and the ambiance isn't fancy. The main issue is the boss's aggressive attitude. Their unique ordering system leaves many people feeling overwhelmed. You have to say something to the boss, then wait for her to call you to get your food. If you don't hear, the boss will get angry. So why is it always packed? Because the fried chicken here is incredibly delicious. In one word, "fragrant"! Deep-fried until crispy, right down to the bones, it's the best chicken cutlet in Quanzhou. They open at 3 p.m. and close when they're sold out around 7 or 8 p.m.

Address: Next to the Second Central Primary School, Duzixiang, Quanzhou City, Fujian Province
Transportation: Take a taxi from the new station for about 8 yuan
Reference price: 20 yuan/person

Green Apple Leisure Station

On the way from Nanjun Lane to Quanzhou No. 5 Middle School, there's a small fried chicken shop. Like any other snack shop near a school, it doesn't look like anything special from the outside, but it attracts crowds who fight with students for a seat just to eat. They offer a variety of items you won't find at other fried food places, like crispy skin and chicken skewers. The owner even leaves the seasonings on the table, letting you add chili powder, ketchup, and other ingredients to your liking after frying. It's a fun, semi-DIY experience.

Address: Guitan Lane, Quanzhou City, Fujian Province
How to get there: Take a taxi and stop at Baiyuan Road. The fare is about 8 yuan.
Reference price: 15 yuan/person

Yuanbao Taiwanese Snacks

Yuanbao Taiwanese Snacks is an affordable and delicious restaurant that's always packed at mealtime, offering a filling meal for just 20 yuan. Every table orders duck heads or duck tongues, along with Taiwanese snacks like oyster omelets and tempura. Main dishes include braised pork rice, shredded chicken rice, and pork chop rice. The proprietress, a Taiwanese native, is very welcoming and the service is excellent.

Address: No. 164, Yingjin Street, Fengze District, Quanzhou City, Fujian Province
Contact: 13285958998
Transportation: Take a taxi from Quanzhou New Station for 8 yuan, or walk for 20 minutes
Reference price: 20 yuan/person

Longmei Hotpot Restaurant

Is there a restaurant you know is filthy and awful, and the food has a 50% chance of giving you diarrhea, but you still can't help but crave it? Longmei Hot Pot Restaurant is one such restaurant. Quanzhou food isn't typically spicy, but this one is so spicy it'll leave your lips swollen and burning. Many people go to Longmei not just for the hot pot; their boiled pork slices and boiled fish are both delicious, and even though they're incredibly spicy, you can't help but scoop up some meat and shovel it into your mouth.

Address: No. 128, Jinban Road, Fengze District, Quanzhou City, Fujian Province
Contact: 0595-22562686
Reference price: 50 yuan/person

Time-honored ginger duck

Legend has it that ginger duck was a royal delicacy during the Han Dynasty. Fengze District's food street is packed with restaurants, including three or four ginger duck restaurants. The most famous, surprisingly, is the one with the least obvious name. It's located at the end of the food street, near Jiuyi Road. Their duck is cooked to perfection, the meat falls off the bone easily, and there's no earthy smell at all. The flavors of ginger and medicinal herbs are strong, making it quite nourishing.

Address: No. 25-27, Food Street, Fengze District, Quanzhou City, Fujian Province
Contact: 0595-22560600
Transportation: Take a taxi from Quanzhou New Station for about 8 yuan
Reference price: 60 yuan/person

Shishi Iceland Tea Restaurant

Iceberg Tea Restaurant in Shishi is always packed, and the wait is usually at least 10 minutes, whether weekend or weekday. Their signature fried chicken wings are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with just the right amount of saltiness. The honey-glazed cuttlefish balls are a perfect accompaniment. With nearly 100 dishes on the menu, you'll easily over-order, including Hong Kong-style snacks, Cantonese cuisine, and Southern Fujian dishes. Finish with a cantaloupe ice cream, the simple flavor evokes childhood memories.

Address: No. 130-132 Renmin Road, Hubin Street, Shishi City, Fujian Province (near Nongmao Road)
Contact: 0595-88876991
How to get there: Take a taxi from Quanzhou New Station, the fare is about 50 yuan
Reference price: 40 yuan/person

Sake-Raku Japanese Cuisine

Jiule is considered the most authentic Japanese restaurant in Quanzhou, with a distinctly Japanese decor. While prices are relatively high, the advantage lies in the freshness and quality of the ingredients. Sashimi lovers should definitely try it. The various sashimi slices are generously sliced, leaving each bite incredibly satisfying. The presentation of the food is also delightful, with the tableware and plating meticulously executed.

Address: No. 17, Building C4, Nanjun North Road, Quanzhou City, Fujian Province
Website: 0595-22160606
How to get there: Take a taxi from the new station, the fare is about 12 yuan
Reference price: 300 yuan/person

Shiofuku Castle

Chaofucheng is Quanzhou's most popular Hong Kong-style dim sum spot. Their chicken feet, steamed pork ribs, and fried pigeon are all delicious. With so many dishes, it can be hard to decide which one to order. The overall service and atmosphere are excellent, and with a 50% discount after 9 PM, it's a great choice for a late-night snack.

Address: Baoshan Garden, Donghai Town, Quanzhou City, Fujian Province
Contact: 0595-22918333
Transportation: Take a taxi from the new station for about 15 yuan
Reference price: 70 yuan/person

Hing Kee Typhoon Shelter Fried Crab Restaurant

Quanzhou is a coastal city, so the freshness of its seafood is undeniable. The fried crab, available in three flavors, is plump and delicious with the sautéed garlic. The egg tarts in the water cage are smooth and tender, with a crispy crust. The tarts are tall and require a spoon to scoop. The portions are generous, and the service is excellent. This restaurant is a highly recommended spot for seafood.

Address: Building 15, Zhenwu Temple Food City, Fengze District, Quanzhou City, Fujian Province
Contact: 15980081612
Transportation: Take a taxi from Quanzhou New Station for about 15 yuan
Reference price: 150 yuan/person

Bingzhengtang Four Fruit Soup

Bingzhengtang Four Fruit Soup has won numerous awards and has opened numerous branches, but the most authentic and established location is the one next to the Tianhou Temple. Four Fruit Soup consists of honey syrup with four toppings: fruit, white fungus, grass jelly, taro, pearls, and agar-agar. You can choose your own, but generally stick to three, as agar-agar is a must-try. Made from a natural plant called agar-agar, it's crystal clear and has a smooth texture. A bowl of Four Fruit Soup on a scorching summer day can instantly lower the temperature by ten degrees.

Address: No. 1-3 Tianhou Road, Fengze District, Quanzhou City, Fujian Province
Transportation: Take a taxi from the new station for about 8 yuan
Reference price: 6 yuan

Yixin Ice Cream

Yixin's super mango shaved ice and taro shaved ice are both incredibly delicious, using fresh ingredients. The shaved ice that doesn't melt easily is the real deal, and you can tell they use real ingredients. The owner, a native of Yilan, Taiwan, is very welcoming and always greets you with "Mei Ni" or "Handsome Guy." In the summer, even tables are set up on the street, and there's still not enough seating.

Address: Liuguan Road, Fengze District, Quanzhou City, Fujian Province
Contact: 15392239265
Transportation: Take a taxi from Quanzhou New Station for about 8 yuan
Reference price: 15 yuan/person

Slimey

Slimee, a Quanzhou-based restaurant originally from Xiamen, has a great reputation. Their "fruit ice" consists of a base of shaved ice topped with a special blend of milk, and fresh fruit spreads across the entire surface. Thick mango jam and milk add to the mix, making the ice truly bland. The essence of Slimee's shaved ice lies in the jam and milk. Start at the bottom (the key point), and enjoy a spoonful of ice with a piece of fruit for the ultimate experience.

Address: No. 7, Building D10, Nanjunxin Street, Quanzhou City, Fujian Province (at the entrance of the Party School)
Contact: 0595-36335888
Transportation: Take a taxi from Quanzhou New Station for about 11 yuan
Reference price: 20 yuan/person

KoiCafé

This is a magical drink shop—you just can't stop craving it. Even though it's a small window with no seating, many people still go there specifically to buy. I recommend the black tea macchiato; you don't need a straw; the waiter will make a small opening in the cup so you can drink directly from it, enjoying both the foamed milk and the black tea. Their signature golden bubble tea and latte are also delicious.

Address: No. 19, West Street, Licheng District, Quanzhou City, Fujian Province (near the theater)
Contact: 0595-22005189
Transportation: Take a taxi from Quanzhou New Station for about 11 yuan
Reference price: 20 yuan/person

Maritime Silk Road Golden Phoenix

All of Haisi Jinfeng's desserts are handmade. The owner's grandfather was a sweet seller near the Fuwen Temple in the late Qing and early Ming dynasties. Yuanxiao (Chinese lantern dumplings) are the shop's most popular, boasting a delicious, nostalgic flavor. During the Lantern Festival, Quanzhou residents line up to buy them. Their taro paste, sprinkled with black sesame seeds, is also a specialty, creating a rich, fragrant flavor in every bite. In the summer, their handmade tofu pudding is incredibly popular; the shop's chilled sweet tofu pudding, fresh from the freezer, is a true summer treat.

Address: No. 5, Jinyu Lane, Licheng District, Quanzhou City, Fujian Province
Contact: 0595-22880255
Transportation: Take a taxi from Quanzhou New Station for about 10 yuan
Reference price: Yuanxiao Yuan (4 yuan per bowl), rock sugar lotus seed soup (6 yuan per bowl), tofu pudding (4 yuan per bowl)

Donglai radish sour

This is a long-established shop that specializes in "cai tousan," essentially pickled radish. A thin slice, crisp, sour, and sweet, is incredibly appetizing. They also offer carambola and radish water, available in cups and bottles, perfect for quenching thirst in the summer.

Address: No. 3, Jinyu Lane, Zhongshan Road, Licheng District, Quanzhou City, Fujian Province
Transportation: Take a taxi from Quanzhou New Station for about 10 yuan
Reference price: 5 yuan

Yanbao Pavilion

Quanzhou residents place a high priority on maintaining their health, so you'll often see shops selling supplements. Yanbao Pavilion on Tian'an Road stands out from other shops in that, in addition to selling boxed bird's nests and cordyceps, you can also choose freshly brewed bird's nests to drink right in the shop. The decor is elegant, and the service is excellent. Recommended dishes include the American ginseng and rock sugar bird's nest and the autumn pear bird's nest.

Address: No. 683, Tian'an South Road, Fengze District, Quanzhou City, Fujian Province
Contact: 0595-22576728
Transportation: Take a taxi from Quanzhou New Station, the fare is about 8 yuan
Reference price: Royal Bird's Nest 128 yuan/cup, Blood Bird's Nest 158 ​​yuan/cup, Snow Clam 35 yuan/cup, Abalone and Cordyceps 298 yuan/cup