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In Sanya, fresh tropical fruit is as common as coconut trees, and crowds clutching coconuts are everywhere. The juicy fresh seafood will captivate you from start to finish. Shopping for ingredients at the seafood market and then having a hearty seafood feast prepared by a processing shop is a must-do in Sanya. Besides seafood, authentic Hainan's four signature dishes and authentic Hainan snacks are also must-try. While enjoying seafood at the First Market, consider stopping by the Baoluo Noodle Shop at the corner to indulge. Furthermore, Sanya's proximity to Southeast Asia to the west makes Thai cuisine particularly popular, especially at the Thai restaurants in some of Yalong Bay's upscale hotels, which are both highly regarded and popular.
Authentic Wenchang Chicken, named after its origin in Wenchang City, is made from carefully selected, domesticated chickens raised using a unique recipe. This dish boasts a glossy color, a mellow flavor, and tender bones. It's smooth yet not greasy, fragrant yet refreshing, and boasts a light, refreshing flavor, making it a delight for anyone from anywhere.
Hele crab is famous for its hard shell and rich meat. It can be cooked in a variety of ways, including steaming, boiling, stir-frying and roasting, each with its own characteristics. Steaming is the best way to preserve the freshness of the original flavor and the beauty of the original shape. The porridge cooked with Hele crab is sweet and fragrant, and it is also a good way to enjoy the original flavor of Hele crab.
Jiaji ducks, also known as "Muscovy ducks," have red crowns, yellow webbed feet, and black and white feathers. The unique breeding methods employed in the Jiaji area of Qionghai City result in large breasts, thin skin, soft bones, and tender meat. They are fatty yet not greasy, hence the name "Jiaji duck." Jiaji ducks can be prepared in three ways: boiled duck, pressed duck, and roasted duck, all of which are delicious.
Dongshan goat is produced in Dongshanling, Wanning City. Its coat is jet black, its meat is fat and rich, and it is fresh, not smelling of mutton. Its texture is delicious, and its skin is smooth and its meat is tender. Dongshan goat can be prepared in a variety of ways, including roasting, stewing, and boiling, each with its own unique characteristics.
This is a local favorite and a long-standing Sanya establishment. The dishes are all light and simple, with Wenchang chicken being tender, Dongshan lamb stewed to perfection, and coconut rice fragrant but not greasy. The prices are reasonable, so if you're looking for authentic Hainan cuisine, give it a try.
Address: No. 138 Xinfeng Street, Sanya City
Tel: 0898-88276962; 0898-88362388
Shiwei Restaurant specializes in authentic Hainanese cuisine, renowned for its delicious and affordable cuisine. The dining environment is pleasant, and the service is friendly and welcoming. The dishes are delicious, with Shiwei Bone Soup and Wenchang Chicken being its signature dishes, popular with locals and tourists alike.
Address: 1st Floor, Building B, Phase 1, Changda Seaview Garden, Sanya Bay Road, Sanya City
Contact: 0898-88835566
Transportation: Take bus No. 8, 11, 15, 20, 25, or 26 and get off at Xinfengjiekou Station
This amazing restaurant offers shuttle service. Besides excellent Hainanese dishes like Wenchang Chicken, the seafood is also reasonably priced and fair. Located in a unique orchard, the owner is friendly and the service is exceptionally attentive. However, due to the presence of mosquitoes in the area, the restaurant thoughtfully provides mosquito repellent.
Address: Turn onto Longjiang Road from Haitang North Road, Sanya, and go 600 meters to the left (900 meters from DoubleTree by Hilton Haitang Bay)
Tel: 15120871088; 15120871288
Baoluo noodles, a famous Hainan local snack, are made with rice noodles, a delicious broth, and a variety of condiments. The noodles are white, soft, and smooth, while the hot, flavorful broth and the condiments are fragrant and chewy, not greasy or smelly, but fresh, slightly sour, and spicy, making them incredibly appetizing.
Xiaozheng Baoluo Noodles, once known as "authentic Baoluo Noodles," is located on the riverside of the First Market and is a popular spot for locals. Their authentic and delicious Baoluo noodles, topped with a hint of yellow chili, are truly divine. Their coconut milk qingbuliang (clear soup) is also a popular summertime treat.
Address: No. 33-34 Hexi Road, Sanya City (near the Sanya Riverside, First Market)
Tel: 0898-88142010; 13307595298
Transportation: Take Bus No. 1, 10, 16, 2, 7 Inner Ring, 7 Outer Ring, 8, 12, or 22 and get off at "Yishanglukou" Station
Qingbuliang is a popular icy dessert on tropical Hainan Island. Made with a variety of ingredients, including red beans (mung beans), barley, peanuts, macaroni, coconut meat, red dates, watermelon and pineapple cubes, jelly, and coconut milk, it's refreshing, thirst-quenching, and deliciously healthy.
This is a famous Qingbuliang restaurant in Sanya. The store is small and there are few tables, but the taste is very good. The coconut milk Qingbuliang is added with coix seed, watermelon, cantaloupe, raisins, mung beans, etc., which is moisturizing, refreshing, and delicious.
Address: No. 2 Shangpin Street Avenue, Sanya City (near the first lane of Shangpin Street)
Tel: 0898-88360800
Coconut chicken is a Hainan dish made with local ingredients. It is made by steaming fresh coconut and tender chicken. It has a salty and fresh taste with a fragrant coconut flavor. The soup is refreshing but extremely delicious, and has the effect of invigorating qi and promoting salivation.
If you're craving the perfect combination of coconut and chicken, this restaurant has it all. The coconut is freshly harvested, and the soup is incredibly delicious. The Hainanese seasoning, with the addition of citrus, creates a refreshingly sweet and sour flavor. Add a variety of side dishes to the soup, and the richness grows with each sip.
Address: No. 221, Hexi Road, Hexi District, Sanya (Pearl Plaza)
Tel: 0898-88361059
Fried ice is a unique Sanya dessert perfect for cooling off on summer nights. Fresh tropical fruit juice is squeezed, mixed with condensed milk, and then quickly stir-fried on a condensation plate until it becomes ice. Adding a variety of seasonal fruits creates a uniquely flavorful fried ice. You'll find fried ice stalls in busy markets like the First Market.
You can find fruit shaved ice in every major market in Sanya, but Yunjie's is incredibly popular. The owner is incredibly welcoming and attentive to every customer's needs. The portions are generous, and the secret is to add some milk for a more flavorful finish.
Address: Outside the Seafood Plaza, Youyi Community, middle section of Youyi Road, Hexi District, Sanya (near Lantian Garden)
Tel: 15103071459
Coconut rice, also known as "coconut boat", is made with a very unique method. It is made by steaming Hainan's high-quality glutinous rice, natural coconut meat and coconut milk together. It is a traditional Hainan farm snack and is now mostly used as a staple food.
How can you miss seafood in Sanya? Sanya is truly a place where seafood abounds, with numerous seafood restaurants lining the streets. However, prices and quality can vary considerably. A good place to start is by visiting one of Sanya's local seafood markets. There, you can personally select the ingredients, bargain with the vendors, and then transform your bountiful catch into a sumptuous seafood feast at one of the market's processing shops (they charge a processing fee).
Snails and shellfish are best stir-fried with chili or scallions and ginger, creating a fragrant and spicy flavor. Hele crabs and live fish are naturally best steamed. Squid and mantis shrimp are even better with salt and pepper. Lobster can be half steamed and half boiled in lobster congee. Abalone is recommended for steaming with garlic. Sea urchin can be steamed with an egg.
Never eat at any cheap food stalls in the market that are handing out business cards, soliciting customers, or offering free rides. This is a common tactic used to rip you off. The actual price will definitely not be what's on the card, and it's a forced sale. If you encounter this, leave immediately. You might be followed, but don't worry; just walk away firmly.
The First Market has become the premier destination for Sanya seafood, offering fresh, vibrant seafood at affordable prices. The integrated sourcing and processing service makes dining worry-free. You can also sample a variety of Hainanese snacks, such as fried ice and baoluo noodles. At night, the market becomes a bustling night market selling a variety of jewelry and handicrafts.
Transportation: Take Bus No. 1, 10, 16, 2, 7 Inner Ring Road, 7 Outer Ring Road, 8, 12, or 22 and get off at "Yishanglukou" Station
Chunyuan Seafood Plaza is another major seafood processing market in Sanya, featuring a variety of seafood stalls neatly arranged here. You can choose one and the owner will take you to the market to select the seafood. The operation is similar to the First Market. However, tourists generally believe that prices here are higher than those in the First Market, so it's worth inquiring about prices and processing fees before making a decision.
Transportation: Take bus No. 3 or No. 12 and get off at "Chunyuan Seafood Plaza" stop;
1. The full name of Chun Yuan is "Chun Yuan Seafood Plaza." It's not the Chun Yuan food stall 300 meters away, nor is it "Chun Yuan" or "Chun Yuan." The real "Chun Yuan Seafood Plaza" is marked by the Ming Run and 168 Seafood signs across the plaza.
2. The dining environment at Chun Yuan is not very good. The food stalls are rather messy and the air circulation is not good enough.
3. Some tourists often choose to purchase seafood at the First Market and then take it to Spring Garden for processing. This is because seafood at the First Market is cheaper than at Spring Garden, and the processing fees at each food stall in Spring Garden are generally consistent (a typical processing fee is 5-10 yuan per jin (approximately 100g). Scallops and oysters are charged a per-piece processing fee of 3 yuan each).
The seafood processing model here is similar to that of the First Market and Chunyuan, and tourists generally consider it more expensive than the First Market. However, the food stalls here are largely transparent about the processing process (cooking and eating are often done in the same space), so there's no need to worry about the seafood being swapped. It's less crowded than the First Market, so those who prefer a quieter environment might want to visit here.
Transportation: Take bus No. 15 and get off at "Shijiuxiao" station; take bus No. 2, No. 3, No. 4, No. 10 inner ring, No. 10 outer ring, No. 12, No. 16 and get off at "Youyilukou" station, and walk along "Youyi Street" for about 250 meters.
A Jiangsu-based owner and several Sichuanese chefs opened a seafood restaurant on Xinmin Street in Sanya's First Market. Adhering to Hua Jie Jia's philosophy of exclusively serving live seafood, they've dedicated five years to building a strong reputation, ultimately earning the restaurant a spot as one of Sanya's ten unique specialties. With clear pricing and honesty, you can be assured of the seafood they process here.
Address: No. 132, Xinmin Street, Hexi District, Sanya City
Contact number: 15289777717
Xiao Huzi Seafood Processing Shop is a long-established brand that has been operating for ten years. Many foodies have mentioned this place in their travelogues. Remember to make reservations in advance, as it is very popular during peak season.
Address: No. 126, Xinmin Street, Sanya City, near the First Market
Reservation phone number: 15109887031 13807536864
Sanya Yingjie Delicious Restaurant is just 60 meters from the First Market, Sanya's largest seafood wholesale market. The owner, a native of Chongqing, incorporates Sichuan flavors into her seafood dishes. Their signature dishes include spicy crab, salt and pepper shrimp, and stir-fried shellfish.
Address: No. 147 Xinmin Street, Sanya City
Reservation phone number: 13697595939
Beyond the down-to-earth seafood markets, Sanya's upscale hotels also boast a wealth of culinary delights. Several hotels, mostly located in Yalong Bay and Dadonghai, are renowned for their gourmet restaurants, with Thai cuisine being particularly popular. Even if you're not staying at a hotel, it's worth a try at these popular hotel restaurants.
This is Yalong Bay's most reputable Thai restaurant, said to offer authentic Thai cuisine, reliving the experience of being in Thailand. However, the average cost per person is relatively high (300 RMB per person), and there's also a service charge. Despite this, it still attracts many tourists.
Address: Inside the Yalong Bay Mangrove Resort Hotel, Sanya
Tel: 0898-88558888
This Thai restaurant is located in the mountains of Yalong Bay National Forest Park. Night is the best time to dine (it is strongly recommended to reserve outdoor seats), because at this time there are not only resident singers performing soft music, but also overlooking the night view of Yalong Bay. The taste of the food is even more intoxicating.
Address: Bird's Nest Resort, Yalong Bay National Tourism Resort, Sanya
Tel: 0898-38853888
This is the in-house restaurant of the Jinmao Sanya Ritz-Carlton Hotel. Part of the restaurant is located on the beach, facing the sea, and next to the hotel's infinity pool. The environment is unique and romantic, but you must be careful to prevent mosquitoes. It mainly serves Western meals and barbecue food. The service is absolutely warm and considerate. A 15% service charge will be added.
Address: Outdoor area of the Ritz-Carlton, Sanya, Yalong Bay, Sanya
Tel: 0898-88988888
This seaside restaurant is located in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Dadonghai. It offers Japanese sashimi, Western dishes and a variety of seafood barbecues. The taste is widely praised, and the service is very warm (a service charge is required). The dining environment here is very pleasant, and the tables face the beach and sea of Dadonghai. When night falls, you can dine under the swaying coconut palms and twinkling stars, which feels very special.
Address: No. 12, Yuhai Road, Sanya City (near Dadonghai)
Tel: 0898-88209999
Yintai's seafood BBQ dinner is quite famous in Sanya. They offer a wide variety of BBQ dishes, and the Yintai Hotel's ambiance is cozy. The lakeside breeze, the sounds of a Filipino band, and the flickering candlelight create a truly romantic evening. The suggested price per person is 198 yuan, so be sure to book in advance.
Address: No. 88 Haihua Road, Sanya City, Xiangtou Yintai Resort Hotel
Tel: 0898-8821088
Sanya's Nanshan District is a renowned longevity spot nationwide. The phrase "May you be blessed as vast as the East Sea and live as long as the Nanshan Mountains" is a familiar one. While you're in Nanshan, a place known for its longevity, why not try the unique Nanshan Vegetarian Restaurant? Using local wild vegetables, grains, mushrooms, taro, tofu, and specialty fruits, Nanshan Vegetarian Restaurant utilizes modern cooking techniques. While the dishes resemble meat in both taste and form, they are actually authentic vegetarian dishes.
Yuanqilou, located within the Nanshan Cultural Park, is Hainan Province's largest vegetarian restaurant, offering nearly 100 varieties of vegetarian dishes (available in both buffet and à la carte options, with the buffet costing 78 yuan per person). Please note that you must purchase a ticket to enter Nanshan before enjoying the buffet.
Address: Nanshan Temple, Nanshan Scenic Area, Sanya Tourist Area
Contact: 0898-88837923