🥢 Dalian's Gourmet Road! A Guide to Local Restaurants 🇨🇳

Dalian, a port city, is brimming with fresh seafood and the charm of Northern Chinese cuisine!

I'm sharing a culinary tour of the best restaurants where locals line up.

(1-2: Mingji Kaoyu)
We started with the addictive Mingji Kaoyu (鸣记烤鱼)! While there are many Kaoyu restaurants in Korea, the authentic flavors are on a whole other level.
The fish skin is fried until crispy and then simmered in a spicy yet savory garlic sauce. The fresh fish and the sauce were perfectly balanced.
It's a perfect accompaniment to rice, and the lamb skewers on the side are fantastic! This is a must-visit restaurant when you visit Dalian.

(3-4: Hot Pot
When you crave hot soup, try hot pot!

The hot pot restaurant I visited this time offered a variety of soups, with both white and red broths, and above all, the fresh seafood and meat were of the highest quality. (Tip: In Dalian, where seafood is fresh, I recommend ordering a half-and-half order of mild broths like clam soup and spicy red broth!) They also had a self-service bar where you could mix and match various sauces to suit your taste. It was perfect for warming up on a cold day.

(5-6: Sea Urchin Dumplings & Green Onion Oil Noodles)
To try Dalian's specialty, sea urchin roe, I visited a local dumpling restaurant like Luwangjie. Contrary to my concerns, the sea urchin roe dumplings weren't fishy at all, and were filled with the unique savory flavor of sea urchin and its natural sweetness! These dumplings, which fill your mouth with the flavor of the sea, are a must-try. The green onion oil noodles (chongyu noodles) I ordered alongside the dumplings had a refreshing, savory flavor without overpowering the dumplings. It was a pleasant experience.

(7-8: Haidilao Dalian Branch)
My last night was spent at my trusty Haidilao Dalian branch! While it's famous in Korea, the service and comfort of mainland China were still top-notch. The tomato soup, in particular, was much richer and more flavorful than what I've had in Korea, which was truly impressive! Many branches are open until dawn, making it easy to visit late at night. And I couldn't miss the special experiences, like the noodle-pulling performance with chopsticks and the nail service. Half the fun of my trip to Dalian was the food!

#travelplan #overseastravel #chinatravel

Post by Traveloni | Oct 27, 2025