Xiamen Dining

Food is one of Xiamen's greatest assets, with plenty of fresh fish and seafood, particularly oysters, crabs, and prawns.The best place to sample this cuisine is in restaurants around Gulangyu's market area or the backstreets, but make sure to establish a price in advance as the seafood is usually sold by weight, not per potion. Xiamen is a good destination for gastronomes.The foods are recognized as being fresh, light, crispy and slightly spicy in taste.

Tusundong

Tusundong is made from a sea product called 'Xing Chong' and is eaten with the seasonings including sauce, vinegar, chili, ketchup, mustard and garlic.It is now becoming one of the most important cold dishes in any banquets.

Peanut Soup (Huashengtang)

Peanut soup is simply made from peanuts but with very complicated production process.It has a sugary flavor and can be eaten with some dim sum dishes such as deep-fried twisted dough sticks or steamed stuffed buns.Many believe the best Peanut Soup is served at Huangzehe Restaurant in Zhongshang Road, Xiamen.

Peanut soup is by no means easy to make despite the fact that it is made of only one ingredient -- peanut. First, carefully selected peanuts are dipped in boiling water for de-shelling. Then they are stewed with a mild flame until they totally soften.Lastly, add sugar and continue stewing the soup for half an hour.  

Spring Roll

Spring Roll is a fried rolled pancake filled with slices of various vegetables, meats and seafood.The local people of Xiamen like to have Spring Rolls as traditional snacks during festivals. There are plenty of other delicious foods including the Xiamen Pie, Oyster Pancake, Rice Dumplings, and Shacha Noodles.

Seafood

Seafood in Xiamen is famous for its extreme freshness.The location of Xiamen on the southeast coast of China provides it with abundant sea products.Seafood has a long history here.As early on as the Qing Dynasty (1644 -1911 AD), people were enjoying the fresh fish and creating delicious new seafood inspired seafood dishes.These dishes are still made today with ingredients including local fish, prawns, crabs and more, with the flavor depending on the various seasonings.Grouper, yellow croaker, red crab, lobster and sleeve-fish were already frequently ordered dishes in local hotels.Oysters, crabs and prawns are the best of the batch.

Shuyou Seafood Restaurant
If the fish entrees were any fresher, this restaurant would be underwater.Considered one of Xiamen's best restaurants, Shuyou (Chinese for "close friend") combines knowledgeable service with a wide-ranging seafood menu to put at ease even the most finicky foreign diner who lacks experience with Chinese cuisine.Scallops, lobster, prawns, sea crabs and Shanghai fresh water crabs are just a few of its dishes.

Address: 1-4/F, Podium Building of Mansion of Bank of China, North Hubin Road, Siming District, Xiamen
Tel: (86592) 509-8888

Lake View Restaurant
Fish, fish, and fish so dominate the menu that this restaurant almost feels like a troller after day 17 at sea! Located inside the Bailuzhou Lake View Hotel, it provides mood setting views of Yundang Lake, perfect for a special occasion meal.Ultra fresh oysters, teriyaki king prawns, sushi, sashimi, and salmon are just some of its more popular offerings.A special Malay Curry menu features a wide choice of native foods heavy with spice.Weekends are very busy.

Address: Bailuzhou Lake View Hotel, No. 95 Hubin South Road, Xiamen
Tel: (86592) 222-6888

Jiali Seafood Restaurant (Hubin South Road Branch)
Specialties:High quality environment with good service and great seafood.
Address:3-4/F, Baofu Building, No. 819 South Hubin Road, Xiamen

Huang Zehe Peanut Soup Restaurant (Zhongshan Road Branch)
Specialties:Peanut Soup, Oyster Pancake, Shacha Noodles and other Xiamen snacks
Address:No. 22 Zhongshan Road, Siming District, Xiamen

Haigang (Harbor) Restaurant
Address:2-3/F, Tiandi Food City, No. 98 South Jiangtou Road, Huli District, Xiamen

Amber Court
There is nothing fancy here, just casual, round-the-clock dining with a western bent.It is located near the Best Western Premier Xiamen Central, the largest four-star hotel in Fujian Province.The Amber Court caters to both guests and late night revelers.Steaks, salads, soups, sandwiches, pasta, chicken dishes, pancakes and eggs dominate the menu.Breakfast tends to be its busiest meal.

Address: Best Western Xiamen, Hubin Road North, Xiamen
Opening Hours: 24-hour

The House Restaurant
The House offers food connoisseurs a treat.So make your way to this eatery offering gourmet food and being popular for the same.While in Xiamen, this is a great place to get your hands on some western delicacies as well as Italian pastas.Then of course, you could round up your meal with the yummylicious desserts.The casual ambiance will set you at ease.Sit back and enjoy a sumptuous meal in elegant settings.

Address:No. 10 - 1 Baihe Road (off Gongyuan Road, behind Yangguang Sauna), Siming District, Xiamen
Tel: (86592) 204-4358

Havana Restaurant
Address:No. 88 Villa Lianhua Lingxiang Lane, Siming District, Xiamen

Goza Japanese Restaurant
Just by association alone with the five-star Xiamen Mandarin Hotel is a telltale sign of this restaurant's quality.The stylish d¨¦cor recreates a Japanese setting.The menu screams with authenticity, featuring such Japanese favorites as baked eel Nagasaki style, octopus slices with lemon juice, mackerel fish shi shi, and stewed fish and vegetables.

Address: Mandarin Hotel, No. 101 Yuehua Road, Huli District, Xiamen
Tel: (86592) 602-3333
Opening Hours: 11:30 am ¨C 2 pm; 5:30 pm ¨C 10 pm

Shogun Restaurant
Despite this small restaurant's "look-at-me" setting in the four-star Crowne Plaza Harbourview Xiamen it still exudes a throwback atmosphere.The kitchen favors robatayaki style grilling (a Japanese old-style form of cooking), which favors seafood and vegetables.Yakitori is also offered (by-the-book chefs use every part of the chicken so opt for a different dish if you are squeamish) as is sushi and sashimi.

Address: Marcopolo Hotels, No. 8 Jianye Road, Hubin District, Xiamen
Tel: (86592) 509-1888
Opening Hours: 12 pm ¨C 2:30 pm; 6 pm ¨C 11 pm

Miyabi Restaurant
Tucked inside the Best Western Premier Xiamen Central, the largest four-star hotel in the Fujian province, it matches the hotel's high rating with exceptional Japanese fare.Tastefully decorated in Japanese d¨¦cor it offers a quiet setting perfect for unwinding.Traditional Japanese items such as tuna steaks, sashimi and sushi options, udon noodle dishes, and a wide range of teriyaki concoctions are part of its changing menu.Reservations are recommended, especially on weekends and during the busy summer tourist months of July and August.

Address: Xiamen Airlines Jinyan Hotel, No. 99 Hubin South Road, Xiamen
Tel: (86592) 223-8101
Opening Hours: 11:30 am ¨C 2 pm; 5:30 pm ¨C 10 pm

Sakura Restaurant
Located on the ground floor of the four-star Crowne Plaza Harbourview Xiamen, this Japanese restaurant matches the lodge's lofty rating with exceptional service and an exceptional menu.Chicken teriyaki, seafood udon, sushi and sashimi dinners, and plenty of vegetarian dishes highlight the ever-changing menu.

Address: Crowne Plaza Harborview Hotel, 12-8 Zhenhai Road, Xiamen
Tel: (86592) 202-3333; (86592) 202-6616
Opening Hours: 6 pm ¨C 10 pm

Songhe Japanese Restaurant
Address: 1/F, Fanrong Plaza, No. 267 - 24, West Hexiang Road, Siming District, Xiamen

Jade Lake Specialty Restaurant
Few restaurants in Xiamen can compete with this dining nest for authentic Sichuan and Fujian cuisine.Situated on the third floor at the five-star Xiamen Mandarin Hotel it instantly converts every meal into a proverbial "dining experience." The kitchen expertly prepares such dishes as braised silver carp heads, deep fried crab cakes, spicy bean curd, fried yellow eel, and a range of noodle dishes.The restaurant is designed to handle large groups, or can partition the main dining area into three separate rooms for a more intimate setting.

Address: Mandarin Hotel, No. 101 Yuehua Road, Huli District, Xiamen
Tel: (86592) 602-3333

Lotus Court
Nestled on the second floor of the four-star Marco Polo Xiamen with striking views of Yuandang Lake, this restaurant is perfect for when the meal needs an emphasis on being special.Cantonese dominates the menu that changes with the seasons.Crabs, scallops, prawns with black bean sauce, lemon chicken, pan-fried noodles, and sharks fin soup are some of the more common kitchen offerings.

Address: Marcopolo Hotels, No. 8 Jianye Road, Xiamen
Tel: (86592) 509-1888

Xiamen Garden Restaurant
Being associated with the luxuriant Xiamen Plaza assures diners that this restaurant exudes elegant quality in both atmosphere and cuisine.Hence, it rates high if you need to impress.The menu harbors heavy Cantonese and Fujian influences, which, in case you are unfamiliar with such food, means there is a heavy emphasis on freshness. S quid, shrimp, oysters, red crabs and yellow croakers are common items on its changing menu.However, the braised shark's fin is the specialty.The restaurant is open for morning tea, lunch and dinner.

Address: Xiamen Plaza Hotel, No. 908 Xiahe Road, Xiamen
Tel: (86592) 558-8888
Opening Hours: 8 am ¨C 9:30 pm

Portofino Italian Restaurant
Dining on spaghetti and meatballs in coastal China is like snacking on fortune cookies in Vatican City.Yet, this dining den, nestled in the plush domains of the Crowne Plaza Harbourview Hotel manages to create an authentic fine dining Italian experience, making it the only such restaurant of its kind in Xiamen.All of the Italian standbys such as ravioli, fettuccine alfredo, lasagna, chicken marsala and many more line the menu.Chopsticks are optional.

Address: Crowne Plaza Harborview Hotel, 12-8 Zhenhai Road, Xiamen
Tel: (86592) 202-3333; (86592) 202-6616
Opening Hours: 6 pm ¨C 10 pm

My Pizza
Claiming to be "The Italian Restaurant in Xiamen" this eatery serves up all kinds of pizzas and other culinary delights specific to Italy.The Mickey Mouse Pizza is one of them! Check out the various eggplant preparations they offer from eggplant pies to steamed eggplant, there's lots to try.Wrapped sea bass is another favorite among patrons.Spread over three floors, this restaurant offers ample seating options.Go ahead and enjoy your dinner!!

Address: No. 25 Lianhua Road, Xiamen
Tel: (86592) 559-1560

Pizza Hut
Specialties: Authentic pizza, salad, roast chicken, drinks and sweets
Address: 24/F Haibin Building, No. 52 Lujiang Street, Xiamen

Madame Rouge Western Restaurant
Despite the long and oblique name, the restaurant specializes in French cuisine.Diners can choose from baked snails, French onion soup, baked lobster with cheese, fried scallops with cheese (the kitchen treats cheese as a condiment) and even certified Black Angus tenderloins.

Address: Mandarin Hotel, No. 101 Yuehua Road, Huli District, Xiamen
Tel: (86592) 602-3333

Puzhaolou Vegetarian Chinese Restaurant
In keeping with the Nanputuo Temple Buddhist tradition this inexpensive eatery serves only vegetarian fare.The menu offers such dishes as pine mushrooms with red and green peppers, black fungus soup with tofu, rice noodles with mushrooms, and yams with seaweed to list a few.Inexpensive local beer is also offered.Despite the Buddhist leanings the restaurant is surprisingly dapper with tables cloaked in white tablecloths.

Address: Nanputuo Temple, Siming South Road, Siming District, Xiamen
Tel: (86592) 208-5908

Tianhe Vegetarian House
Address:Yanwu Garden, No. 10-2 Dingwozai, Siming District, Xiamen
Specialties:Vegetarian sea-food soup with sour vegetable, crisp vegetarian fish and fish-flavored eggplant

Dafang Vegetarian Restaurant
Address:2/F, No. 412-9 South Siming Road, Siming District, Xiamen

Alilang Restaurant (South Lianhua Road Branch)
Specialties: Cold noodle, seafood pancake, seafood hot pot and other South Korean food
Address: 1/F, Dihao Mansion, No. 820 Xiahe Road, Siming District, Xiamen

Indiano Johns
This Indian restaurant serves up cravings of an Indian palate abroad.Also, locals who are up to some Indian cuisine can make their way to this all-Indian themed eatery.Popeye and his fans can go for the palak paneer (pureed spinach with cottage cheese and cream).Sit back and enjoy your meal, while sitar instrumentals play in the background.From the sumptuous food to the soothing music, you are sure to get a taste of the sub-continent.

Address: Kaiming Theatre Complex, No. 69 Jiangtou North Road, Xiamen
Tel: (86592) 555-7699
Opening Hours: 11:30 am ¨C 2: 30 pm; 5:30 pm ¨C 1 am

Tianfeng Mandarin Garden
Nestled on the luxurious grounds of the five-star Mandarin Hotel, this handy restaurant serves Chinese, Japanese and Western food.Ambivalent diners can choose from noodle dishes, local seafood, soups, Western steaks or pick from a Japanese buffet laden with fried rice, spring rolls and more.Breakfast tends to be busy.

Address: Mandarin Hotel, No. 101 Yuehua Road, Huli District, Xiamen
Tel: (86592) 602-3333
Opening Hours: 11:30 am ¨C 2 pm; 5:30 pm ¨C 10 pm

Alilang Restaurant (South Lianhua Road Branch)
Address:1/F, Dihao Mansion, No. 820 Xiahe Road, Siming District, Xiamen

NOTE: Although this information is correct at the time of our web publication, it is still advised that you call the phone number and confirm the address before going to the venue because some venues may have changed their telephone numbers or address locations.