Lianyungang Food Guide: A City of Mountains and Seas on the Tip of Your Tongue
Lianyungang Food Guide: A City of Mountains and Seas on the Tip of Your Tongue
Lianyungang, a port city located on the coast of the Yellow Sea, not only has charming mountain and sea scenery, but also has countless mouth-watering authentic delicacies. As the intersection of Huaiyang cuisine and Shandong cuisine, Lianyungang's food culture has both the delicacy of the south and the boldness of the north, forming a unique "Xuhai cuisine". Today, let us embark on a food tour of Lianyungang, from the fireworks in the early morning to the seafood stalls late at night, taking you to taste the essence of this city’s delicacies!
1. Must-try features: Lianyungang’s taste card
1. Guanyun Doudan: This delicacy, which is intimidating to outsiders but loved by locals, is actually the larvae of the bean moth. It is high in protein and low in fat, tastes like tofu but is a bit chewy, and can be used to make soup or stir-fry. It is an intangible cultural heritage of Jiangsu Province. Brave diners may wish to give it a try, perhaps it will open the door to a new world!
2. Banpu jelly: The crystal clear jelly is a summer-cooling favorite for people in Lianyungang. It is chewy and smooth, and can be eaten cold or stir-fried. The most authentic way to eat it is to pour a drop of Banpu specialty Wang Shuyou vinegar on it and pair it with mashed garlic and chili peppers, which is sour and spicy and appetizing.
3. Huaguoshan Wind-dried Goose: Made from local free-range geese, air-dried using traditional techniques, with thin skin, tender meat and a strong bacon flavor. It can be steamed to retain its original flavor, or taken home as a souvenir.
4. Sandfish: A specialty of Lianyungang waters, it is the most plump in autumn. The "October Sand Light Lamb Soup" shows its deliciousness. The fish meat is tender and boneless. The soup is milky white after cooking, and it is perfect with tofu.
5. Shrimp Pancake: The meat of the mantis-shaped shrimp (a local seafood) is squeezed out, mixed with flour and eggs, and fried into a golden and crispy pancake. It is fresh and fragrant and is a unique seafood snack in Lianyungang.
2. Street food: the fireworks hidden in the streets and alleys
Morning wake-up:
- Hongxia Rice Noodles: A time-honored brand across from Haizhou High School. The rice noodles with meat sauce are sweet, sour and fragrant, and are the youthful memories of countless students in Hong Kong.
- Huang Ji Fried Noodles: A nearly 40-year-old shop, the handmade thick noodles are very chewy, paired with braised beef and special chili sauce, which is the taste heritage of three generations of Haizhou people.
Street Food:
- Giant salamander: a product made of purple sweet potato flour that looks like a small fish, chewy and smooth, topped with sweet and sour spicy sauce, it is the taste of Lianyungang people’s childhood.
- Fish Pancake: Spicy dried fish wrapped in a pancake as thin as a cicada's wing. The perfect fusion of wheat aroma and seafood, it is a must-have for entertaining guests.
- Xianghe Tofu Roll: Made with tofu, leeks and shredded radish as fillings, with a crispy outer skin, paired with black rice porridge, it is a favorite breakfast combination for Hong Kong residents.
Special staple food:
- Ganyu Pancake: Thicker than Shandong Pancake, it can be rolled with fried dough sticks, dried shrimps, green onions, and spread with soul shrimp paste, which is filling and delicious.
- Pot Cover Noodles: A specialty noodle dish from Ganyu District. The chewy noodles are paired with rich bone broth and a variety of other ingredients. One bowl of this dish will fill you up with energy.
3. Seafood feast: a gift from the Yellow Sea
Lianyungang is a coastal city, so seafood is naturally the highlight. Here are some recommended ways to eat it that you shouldn’t miss:
1. Steamed seafood: Swimming crabs, mantis shrimps, abalone and other fresh seafood are steamed directly in the pot, with original flavor and delicious taste. Recommended place: The food stalls along the seafood street are affordable and fresh.
2. Spicy Octopus: Yongde Hotel’s signature dish, thick-cut octopus mixed with garlic chili sauce, sour and spicy, appetizing, and a great dish to go with wine.
3. Small fish pot stickers: A classic combination of Xiangyuan Hotel, tender fish meat with dipping sauce and noodles, with a strong local flavor.
4. Salt and Pepper Shrimp: Wanghaichao Hotel fries this exotic seafood until crispy, seasons it with salt and pepper, and makes it crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.
Seafood foraging areas:
- Xishu, Xugou Town: Experience the fishing village style and taste the authentic boiled seafood.
- Haitang Road Seafood City: There are many seafood restaurants with rich choices.
- Qixia Road Pedestrian Street: where time-honored brands such as Yongde Restaurant gather.
4. Recommended souvenirs: Bring the taste of Hong Kong home
1. Guanyun Cake: A traditional dessert made from glutinous rice and brown sugar, it is sweet but not greasy and is suitable for people of all ages.
2. Huaguoshan Wind Goose: Vacuum packed, easy to carry, a great gift for relatives and friends.
3. Yunwu Tea: Produced in Yuntai Mountain, it is refreshing and fragrant, and is a top-quality tea.
4. Banpu Sausage: A non-material cultural heritage delicacy with a history of nearly 200 years, it is salty and delicious.
5. Food route suggestions
One-day food trip:
- Breakfast: Hongxia Rice Noodles/Huangji Fried Noodles
- Morning: Visit the old street of Minzhu Road and try the baby fish of the old man's cold noodles
- Lunch: Fish pot stickers from Xiangyuan Restaurant
- Afternoon: Taste authentic jelly in Banpu Town
- Dinner: Enjoy a feast at Haitang Road Seafood City
- Late-night snack: seafood snacks from Longhai Hotel
Tips:
- The best seasons for seafood are spring and autumn, especially April-May and September-October.
- Bean curd is only available in summer, so tourists who want to try it should pay attention to the season.
- Snacks such as jelly and giant salamander are affordable, usually costing 5 to 15 yuan.
Lianyungang’s cuisine is a fusion of the flavors of mountains and sea, and the warmth of urban life. From a bowl of rice noodles in the morning to a seafood stall late at night, every bite is the truest version of this city. Take this guide with you and start your taste journey in Hong Kong!