Hangzhou Dining

Zhejiang (or Hangzhou) cuisine is one of the eight famous culinary arts in China. Zhejiang cuisine offers combined flavors of Hangzhou, Ningbo and Wenzhou. Each of the three sub-cuisine traditions is noted for its special flavor and taste, but they are all characterized by the careful selection of ingredients, emphasizing minute preparation, and unique, fresh and tender tastes.

Zhejiang cuisine specializes in quick-frying, stir-frying, deep-frying, simmering and steaming, obtaining the natural flavor and taste. Special care is taken in the cooking process to make the food fresh and tender. Thanks to exquisite preparation, the dishes are not only delicious in taste and but also extremely elegant in appearance. The fresh, tender, soft, and smooth dishes accompanied by its mellow fragrance have won for itself widespread reputation in the culinary world.

Hangzhou dishes, being the most important part of Zhejiang cuisine, are noted for its elaborate preparations, sophisticated way of cooking and most refreshing taste. The local specialties include Beggar's Chicken, West Lake Vinegar Fish, Dongpo Pork, Fried Shrimps with Longjing Tea Leaves, and Sistern Song's Shredded Fish Soup.

Dongpo Pork

Dongpo Pork is a braised pork which was first created by Su Dongpo, a famous poet who was also appointed Governor of Hangzhou twice in the Song Dynasty, when he served as a local official of Hangzhou.

The dish is made from belly pork which is cut into four pieces and first briefly boiled and then rinsed. Next, the pork is put into a pot with sugar, soy sauce, onion, ginger and rice wine. Then the pot is sealed and the pork is cooked for about two hours in the oven until it is tender. Finally, it is transferred to a bowl with the juices from the pot strained over the meat, and the bowl covered and put inside a steamer and steamed for at least two hours.

Tianxianglou Restaurant

Beggar's Chicken

Beggar's Chicken is actually the most famous of all the Hangzhou dishes. It's an entire chicken cooked in a ball of mud. The dish gets its name from a story about an emperor who once took a ride in the countryside and smelled something delicious. He ordered his men to trace the scent and found an old beggar roasting a chicken.

To cook the chicken, first the organs of the chicken are removed, then the chicken is stuffed with pork, onion, ginger and other Chinese herbs. Next, the chicken is wrapped around lotus leafs and in clay and baked over low heat for hours. The chicken is tasty and tender with a pleasant aroma of lotus leaves.

Louwailou Restaurant
Address. No. 30, Gushan Road, Xihu Tiandi District, Hangzhou
Tel: (86571) 8796-9682

West Lake Vinegar Fish

Sweet and sour carp is a great dish, prepared with fresh and alive grass carps from the West Lake. The fish is first starved for 2 days in order to get rid of the mud smell. The meat is coated with vinegar tenderly cooked in spicy sauce. This dish integrates delicious, sweet and sour tastes, which tastes just like crabmeat.

Zhiweiguan Restaurant
Address. No. 83 Renhe Road, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou
Tel: (86571) 8706-5871

Fried Shrimps with Longjing Tea Leaves

This elegant dish has its origins in the imperial court of Beijing, where Long Jing tea from the Hangzhou region, was the most popular in China. The coolness of this tea on one's tongue is quite evident in this recipe.

Shanwai Shan Restaurant
Address. No. 8 Yuquan Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou
Tel: (86571) 8798-6621

The following are a list of restaurants providing a sampling of Hangzhou's different flavors of cuisines at its finest:

Louwailou Restaurant

Louwailou Restaurant is the most famous restaurant located in Solitary Hill right at the heart of West Lake. It boasts a history of over 100 years of existence, and the most authentic restaurant in Hangzhou. Savor the superb Hangzhou cuisine while enjoying the awe-inspiring sight of West Lake. The specialties include the West Lake Fish in Sweet Sour Source, the Fried Shrimps with Longjing Tea Leaves, and the famous Beggar's Chicken.

Address. No. 30, Gushan Road, Xihu Tiandi District, Hangzhou
Tel: (86571) 8796-9682

Zhiweiguan Restaurant

Zhiweiguan Restaurant is on Renhe Road and it is now one of the biggest and the most modern restaurants in Hangzhou. It has four stories of fine dining and top of the line recreation facilities. Popular low priced dishes are served on the first floor. The second floor serves seafood. The high and medium grade box area is on the third floor. The fourth floor consists of a Banquet Room, a Bar, a Chess Room and a KTV recreation area. You can take advantage of the great views of the picturesque West Lake from the restaurant.

Address.No. 83 Renhe Road, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou
Tel: (86571) 8706-5871

Tianxianglou Restaurant

Tianxianglou Restaurantis known far and wide for its excellent Hangzhou dishes.

Address. No. 447, Yanan Road, Hangzhou
Tel: (86571) 8707-6789

The Cantonese like their food light, fresh, and cooked naturally. Try these restaurants for a taste of Cantonese food in Hangzhou .

Tiandiyijia Restaurant

Address. No. 123 Pinghai Road, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou
Tel: (86571) 8717-2468

Be For Time
Address. No. 38 Pinghai Road, Marco Polo Hotel, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou
Tel: (86571) 8701-8888

Crystal Jade Garden Restaurant  
Address. Building 10, No. 147 Nanshan Road, Hangzhou
Tel: (86571) 8702-6618

Da Chik Mun  
Address. No. 60, Bei shan Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou
Tel: (86571) 8799-2399

Haihua Ge Restaurant  
Address. 2/F, Ramada Plaza Hotel, No. 298 Qingchun Road, XiaCheng District, Hangzhou
Tel: (86571) 8721-5888

Shenghao Restaurant
Address. No. 102 Gaoyin Street, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou
Tel: (86571) 8780-2486

Shipu Seafood Restaurant
Address. No. 16 Hangda Road, Opposite World Trade Center, Xihhu District, Hangzhou
Tel: (86571) 8796-9777

Zhizushayu Restaurant
Address. No. 8 Shuguang Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou
Tel: (86571) 8521-3213

Baidanghai Hotel
Address. No. 84 Wenyi Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou
Tel: (86571) 8880-0977

Peppino
Address. Shangri-La Hotel, 78 Beishan Road, Hangzhou
Tel: (86571) 8797-7951

Va Bene  
Hong Kong's popular Italian restaurant offers superb, authentic Italian cuisine set in a beautiful atmosphere of old Chinese mansion overlooking the lake.
Address. House 8, No. 147, Nanshan Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou
Tel: (86571) 8702-6333

Valentino  
In the 6 floor of Radisson Hotel offers a new lunch menu, which features an antipasto buffet and tremendous Italian sandwiches, salads, pasta and pizzas.
Address. Radisson Plaza Hotel, No. 333 Tiyuchang Road, Xiacheng District, Hangzhou
Tel: (86571) 8515-8888

Curry Bistro
Cuisine: Guangdong
Address. No. 391 Wantang Road, Hangzhou
Tel: (86571) 8886-8271

Banana Leaf
Cuisine: Thai
Address. No. 5 Hubin Road, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou
Tel: (86571) 8791-1818

Haveli
Cuisine: Indian
Address. No. 77 Nanshan Road, Hangzhou
Tel: (86571) 8707-9677

Cafe Chinois  
Address. No. 1 Grand Metro Hotel, Pinhai Road, Shangchen District, Hangzhou Tel: (86571) 8708-8088

Cafe le Rendezvous  
Address. No. 333 Tiyuchang Lu, Xiacheng District, Hangzhou
Tel: (86571) 8515-8888

Coffee Garden  
Address. Shangri-La Hotel, No. 78 Beishan Lu, Xihu District, Hangzhou
Tel: (86571) 8797-7951

Provence French Restaurant
Address. No. 1 Baishaquan, Shuguang Road, Hangzhou
Tel: (86571) 8797-6115

Pancho's Mexican Restaurant
Address. No. 441 Xixi Road, Hangzhou
Tel: (86571) 8715-1330

Paradise Bar/Restaurant
Address. No. 36 Hubin Road, Hangzhou
Tel: (86571) 8706-2888

L96 Caf¨¦
Address. No. 96 Pingfeng Street, Hangzhou
Tel: (86571) 8505-7758

Honglin Teppanyaki
Address. 2/F, Building A, Modern International Mansion, No. 188 Yugu Road, Hangzhou
Tel: (86571) 8163-7778

Nagomi
Address. Basement, Ramada Plaza, No. 298 Qingchun Road, Hangzhou
Tel: (86571) 8704-5881

Shanhe Teppanyaki, Fengqi Branch
Address. No. 137 East Huangcheng Road (next to Trust Mart), Hangzhou
Tel: (86571) 8707-7058

Green Club
Address. No. 68 Waidaqiao, South Meiling Road, Hangzhou
Tel: (86571) 8533-2482

Dner Kebab
Address. No. 158 Yugu Road, Hangzhou
Tel: (86) 1385-714-9403

Imarigawa
Address. 2/F Grand Metro Park Hotel, No. 2 Pinghai Road, Hangzhou
Tel: (86571) 8707-7553

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.

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