XIAMEN

Haoqingxiang Restaurant

59 Hubin Zhong Lu

(592) 220 9178

Haoqingxiang Restaurant has delighted gastronomes from all over South-east Asia since 1940 with its Southern Fujian snacks, including Zongzis(the pyramidal bamboo wrapped glutinous rice and meat dumplings), as well as garlic cake and meat onion dumplings, taro cake, and jelly fish (no peanut butter fish yet). Menu favorites include “high quality chicken stewed with ginseng,” or “low quality chicken boiled with dandelions”” (for those on a budget). Also try “Braised squid and straw mushrooms,” “lucky and sweet dew prawn ball,” “glutinous rice porridge with sea crab,” “deep-fried five-flavour rolls” (one of Xiamen’s most famous delicacies), “steamed crayfish,” “deep-fried fish in squirrel shape”, “deviled lion’s head” (Chinese meatball), and “deviled duck in dipper shape”.

Lujiang Hotel

54 Lujiang Lu

(592) 202 2922

On the harbour facing the Gulangyu Ferry Terminal, Lujiang’s Mǐnnan cuisine and “herbal” recipes have even been featured on American television. Their dimsum is also recommended. Rooftop dining offers great view of Gulangyu.

Shuyou Seafood Restaurants

Several locations –

(1) 1-4F Bank of China Building, Binbai; (592) 509 8888

(2) 4F North Building, Victoria Club, Bailuzhou; (592) 506 0199

(3) 3 Huatai Lu, Huli; (592) 568 7888

www.shuyou.com

Perhaps Xiamen’s finest, is a marriage of Sea World and Red Lobster. Select your favorite eel, fish, octopus, squid, seaworms, sea urchins, shellfish, deng deng, from rows of fish tanks on the first floor, then go up to the second floor dining rooms and wait for your victims to be served. Top quality food (top prices too).

Vegetarian Feast

Nanputuo Temple

(592) 585 5113

www.nptveg.com

For over a century folks have feasted on Nanputuo’s Temple’s vegetarian fare - a feast for the eyes as well as the stomach (but as Japanese say, “the eyes eat, as well as the stomach”). Mr.Deng Xiaoping liked their taro so much he had his chef take 200 pounds back to Beijing.

The House

10-1 Baihe Lu

(592) 204 4358

This is probably Xiamen’s No.1 in terms of fine cuisine. Tomer Biran, head chef and GM of “208 Rodeo”, an exclusive Beverly Hills restaurant, helped his friend Arik start the house in an elegant, secluded villa near Zhongshan Park.

Lasagna

2F Chungang Hotel, Xiamen Harbour

(592) 210 1327

A local favourite Italian - great food, inexpensive, cosy atmosphere - and Tony’s a delight to chat with. Try ricotta & artichoke pizza, potato dumplings, penne with broccoli and bacon…