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Best Food in Huai'an (2026)
Huai'an is famous for its Huai'an noodles, a local specialty with a rich broth and tender toppings. Head to Lao Ma Tou Noodle House at 88 Huaihai Road for a bowlβ¦ π Signature Dish: Huai'an Noodles
Huai'an is famous for its Huai'an noodles, a local specialty with a rich broth and tender toppings. Head to Lao Ma Tou Noodle House at 88 Huaihai Road for a bowl starting at 15 RMB. The shop opens daily from 6:00 AM to 2:00 PM, so arrive early to avoid long lines.
π₯ Must-Try: Steamed Buns
For a classic breakfast, try the soup dumplings at Wang Ji Steamed Bun Shop, located at 12 Wenfeng Street. Each basket costs 20 RMB and is filled with pork and a savory broth. The shop is open from 5:30 AM to 10:00 AM, perfect for an early morning bite.
π Local Seafood Specialties
Huai'an's location near Hongze Lake means fresh fish is a highlight. Visit Hongze Lake Fish Village at 1 Lakeside Road for a whole braised fish dish priced around 80 RMB. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner, from 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM.
π’ Street Food Hotspots
For a true street food experience, explore the night market on Qingjiang Road, active from 6:00 PM to midnight. Try the grilled skewers at Aunty Chen's stall, where each skewer costs 5 RMB. The area is lively and offers a variety of local snacks.
π° Sweet Treats and Desserts
Don't miss the Huai'an-style osmanthus cake at Sweet Osmanthus Bakery, 34 Renmin Road. A slice costs 10 RMB and is made with glutinous rice and sweet osmanthus flowers. The bakery is open from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM daily.
π΅ Tea and Snack Culture
Experience local tea culture at the Huai'an Tea House on 56 Zhongshan Road, where a pot of Biluochun green tea costs 30 RMB. Pair it with a plate of savory sesame biscuits for 15 RMB. The tea house is open from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM.
π° Budget-Friendly Eats
For a cheap but filling meal, visit the food court at Huai'an Shopping Center on Huaihai Road. A bowl of noodles or a rice dish costs around 12 to 20 RMB. The food court is open from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM and offers a wide range of local dishes.
π Best Evening Dining Spots
For dinner with a view, try Riverside Restaurant at 10 Binhe Road, overlooking the canal. A full meal for two costs about 150 RMB, and the restaurant is open from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Reservations are recommended on weekends.
honestly the guide's right about the river view at riverside restaurant but i'd actually skip it on weekends - gets packed with tourists and the service gets slow. instead walk a few minutes north to lao zhang's private kitchen on wenmiao lane, it's this tiny place with maybe six tables and they do an amazing hongze lake fish head stew for like 60 kuai. no view but the food's way better
also worth mentioning the morning market near the north gate of qingyan park, around 7am there's a guy selling these giant sesame cakes fresh out of a clay oven. 3 RMB each, crispy on the outside soft inside, perfect with the soy milk he sells too. better than any bakery version imo
for a cheap dinner the food court suggestion is solid but the real budget move is the muslim noodle shop on dongfeng road, bowl of beef noodles for 10 kuai and they're open till midnight. the broth's got this cumin kick you don't find at lao ma tou
I have to say the guide's street food section is right about Aunty Chen's skewers, but the real hidden gem on Qingjiang Road is the stall two spaces down run by an older man who does these whole grilled squid with a spicy garlic glaze. 8 RMB each and he brushes them with this dark sauce that caramelizes on the grill, way better than the standard skewer fare.
For the osmanthus cake people, there's a little shop tucked into the corner of the flower market on Huaihai Road that does a layered version with osmanthus and black sesame. 12 RMB for a piece about the size of your palm and the sesame gives it this nutty contrast to the floral sweetness. They're open from 9 to 6 but the afternoon batch comes out around 2.
ngl the guide's pretty thorough but they missed my favorite breakfast spot - old chen's tofu pudding cart on huaihai road near the east gate of chuzhou district. he's set up by 6:30 and that bowl of silky tofu with soy sauce, pickled radish, and chili oil is only 4 kuai. way better than the touristy stuff at wang ji if you ask me
also the night market on qingjiang road is great but if you walk two blocks south to the alley behind the cinema there's a couple that does fried stinky tofu with this house-made sweet chili sauce. 6 kuai for a box and they're there till 1am most nights. the line moves fast so don't let the crowd scare you off
for the tea house mention - the biluochun is fine but their jasmine pearls are actually the better deal at 25 kuai. the sesame biscuits there are made fresh in the back so ask for them warm if you can
Shanghai hidden gems beyond the Bund?
honestly skip the bund crowds and head to the former french concession around wukang road. grab a coffee at some random lane spot, the whole area has these old lane houses that feel way more real than the skyline. also check out the rock bund art museum near the south bund, it's in this old industrial building with killer views and barely any tourists last time i was there. if u want food, go to tianzifang but skip the main alleys and wander into the side lanes, you'll find a tiny dumpling place that's like 15 yuan for 10 pieces
if you're around on a weekend morning, hit up the antique market on dongtai road before it fully gentrifies. it's mostly gone now tbh but there's still a few stalls tucked near the intersection with liuhe road, you'll find old propaganda posters and weird mao-era knickknacks for like 20 kuai. also the shanghai natural history museum in jing'an is underrated, the building itself is this wild spiral shape and the dinosaur skeletons are legit impressive, plus it's like 30 yuan entry. for a quiet evening walk i'd do the suzhou creek path near the north bund but go west from the waibaidu bridge, past the old post office building, there's a stretch where the lights hit the water just right and nobody's around
yeah if you want something totally different check out the long museum (long museum west bund) it's this massive space with rotating contemporary art, way less crowded than the power station of art. also walk the suzhou creek trail near the north bund, it's kinda rough around the edges but you get these weird views of old factories mixed with new towers