HANGZHOU · FOOD GUIDE
Eating in Hangzhou
Hangzhou cuisine (杭帮菜) belongs to the Zhejiang tradition — lighter than Shanghainese, relying on freshwater fish from West Lake, Longjing tea leaves, and locally fermented vinegar. Dishes here tend towards elegant rather than bold: pale broths, delicate steaming, and seasonal vegetables prepared with restraint.
西湖醋鱼
West Lake Vinegar Fish
Grass carp poached whole and glazed with a sweet-sour Zhenjiang vinegar sauce; the fish should carry a faint taste of the lake.
Where to try: Lou Wai Lou (楼外楼), Gushan Island; Zhi Wei Guan (知味观), Yan'an Road.
东坡肉
Dongpo Pork
Square-cut pork belly braised in soy, rice wine, and rock sugar for several hours until the fat becomes translucent.
Where to try: Lou Wai Lou (楼外楼); Hangzhou Restaurant (杭州酒家), Yan'an Road.
龙井虾仁
Longjing Shrimp
River shrimp stir-fried with fresh Longjing (Dragon Well) tea leaves; best in spring during the first harvest.
Where to try: Lou Wai Lou; upscale Hangzhou restaurants near West Lake during March–May.
叫花鸡
Beggar's Chicken
Whole chicken stuffed with herbs and lotus leaves, sealed in clay and slow-baked for hours; broken open at the table.
Where to try: Zhi Wei Guan (知味观); ordered in advance at Lou Wai Lou.
小笼包
Pork Soup Dumplings
Hangzhou-style xiaolongbao — slightly larger than the Shanghai version, with a thicker wrapper and pork-and-chive filling.
Where to try: Zhi Wei Guan (知味观), Yan'an Road branches; Qinghe Fang Old Street food stalls.
West Lake area / Shangcheng
Lou Wai Lou
楼外楼
- Address
- 30 Gushan Road, Gushan Island
- Hours
- 11:00–21:00 daily
- Metro
- Longxiangqiao (Line 1)
- Order
- West lake vinegar fish, Dongpo pork, longjing shrimp
Zhi Wei Guan
知味观
- Address
- 83 Yan'an Road, Shangcheng
- Hours
- 07:00–21:30 daily
- Metro
- Wulin Square (Line 1)
- Order
- Soup dumplings, beggar's chicken, lotus root in sweet osmanthus
West Lake Fish Restaurant
- Address
- Hubin Road, West Lake district
- Hours
- 11:30–21:00 daily
- Metro
- Hubin (Line 1)
- Order
- Steamed whole fish, stir-fried river shrimp, tofu in broth
Hefang Street / Qianjiang New Town
Hefang Street Snack Row
- Address
- Hefang Street, Shangcheng
- Hours
- 09:00–22:00 daily
- Metro
- Dingqiao (Line 1)
- Order
- Cong you bing, stinky tofu, osmanthus rice cakes
Grandma's Home Restaurant
外婆家
- Address
- Multiple branches citywide
- Hours
- 11:00–21:30 daily
- Metro
- Various
- Order
- Old-school Hangzhou home cooking, braised pork, tofu skin
Xin Bai Lu Seafood
- Address
- Binjiang district riverside area
- Hours
- 11:00–22:00 daily
- Metro
- Xinghe Square (Line 4)
- Order
- Freshwater crab, river fish, stir-fried lotus root
Hefang Street (河坊街) is the most accessible street-food destination — a well-preserved lane in the old city with vendors selling smoked tofu, rice wine, fried dough rings, and osmanthus-flavoured mochi. Qinghe Fang adjacent is good for breakfast stalls. The morning market along Fengqi Road in the north of the city is where residents shop and is worth a visit before 09:00.