Snack in Shenzhen
From the “food streets” to the street food, Shenzhen’s dining scene is as happening as ever
With its established status as an “immigrant city,” Shenzhen is a melting pot of Chinese cultures and cuisines. Delicate Guangdong dishes flourish alongside Sichuan spices, Beijing pastries and Shandong broths—and even Xinjiang roasts and Manchu hotpots. Meanwhile, streets and streets of seafood restaurants and snack stalls line the city’s many districts, luring you to try their fresh abalone or curry potatoes. Shenzhen can be a lot of things to a lot of people, but lack of choice when it comes to food definitely isn’t part of the vocabulary.
Street Food
Like most cities in Asia, street food culture is alive and well in Shenzhen, and plenty snacks and goodies of all shapes and sizes are offered in abundance on skewers, in boxes and bags, or in cute little plastic trays all over town.
Dongmen Pedestrian Street
Dongmen in Luohu District is not only known for its affordable shopping—it’s also a paradise for street eating. On Dongmen Pedestrian Street, fish and meat ball stalls abound—one in particular takes inspiration from a Stephen Chow movie, “The God of Cookery,” serving “pissing beef balls” that are hollow in the center and squirt out steamy juices (hence the name) once bitten. In the movie, the beef balls are supposed to be bouncy like basketballs due to the air pockets in the middle, and although we can’t exactly prove the same with these real-life beef balls, they are worth trying—if only for novelty’s sake. Along Dongmen, you’ll also be able to find delectable seaweed-topped takoyaki balls (sizzling bite-sized flour dough balls with squid and sometimes prawn or bacon for filling), smelly fried tofu, lamb and seafood skewers, mala-style marinades, onion cakes, green bean pastries and much much more, all competing for your attention.
Food Streets
Eating in Shenzhen has been made super easy with its myriad “food streets,” each with its own character and specialization.
Bagua Road
Bagua Road in Futian district is a collection of mid-sized restaurants that offer specialties from different parts of China. The street has a quaint historical vibe—add to that the authentic Chinese venues flanking its length, and it’s an ultimate foodie landmark. Whether it’s lamb from Inner Mongolia or fish from Guangdong, you’ll be able to find it on Bagua.
Yantian Seafood Street
Yantian Seafood Street, in the coastal portion of Yantian District, is famous for abalone, lobsters and all sorts of creatures fresh from the sea. Not only will you be able to enjoy delicious fresh stuff, but you can also buy dried seafood and fresh produce from the wholesale and retail markets here. Prices are cheap, and quality is commendable—need we say more?
Asian Sensations
Mei Yuan Restaurant
Crowds flock to Mei Yuan restaurant for the cheap but oh-so-delish Chiu Chow fare. Rub elbows with the locals while you enjoy the restaurant’s signatures, such as the roasted eggplant with ginger and chili and perfectly steamed pork ribs. Seafood dishes also shine, with the scallops with vermicelli and the addictive deep-fried prawns being particular standouts. The bustling atmosphere may be disconcerting at first, but the friendly staff will win you over in no time.
58 Cai Wu Wei Xin 7 Fang, Jiabin Xi Lu, Luohu District, +86 755-8227-3127