What to Eat in Xiamen: 14 Dishes, Snacks and Drinks to Try

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Shacha noodles 沙茶面

The first choice is what to put in your bowl. Wheat noodles and greens go into a savory shacha broth, then you choose toppings such as bean curd 豆腐, prawns 虾仁 or pork offal. Choose two toppings to start and ask whether each is priced separately. Shacha blends vary. A Xiamen producer lists peanut paste in its sauce, and seafood may also be in the broth or seasoning. If you avoid either, ask about the base before choosing toppings. Xiamen's shacha noodle standard · Xiamen Puzhen Food's shacha ingredients.

For a morning in Shapowei 沙坡尾, pin 乌糖沙茶面（民族路店）, 民族路76号, in Siming. A local report based on an interview with the family documents the shop at this address. Go for the broth and the choice of toppings. If you only have time for one neighborhood, pick a bowl near Bashi and save Wutang for a separate Shapowei visit. Local family interview at Wutang.

Oyster omelette 海蛎煎 and fish in light soy broth 酱油水杂鱼

A Xiamen oyster omelette is a pan-fried mix of small oysters, greens and sweet potato starch. Egg is common, so check the batter if you avoid it. The starch gives it a chewy middle and a crisp edge. Ask for the sauce on the side if you want to taste the oysters first. Look for 海蛎煎 or 蚵仔煎 on the menu. Ministry of Education visitor guide to Xiamen specialties.

For a seated seafood meal, look for 小眼镜大排档（万佳东方店） at 虎园路1号 near the Botanical Garden's west side. Ask what fish the kitchen can cook 酱油水, gently simmered in a light soy sauce broth. Before agreeing to a whole fish, ask whether it is sold by the piece or by weight and whether the price includes cooking. The address is listed by China Southern and corroborated by the current map listing. China Southern's Amoy food map · Amap branch pin.

Marine worm jelly 土笋冻

Tusun dong is a cold, savory jelly set from a broth made with marine worms, with pieces of the worm visible inside. Its mild brininess and springy texture are part of the appeal. Ask for a small portion with the dipping sauce served separately if you want to try it plain. Fujian and Jinjiang's visitor guides describe it as a southern Fujian specialty found in both Xiamen and the Quanzhou area. Fujian dining guide · Jinjiang municipal food guide.

Try 天河西门土笋冻 at 斗西路33号 near the west gate of Zhongshan Park 中山公园. China Southern lists the shop at this address. Pair it with a visit to the park or make it a stop at the inland end of a Zhongshan Road walk. For a seafood allergy, show the kitchen the exact ingredient you avoid and ask about the jelly and its dressing. China Southern's Amoy food map.

Sweet peanut soup 花生汤

The peanuts are simmered until soft, then served in a sweet soup. At 黄则和花生汤店 on the waterfront end of Zhongshan Road, use 中山路22号 to find the longstanding shop. Start with a plain bowl or ask whether 加蛋, with egg, is available. The brand's heritage entry also records fried dough 油条 and fried glutinous rice bites 炸枣 as shop accompaniments. Ministry of Commerce profile of Huang Zehe · Fujian's Zhongshan Road profile.

Fried five-spice rolls 炸五香 and savory rice parcels 烧肉粽

At Bashi 八市, begin on Kaihe Road 开禾路. 八市阿杰五香（开禾路店） is listed at 开禾路111号. A five-spice roll wraps seasoned pork in a thin bean curd sheet, then goes into the fryer. Order one roll 一条, have it cut into pieces if you are sharing, and eat it while the wrapper is crisp. The market also serves shoppers buying fish, produce and groceries, so step out of the busiest aisle to eat. Fujian's description of the Kaihe market area · Xiamen travel operator's Bashi guide · 360 Maps branch pin.

Walk on to 1980烧肉粽（中山路店）, 中山路353号, for sticky rice wrapped in a leaf. A pork filling may share space with mushrooms, chestnut or dried seafood. Ask which filling is in the one you are buying and whether the sauce comes separately. The parcel is filling enough to split between two people if you are still sampling. Xiamen Evening News interview with the shop's owners · Amap branch pin · Ministry of Education Xiamen food guide.

More Minnan dishes and what to ask for

• Ginger duck 姜母鸭 is cooked slowly with mature ginger and sesame oil. Ask whether you can order half a duck if you are sharing a small table. Ask the cook about rice wine if you avoid alcohol as an ingredient. Fujian department profile of a Xiamen ginger duck maker.
• Thin noodle soup 面线糊 is a soft, thickened breakfast bowl. Ask about the stock and choose just one topping if you want room for market snacks. Ministry of Education Xiamen food guide.
• Minnan thin pancake roll 闽南薄饼 is a soft wrapper around a cooked filling. Ask about pork, dried seafood and crushed peanut before ordering because a filling can contain several of them. Ministry of Education Xiamen food guide.
• Tong'an sealed pork 同安封肉 is a rich braised pork dish associated with Tong'an district. Order it to share with rice and a vegetable dish. Consider it on a Tong'an day or look for the name on a central Minnan menu. Fujian's provincial intangible heritage list.
• Fried glutinous rice bites 炸枣 are small fried sweets. Ask about the filling, especially when you see several trays with different labels. They pair well with unsweetened tea. Fujian notice on Xiamen culinary standards.

A food walk from Bashi to Zhongshan Road

Start at Kaihe Road for a five-spice roll, then head to the waterfront end of Zhongshan Road for peanut soup. Walk inland under the arcades toward the rice parcel shop, or continue to Zhongshan Park for marine worm jelly. If you want a longer sit-down meal, save the seafood restaurant for dinner. The route gives you room to drop a stop when queues are long or the market lanes are crowded. Fujian's Bashi district profile · Fujian's Zhongshan Road profile.

On a Gulangyu day, look for 叶氏麻糍 at the Longtou Road 龙头路 junction on the way toward the music hall. The Ministry of Commerce describes the pushcart at that junction. The shop makes chewy glutinous rice sweets, and fillings or coatings may include peanuts and sesame. Ask about ingredients and today's stall location. For a drink, look for gongfu tea 功夫茶 in old Xiamen. If you sit down, ask whether the charge is per pot, per table or per person. Ministry of Commerce profile of Ye's maci · Fujian's account of Xiamen tea culture.

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