Anhui is an inland province in eastern China, best known for the granite peaks of Huangshan (Yellow Mountain), the UNESCO-listed Huizhou villages of Hongcun and Xidi, and the Buddhist mountain of Jiuhua Shan. Its capital and largest city is Hefei. Anhui is the home of Hui cuisine, Xuan paper and Hui ink, and some of China's most famous teas. It has no sea coast, but the Yangtze River, Chaohu Lake and Taiping Lake give it plenty of waterfront.
Anhui cuisine (Hui cai) is one of China's Eight Great Cuisines, drawing on wild mountain ingredients from Huangshan and the Dabie range, slow braising, and heavy use of preserved ham, bamboo shoots and fermented foods. Huizhou cooking around Huangshan is famous for stinky mandarin fish (chou guiyu) and mao tofu (hairy tofu). Hefei and the Huai river region offer Li Hongzhang hodgepodge, Bagongshan tofu and crayfish; Wuhu is known for smoked duck and shrimp dishes. The province also produces Keemun black tea, Taiping Houkui and Huangshan Maofeng.
Must-try dishes
Iconic dishes that define Anhui.
Stinky Mandarin Fish (Chou Guiyu)
Mandarin fish cured in brine for several days until it develops a pungent aroma, then braised or pan-fried; tender flesh with a mild flavour
Where to try: Laojie Diyi Lou / Laoma Restaurant, Tunxi
Price: CNY 68-168 (~$10-25), priced by weight
Mao Tofu (Hairy Tofu)
Fermented tofu with a fuzzy white mould coat, pan-fried until crisp and served with chilli sauce
Where to try: Tunxi Old Street restaurants and stalls
Price: CNY 20-38 (~$3-6)
Li Hongzhang Hodgepodge
Stew of sea cucumber, chicken, ham, pig's liver and spinach in chicken broth, said to be created for the Qing statesman Li Hongzhang
Where to try: Hefei Hui cuisine restaurants
Price: CNY 68-158 (~$10-24)
Huangshan Shaobing (Sesame Cake)
Crisp baked pastry filled with preserved vegetable and pork, baked in tall clay ovens
Where to try: Tunxi Old Street stalls
Price: CNY 3-8 (~$0.5-1)
Crayfish (Xiao Longxia)
Hefei's signature street food in vinegar or spicy broth
Where to try: Leijie Night Market, Hefei
Price: CNY 68-148 per kg (~$10-22)
Wuhu Smoked Duck
Duck smoked over aromatic wood and served cold or in soups
Where to try: Wuhu Zhongshan Road area
Price: CNY 30-70 (~$4-10)
Top restaurants
Handpicked picks for the best dining experiences.
Restaurants by cuisine
Browse picks grouped by cuisine type.
Anhui Home
Chinese
Hefei Braised Goose
Hefei Snacks
Local Chizhou Dishes
Wuhu Slow
Food tours & tastings in Anhui
Eat your way through Anhui with a guide.
Browse food experiences in AnhuiWe may earn a commission from bookings made through these links.
Street food
Local flavours at affordable prices.
Huangshan Shaobing
Clay-oven sesame cakes stuffed with preserved vegetable and pork
Find it at: Tunxi Old Street, Huangshan
Grilled Mao Tofu Skewers
Fermented tofu grilled with chilli sauce
Find it at: Tunxi Old Street, Huangshan
Hefei Crayfish
Spicy or vinegar crayfish sold by the kilo
Find it at: Leijie Night Market, Hefei
Braised Goose Cold Cuts
Soy-braised goose sliced for takeaway
Find it at: Hefei branches of Wushan Tribute Goose
Food markets
Where locals shop and graze.
Tunxi Old Street
Ming-Qing-style pedestrian street lined with snack stalls, tea shops and restaurants
Hours: Daily 9AM-10PM
Leijie Night Market
Renovated street food district near Hefei's old city wall with over 200 shops
Hours: Shops 10AM-midnight; core 6PM-2AM
Huaihe Road Pedestrian Street
Hefei's central pedestrian street with snack outlets
Hours: Daily 10AM-10PM
Dining etiquette & tips
Navigate the local food scene confidently.
Lunch runs about 11:30AM-1:30PM and dinner from about 5:30PM-8:30PM; small kitchens often close between services
Whole fish such as stinky mandarin fish is priced by weight, so confirm the price before the cook starts
Search the Chinese name in Dianping (大众点评) or Meituan (美团) to check reviews, queue and hours; pay with Alipay or WeChat Pay linked to a foreign card
Tipping is not customary
Hairy tofu and stinky mandarin fish are mild in flavour despite the smell; order a small portion first
- Vegetarian
- Limited but possible: tofu, bamboo shoots and wild vegetables; many broths use pork or ham stock. Jiuhua Shan has dedicated Buddhist vegetarian restaurants
- Halal
- Limited; look for Muslim noodle shops (qingzhen, 清真) in Hefei
- Gluten free
- Rice is standard, but soy sauce and thickened sauces contain gluten; show a translated allergy card
Food budget guide
What to expect at different price points.
| Level | Price | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | CNY 25-50 per meal (~$4-7) | Snacks, shaobing, noodles and fast-casual chains |
| Mid-range | CNY 80-150 per meal (~$12-22) | Sit-down Hui restaurants in Tunxi, Hefei and Wuhu |
| Upscale | CNY 250+ per meal (~$37+) | Refined Huizhou banquet dishes and whole-fish specialties |