Fujian is a coastal province in southeast China facing Taiwan, known for the UNESCO tulou earthen buildings, Gulangyu island, Quanzhou's Maritime Silk Road heritage and the Wuyi Mountains.
Fujian (Min) cuisine is built on clear soups, seafood, mushrooms and bamboo shoots, with sweet-and-sour flavours in Fuzhou, peanut and satay in Xiamen, and Hakka hearty cooking in Longyan.
Must-try dishes
Iconic dishes that define Fujian.
Fotiaoqiang (Buddha Jumps Over the Wall)
Slow-cooked soup of sea cucumber, abalone, shark fin substitutes and ham.
Where to try: Juchunyuan, Fuzhou
Price: ¥150-300 (approx. $21-42)
Roast-pork zongzi (烧肉粽)
Sticky-rice dumpling filled with braised pork, chestnut and shiitake.
Where to try: West Street, Quanzhou and Zhongshan Road, Xiamen
Price: ¥10-25 (approx. $1.40-3.50)
Satay noodles (沙茶面)
Noodles in a peanut-and-shrimp satay broth with offal and seafood.
Where to try: Zhenbang Road, Xiamen
Price: ¥17-30 (approx. $2.40-4.20)
Oyster omelette (海蛎煎)
Fried oysters in sweet-potato starch batter with egg.
Where to try: Zengcuoan, Xiamen
Price: ¥20-35 (approx. $3-5)
Top restaurants
Handpicked picks for the best dining experiences.
Restaurants by cuisine
Browse picks grouped by cuisine type.
Fuzhou Snacks
Hakka Home Cooking
Quanzhou Street Snacks
Seafood
Vegetarian
Wuyi Mountain Cuisine
Xiamen Snacks
Food tours & tastings in Fujian
Eat your way through Fujian with a guide.
Browse food experiences in FujianWe may earn a commission from bookings made through these links.
Street food
Local flavours at affordable prices.
Mianxian hu (面线糊)
Thin-noodle porridge with pork intestine and seafood.
Find it at: West Street, Quanzhou
Tusundong (土笋冻)
Gelled sea-worm jelly served with vinegar and chili.
Find it at: Douxi Road, Xiamen
Peanut soup (花生汤)
Sweet soup of soft peanuts with youtiao.
Find it at: Zhongshan Road, Xiamen
Food markets
Where locals shop and graze.
Bashi Market (Eighth Market)
Xiamen's oldest wet market near the Zhongshan Road area.
Hours: Daily 06:00-19:00
Daming Food Street
Fuzhou snack lane near Sanfang Qixiang.
Hours: Daily 11:00-22:00
Dining etiquette & tips
Navigate the local food scene confidently.
Lunch runs 11:30-13:30 and dinner 17:30-20:30; many local restaurants close between meals.
Pay by Alipay or WeChat Pay; carry some cash.
Show the dish name in Chinese characters when ordering.
Tea is poured for the table; tap two fingers on the table to thank the pourer.
- Vegetarian
- Buddhist temple restaurants such as Nanputuo serve vegetarian food; ask for 素 (su) dishes elsewhere.
- Halal
- Quanzhou's Muslim community eats near Qingjing Mosque; look for 清真 (qingzhen) signs.
- Gluten free
- Rice is the staple; soy sauce is widely used so strict celiacs should carry translated allergy cards.
Food budget guide
What to expect at different price points.
| Level | Price | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | ¥15-40 per meal (approx. $2-5.50) | Zongzi, satay noodles and street snacks. |
| Mid-range | ¥60-150 per meal (approx. $8.50-21) | Seafood or Hakka sit-down restaurants. |
| Upscale | ¥200+ per meal (approx. $28+) | Fotiaoqiang and hotel restaurants. |