Zhenbutong Luoyang Water Banquet (真不同洛阳水席) Zhongzhou Road

Zhenbutong Luoyang Water Banquet (真不同洛阳水席) on Zhongzhou Road is a restaurant devoted to the Luoyang Water Banquet (Shuixi), the city's traditional 24-course sequence of soups and dishes served one after another. It is at No. 359 East Zhongzhou Road (中州东路359号) in Laocheng District, Luoyang, Henan Province. The water banquet is considered Luoyang's signature culinary tradition, and Zhenbutong is one of the best-known restaurants associated with it, making it a natural stop for visitors interested in the local food culture of the old capital.

The signature dish is Peony Yan Cai (牡丹燕菜), a savoury sour-and-hot soup made with radish and egg and shaped to resemble a peony, the city's emblematic flower. It costs about ¥48 to ¥78 as an individual order. Most visitors choose a Water Banquet set for two at about ¥168 to ¥268, which brings a sequence of soups and dishes to the table in turn. The name water banquet refers to the fact that many courses are served in broth, and the sequence is designed so that each dish follows the previous one in a balanced progression of flavours, alternating between sour, savoury, sweet and hot.

The dining room is a traditional hall with course-by-course service. It is orderly and relaxed, popular with tour groups and families, and the noise level rises at weekends when large tables are booked. There is no strict dress code; smart-casual clothing is typical. The drinks list generally includes tea, beer, soft drinks and baijiu, but there is no notable wine programme, as the soups themselves carry the meal.

Reservations are recommended at weekends through the Dianping (大众点评) or Meituan (美团) apps, and walk-ins are usually accepted on weekdays. Booking a day ahead is generally sufficient, although groups should reserve earlier. Approximate hours are 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM to 8:30 PM daily. Because the sequence takes time to serve, diners should allow at least 90 minutes. A full meal for two typically costs about ¥170 to ¥270.