Kunshan (昆山) is a county-level city in Jiangsu province, eastern China, administered by Suzhou and bordering Shanghai. It is the birthplace of Kunqu opera, the home of the water towns Zhouzhuang, Jinxi and Qiandeng, and one of China's wealthiest manufacturing cities.
Kunshan cooking belongs to the Su-Hu school of Jiangnan food: sweet-savoury braises, river fish and Yangcheng Lake hairy crab in autumn. The city's signature dish is the aozao noodle bowl, either red-oil with fried fish or white-broth with braised duck; Zhouzhuang adds Wansan pork knuckle.
Must-try dishes
Iconic dishes that define Kunshan.
Aozao noodles (奥灶面)
Wheat noodles in a broth of fish head, river snails and pork bones, served red-oil with fried fish or white with braised duck.
Wansan pork knuckle (万三蹄)
Whole pork knuckle braised for hours in soy and rock sugar, linked to the Ming merchant Shen Wansan.
Yangcheng Lake hairy crab (阳澄湖大闸蟹)
Steamed autumn crab, in season roughly October to December.
Aoya braised duck (爊鸭)
Duck simmered in a spiced stock, sold by the half.
Top restaurants
Handpicked picks for the best dining experiences.
Restaurants by cuisine
Browse picks grouped by cuisine type.
Su
Kunshan Home Cooking
Kunshan Snacks
Northern Baked Buns
Shanghai Pan
Food tours & tastings in Kunshan
Eat your way through Kunshan with a guide.
Browse food experiences in KunshanWe may earn a commission from bookings made through these links.
Street food
Local flavours at affordable prices.
Socks-sole pastry
Flaky pastry sold on Jinxi's old street.
Find it at: Zhang Ji, Jinxi
Qingtuan
Green glutinous rice dumplings with red bean.
Find it at: Zhengyi old street
Osmanthus red-bean dumplings
Sweet soup dumplings in Zhouzhuang.
Find it at: Sun Fuchang, Zhouzhuang
Food markets
Where locals shop and graze.
Qianjin Market (前进菜场)
Neighbourhood wet market with sugar lotus root and rice cakes.
Dining etiquette & tips
Navigate the local food scene confidently.
Pay with Alipay or WeChat Pay; many small shops do not take foreign cards. Foreign cards can be linked to both apps.
Dianping (大众点评) and Meituan show queues, menus and opening hours in Chinese.
Noodle shops often sell a bowl and the topping separately; order the topping at the counter.
Hairy crab season runs about October to December; ask the price per jin (500 g).
Show the Chinese name from this guide to taxi drivers or in Amap/Baidu Maps.
- Vegetarian
- Most broths use pork or fish stock; ask for 素 (su, vegetarian) and confirm no meat stock.
- Halal
- Muslim restaurants exist but are few; look for 清真 on Amap.
- Gluten free
- Rice dishes and stir-fried vegetables are available, but soy sauce is used widely.
Food budget guide
What to expect at different price points.
| Level | Price | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | CNY 30-60 ($4.5-9) a day | Noodles, wontons and pastries at street shops. |
| Mid-range | CNY 80-200 ($12-30) a day | Sit-down meals including a braise. |
| Upscale | CNY 250+ ($37+) a day | Hotel dining and crab banquets. |