Lao Suqian

Lao Suqian (老宿迁, literally 'Old Suqian') is a traditional restaurant at Shop 114-115, Building 3, Xinheyuan, Fazhan Avenue, in the Yanghe New District of Suqian, Jiangsu Province, China. It serves local-style home dishes built around the freshwater produce of the nearby lakes and rivers, including lake fish and river shrimp, in the Jiangsu-Zhejiang tradition. Prices run about ¥79-118 per person (about $11.6-17.4), placing it in the comfortable mid-range for a Suqian sit-down meal. The signature dishes reflect the regional repertoire: iron-plate goose eggs (铁板鹅蛋), served sizzling; hand-made fish balls (手工鱼丸子); braised diaozi fish (红烧刁子鱼), a small freshwater fish popular in the Huai River area; shredded dried tofu (细干丝), a Huaiyang-style classic usually dressed in a light broth or sauce; and salted goose (盐水老鹅), a cold-cut preparation common across Jiangsu. Together the menu gives a good cross-section of what locals regard as everyday Suqian cooking rather than tourist fare. The location is in a commercial block of ground-floor shops in a residential new district, so the setting is more neighbourhood than scenic, and the dining room is likely a plain, family-oriented space with round tables suited to group meals. There is no published dress code and the atmosphere is typically casual and conversational. Beverages are mainly tea, soft drinks and beer, and baijiu is common at group meals; the Yanghe distillery in the Yanghe area is a famous local producer, so local liquor is a natural pairing. A phone number, 15851156021, is listed for reservations. Booking ahead is sensible for dinner on weekends or for groups, while weekday lunch is likely easier. Opening hours are not published in the sources consulted. Payment is typically through WeChat Pay or Alipay. Menus are probably in Chinese only, so having the dish names above saved on a phone helps. The restaurant suits visitors staying around the Yanghe area who want to try regional lake and river dishes at a moderate price.