Laojia (Chongan Temple branch)

Laojia (老家) is a local-favourite Xibang restaurant on Xianqian East Street in the Chongan Temple area of Liangxi District, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China, and is notable for staying open late into the early morning. The Chongan Temple area is the traditional commercial and entertainment heart of old Wuxi, and the restaurant draws a mix of local diners, office groups and visitors exploring the nearby pedestrian streets. The menu centres on Wuxi cooking, with Wuxi spare ribs braised in a sweet soy sauce and sizzling eel (响油鳝糊) as the main signatures, supported by a long list of late-night stir-fries that make it a practical choice after other restaurants have closed. The dining room is lively, with a casual atmosphere, moderate to high noise levels in the evening and no dress code. It suits groups of friends and families rather than quiet or formal dining. Beverages include tea, soft drinks and beer, and no particular wine programme is noted. Prices are mid-range at roughly CNY 60-110 per person, which is comparable to other Xibang restaurants in the area. Reservations are not usually difficult, but evening and weekend tables can fill up, and the usual way to check queues and booking is through Dianping (大众点评) or Meituan. Listed hours are 10:30AM-1:30PM for lunch and 4:30PM-3AM for the evening, which is among the latest closing times of the traditional Wuxi restaurants and makes it a useful address for late arrivals, night owls and those finishing an evening walk around Chongan Temple. Visitors should note the mid-afternoon closure between lunch and dinner, when the kitchen is closed. The central location means it is easy to reach on foot from other sights in the old commercial district.