Shandong is a coastal province in eastern China, home to Mount Tai, the birthplace of Confucius at Qufu, the beer-making port of Qingdao, and Jinan, the City of Springs. Its capital is Jinan and its largest city is Qingdao. The province combines UNESCO heritage, a long Yellow Sea and Bohai coast, and Lu cuisine, one of China's Eight Great Cuisines.
Shandong cuisine (Lu cai) is the oldest of China's Eight Great Cuisines and the base of Beijing imperial cooking. It is divided into the Jinan school (soups, clear broths, sweet-and-sour Yellow River carp, Jiuzhuan dachang), the Jiaodong school around Qingdao, Yantai and Weihai (seafood, sea cucumber, abalone, fish dumplings) and the Confucian Kong family school around Qufu. Staples include wheat noodles, steamed buns and thin pancakes eaten with scallions, while Dezhou braised chicken is a national favourite. Qingdao is also home to Tsingtao beer, brewed since 1903.
Must-try dishes
Iconic dishes that define Shandong.
Sweet-and-Sour Yellow River Carp (糖醋黄河鲤鱼)
Whole carp deep fried and topped with a glossy sweet-sour sauce; the classic Jinan banquet dish
Where to try: Awu Yellow River Carp, Jinan
Price: CNY 80-180 (~$12-27)
Jiuzhuan Dachang (九转大肠)
Pork large intestine repeatedly cleaned, braised and finished with sugar and spices
Where to try: Jufengde, Jinan
Price: CNY 60-120 (~$9-18)
Dezhou Braised Chicken (德州扒鸡)
Whole chicken braised until meat falls off the bone
Where to try: Dezhou shops in Jinan and Tai'an
Price: CNY 40-90 (~$6-13)
Fish Dumplings (鱼水饺)
Dumplings filled with fresh fish or mixed seafood
Where to try: Chuange Fish Dumplings, Qingdao
Price: CNY 30-80 (~$4-12)
Clam Stir-Fry (炒蛤蜊)
Fresh clams stir-fried with chilli and ginger
Where to try: Qingdao night markets
Price: CNY 25-50 (~$4-7)
Braised Sea Cucumber with Scallion (葱烧海参)
Signature Lu dish of sea cucumber braised with scallions
Where to try: Chunhelou, Qingdao; Yanxitang, Jinan
Price: CNY 150-400 (~$22-60)
Tofu Pudding (豆腐脑)
Silken tofu in a savoury sauce, a Jinan breakfast
Where to try: Furong Street, Jinan
Price: CNY 8-15 (~$1-2)
Top restaurants
Handpicked picks for the best dining experiences.
Restaurants by cuisine
Browse picks grouped by cuisine type.
Dezhou Braised Chicken
Jiaodong Noodles
Jiaodong Snacks
Mountain
Qingdao Beer
Qingdao Street Food
Qufu Snacks
Tai'An Snacks
Food tours & tastings in Shandong
Eat your way through Shandong with a guide.
Browse food experiences in ShandongWe may earn a commission from bookings made through these links.
Street food
Local flavours at affordable prices.
Yantai Menzi (烟台焖子)
Starch jelly pan-fried and dressed with garlic sauce
Find it at: Chaoyang Street, Yantai
Grilled Squid (烤鱿鱼)
Squid on skewers grilled with spices
Find it at: Pichaiyuan and Furong Street
Tie Ban Shrimp
Shrimp cooked on an iron plate
Find it at: Pichaiyuan, Qingdao
Shandong Jianbing (煎饼)
Thin wheat-grain crepe rolled with scallions and sauce
Find it at: Tai'an and Qufu old towns
Food markets
Where locals shop and graze.
Furong Street (芙蓉街)
Snack lane beside Baotu Spring
Hours: Daily 9AM-10PM
Pichaiyuan (劈柴院)
Historic lane of seafood stalls
Hours: Daily 9AM-10PM
Taidong Night Market (台东夜市)
Open-air evening food stalls
Hours: Evenings 5PM-11PM
Dining etiquette & tips
Navigate the local food scene confidently.
Dianping (大众点评) and Meituan (美团) show menus, queues and current hours; search the Chinese names.
Pay with Alipay or WeChat Pay linked to a foreign card; carry some cash for stalls.
Seafood is priced by weight; confirm price per jin (500g) before ordering.
Qingdao beer is served in bags at street stalls; ask for a bottle or glass if preferred.
Reserve Confucian banquets in Qufu in advance.
Order fewer dishes than expected; portions are large.
- Vegetarian
- Limited outside Buddhist restaurants; tofu and vegetable dishes are common but stocks and sauces often contain meat or seafood.
- Halal
- Halal (qingzhen, 清真) noodle shops and restaurants exist in Jinan and Qingdao.
- Gluten free
- Wheat is central; soy sauce and dumplings contain gluten. Use a translated allergy card.
Food budget guide
What to expect at different price points.
| Level | Price | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | CNY 25-60 per meal (~$4-9) | Street snacks, noodles and dumplings |
| Mid-range | CNY 80-180 per meal (~$12-27) | Sit-down Lu cuisine and seafood restaurants |
| Upscale | CNY 250+ per meal (~$37+) | Banquet-style Lu and Confucian cuisine, sea cucumber and abalone |