Food is the most iconic label of a trip to Chaozhou and Shantou. From street snacks to traditional Teochew cuisine, you'll find it all.
But you might be unsure about what to eat or where to find the best bites. I visited Chaozhou and Shantou in early April this year, so I'd like to share some recommendations based on my own experience. Hope they're helpful and can give you some inspiration!
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What Are the Famous Foods in Chaozhou and Shantou?
1. Marinated Raw Seafood
Locally called the 'Chaoshan poison', because many people hesitate to try it at first, but would find the flavor addictive once they do.
Marinated raw seafood tastes soft, tender, and jelly-like, and the fresh and spicy sauce also creates a unique flavor. But since the seafood is raw, it might be a bit of a challenge for you to try.
Another reason for its nickname is that it can upset the stomach, and some even get gastroenteritis. It's better to have it with plain porridge or just try a small bite first.
Marinated raw shrimps2. Fish Rice
Actually there is no rice in fish rice, just fish. It's the poached fish that's cooled and served plain, seasoned only with salt, but you can serve it as a meal, so it's called "fish rice".
In Guangzhou or elsewhere, fish rice may taste a bit fishy, but in Chaozhou and Shantou, it's super fresh. There are also plenty of shrimp, crab, and shellfish options. If you love simple and clean-tasting seafood, it's worth a try.
3. Chaoshan Beef Hotpot
Freshly sliced and cooked to order, this mild and comforting hotpot suits almost everyone, from kids to the elderly. But don't eat it with olives, as olive with beef may upset your stomach.
You don't need to chase a famous restaurant, as they're more crowded and the wait is long. There are many beef hotpot spots in Chaozhou and Shantou, and the flavor is just as great.
Beef hot pot4. Braised Goose
The goose used for braise is the lion-head goose, known for its large head and neck, which are also the most prized parts. A 5-year-old goose can have its head sold for over 1200 RMB ( about 166 $), while its body only costs around 300 RMB (42 $).
It has a different texture compared to regular goose, with a more bouncy, chewy, and aromatic taste. Recommend pairing with the foie gras, another flavorful part besides the goose head.
Braised goose5. Teochew guo (kueh in Teochew dialect)
There are many types of "guo" (rice cakes) in Chaozhou and Shantou, which can be steamed or fried. They're different from Singapore or Malay kueh, usually savory, and some are sweet, but with a chewier texture.
Besides serving as a breakfast or daily snack, "guo" is also essential for local worship activities.
The most iconic one is the png kueh. Besides tasting it, you'll also find plenty of creative souvenirs inspired by it.
Savory water kuehIf you'd like to try making the food yourself, China Highlights can arrange a traditional png kueh making activity for you. Just feel free to contact us, and we can also help customise a private itinerary for you.
PNG KuehRecommended Tour: 3-Day Chaozhou and Shantou Tour with png kueh making
What Are the Recommended Food Streets?
Chaozhou Food Streets
The food streets of Chaozhou are mainly concentrated in Chaozhou Ancient City.
Archway Street: lively, best for local product shopping
Archway Street is the liveliest street in Chaozhou Ancient City, packed with stores selling food or various souvenirs. However, it's also the most crowded.
By contrast, the nearby streets like Yi'an Road, Changli Road, and Xi'ma Road offer more authentic food and fewer crowds. They're close to each other, so you can explore them together.
The best food to try there is beef hotpot, sugar onion pancake, mung bean pastry, fish dumpling, almond tea, savory rice cake, fermented bean curd chicken wings, and candied taro, etc.
Archway Street in ChaozhouAround Chaozhou West Lake Park: quiet and local, best for a stroll
Food is scattered here, but delicious and local. I prefer its quieter and scenic vibe, with leafy alleys and peaceful old houses, making it ideal for a laid-back walk after eating.
Recommend beef offal rice noodles, rice rolls, fish sashimi, claypot congee, and especially Xie Huailiang's sesame tea and fried tofu.
Shantou Food Streets
Shantou has more diverse food and food streets, but they're more spread out.
Zhenbang Road: more time-honored snack shops
The snacks are concentrated on a street with clearly marked prices, though it's short and easy to walk through. However, it's also close to Shantou Small Park, so you can eat while sightseeing.
The most recommended snacks are beef balls and oyster omelette.
Longyan South Road: most local eats, including snacks and meals
It covers almost all popular local food from snacks to meals. The vibe is lively and down-to-earth, though it can get crowded at night around 8-10 pm, with more visitors and queues.
Zhujiang Road: more local, best for meals
It has a nicer and cleaner environment, more sidewalk food stalls, and fewer crowds. The free-range chicken hotpot, stir-fried seafood, and thick soy milk are great to try.
Baihua Road: lots of snacks, no crowds and queues
This road offers the greatest seafood and more student-approved stalls near the local middle schools. The food is tasty, such as stir-fried noodles, pork stomach noodles, fried radish rice cakes, and flat rice noodles, but the stalls are a bit scattered.
Outing Road: locally flavored and less crowded
This is a hidden food street but with lots of good snacks, such as pan-fried wheat cakes, tofu pudding, goose intestines, oyster omelette, and shaved milk ice.