South Gate Niunan Beef Brisket & Stewed Pork Shop in Haikou Hainan 博爱南129牛腩店 • 钟记南门牛腩店

South Gate Niunan Shop 钟记南门牛腩店 | China, Hai Nan Sheng, Hai Kou Shi, Mei Lan Qu, 博爱南路129号 邮政编码: 570102 ☎ +86 898 3666 4008 🕗 24/7

I requested our obliging Hainan hosts to take us to places locals eat in Haikou, especially where tourists normally won't go 😬

Zao Po Cu Vinegar Hotpot • Must Try in Puqian, Haikou, Hainan 渔家人铺前糟粕醋火锅第一家

Wenchang Hainan is well known to foreigners for their chicken rice, Jia Ji duck, Dong Shan lamb, and He Le crab. Actually, Wenchang has a few other local specialties such as qing pu liang, and bao luo fen noodle. Recently, another dish, zao po cu 糟粕醋 hotpot has been in the limelight and has emerged as another must try dish in Hainan.

Hainan Lao Ba Cha • Old Dad Tea & Coffee Culture 海南老爸茶

Lao ba cha 老爸茶 or literally old dad tea is not a type of tea at all - instead, it is a culture and lifestyle of leisurely enjoying food and drink, as well as the institutions (coffee / tea shops that facilitate Hainan's LBC culture).

Famous Lian Huan Oyster Omelette Pancake at Zhongshan Street in Xiamen 莲欢海蛎煎

莲欢海蛎煎 Lian Huan Oyster Omelette | Zhongshanlu Street, 中山路商圈 Siming District, Xiamen, Fujian, China ☎ +86 592 203 5236 🕗 8am - 10pm

In Xiamen, you will find 海蛎煎 or "fried oyster" stalls everywhere. Most restaurants also have 海蛎煎 the iconic dish on their menu.

Oyster Omelette & Recovery of Taiwan from VOC Dutch East Indies Company in 1662 by Koxinga 鄭成功 • 國姓爺

The Ming dynasty of China (1368 - 1644) fell to the Manchurian Qing dynasty from the north while European seapowers were lodged at China's doorstep. The Portuguese at Macau, the Spanish at Luzon (Philippines) and the Dutch occupied Formosa (today's Taiwan) since 1624.

Kampua Mee Noodle in Zhangzhou, Fujian 原北京路松树干拌面店漳州市

We arrived in Zhangzhou 漳州, the city adjacent west of Xiamen in a cab feeling famished. We were lucky to stumble upon 原北京路松树干拌面店 (literally Original Beijing Road Pine Tree Dry Mix Noodle Shop) within 5 minutes. 

Ginger Duck Must Try Food Icon in Xiamen 姜母鸭厦门特产

During travels, I like to walk and explore the little nooks in the city's old quarters on foot. The old city cores are usually not very big and are eminently walkable. (I am one of those who consider 5km walking "very near" 😄 Don't be like Tony 🤭 )

Sha Cha Mian Satay Noodle of Xiamen 厦门必吃沙茶面

When you come to Xiamen city in Fujian province, you are bound to encounter a noodle dish with a fiery red spicy looking soup known as sha cha mian. It is delicious and unique to Xiamen, so it is definitely worth a try before you leave Xiamen.

Hainan Qing Pu Liang Cooling Dessert & the Lost Nan Yue Kingdom • History of Ching Bo Leung 清補涼历史 • 趙佗神汤

When you are in China's humid tropical Hainan island, you will see a ubiquitous watery sweet dessert known as qing pu liang 清補涼 which literally means cleansing, nourishing, and cooling.