I’m Emma Lee, and as a foreign food blogger who has lived in China for many years, I’ve always used my taste buds as a map to explore this incredible country. From the steam rising out of narrow alleyways to the artistic plates served in upscale restaurants, China’s culinary world has a way of surprising me at every turn. Among all the cities I’ve wandered through, Fuzhou captivates me the most. The gentle warmth of Fujian cuisine, the bright sweetness of its seafood, and the charming street-food scene have shaped many of my most unforgettable food memories. This Fuzhou Food Guide is a collection of the dishes that thrilled me, comforted me, and completely won me over. I hope it leads you into the flavorful heart of this city and helps you discover the beauty that can only be understood once you taste it yourself.

Summary

Must-Try Traditional Fuzhou Dishes

Buddha Jumps Over the Wall

Buddha Jumps Over the Wall

Buddha Jumps Over the Wall—also known as Fu Shou Quan—is one of the most iconic dishes in Fuzhou and a masterpiece of Fujian cuisine. This luxurious stew brings together more than twenty premium ingredients, including abalone, sea cucumber, fish lip, pork tendon, shiitake mushrooms, dried scallops, and quail eggs. Everything is layered with rich broth and Fujian aged wine, sealed in a Shaoxing clay jar, and slow-cooked for over eight hours. The aroma becomes so deep and complex that it’s easy to understand why the dish is considered one of China’s top-tier culinary treasures.

  • Chinese Name: 佛跳墙
  • Pinyin: Fu Tiao Qiang
  • Main Ingredients: Sea cucumber, abalone, shark fin, fish lip
  • Typical Meal Times: Lunch and dinner
  • Recommended Season: Year-round
  • Wang Zexu · Buddha Jumps Over the Wall · Hotpot (Shengyu Building Branch)
    • Address: No. 70 Bayiqi North Road, Shengyu Building, Gulou District, Fuzhou ( Apple Maps / Amap )
    • Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday, 11:00–14:30, 17:00–21:30
    • Average Price: 109 CNY

Fuzhou Fish Balls (Yu Wan)

Fuzhou Fish Balls (Yu Wan)

Fuzhou fish balls—sometimes called “fish stuffed with meat”—are made by mincing eel, shark, or freshwater fish into a smooth paste, then mixing it with sweet potato starch. This forms a bouncy, silky outer layer that wraps a savory filling of minced pork or shrimp. Light yet rich, these fish balls are one of Fuzhou’s most beloved coastal specialties and appear in soups, noodle dishes, or simply as a warm snack.

  • Chinese Name: 鱼丸
  • Pinyin: Yu Wan
  • Main Ingredients: Eel, shark, freshwater fish, sweet potato starch, pork, shrimp
  • Typical Meal Times: Snack
  • Recommended Season: Year-round
  • Huojiang Kesheng Fish Ball Shop
    • Address: No. 23 Jingda Road, Gulou District, Fuzhou ( Apple Maps / Amap )
    • Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday, 06:30–20:00
    • Average Price: 19 CNY

Rou Yan (Fuzhou Meat Swallow Dumplings)

Rou Yan (Fuzhou Meat Swallow Dumplings)

Rou Yan—also known as Taiping Yan or Flat Meat Swallow—is one of Fuzhou’s most traditional snacks. Its signature lies in the delicate wrapper: lean pork from the hind leg is pounded into a smooth paste and blended with sweet potato starch, forming a paper-thin skin as light as a cicada’s wing. It wraps fillings of minced fish or pork, and after steaming or boiling, the dumplings resemble a flying swallow. When cooked with duck eggs, the dish becomes Taiping Yan, a symbol of peace often found at weddings and ceremonial banquets.

  • Chinese Name: 肉燕
  • Pinyin: Rou Yan
  • Main Ingredients: Lean pork, Rou Yan skin (pounded pork and sweet potato starch)
  • Typical Meal Times: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
  • Recommended Season: Year-round
  • Tongli Rouyan Laopu (Sanfang Qixiang Branch)
    • Address: No. 98 Nanhou Street, Gulou District, Fuzhou ( Apple Maps / Amap )
    • Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday, 07:30–22:00
    • Average Price: 23 CNY

Guo Bian Hu (Fuzhou Rice-Sheet Soup)

Guo Bian Hu (Fuzhou Rice-Sheet Soup)

Guo Bian Hu—also known as Ding Bian Hu—is a beloved Fujian breakfast dish. A thin stream of rice batter is poured along the rim of a sizzling iron wok, forming soft sheets that are scraped into a broth simmered with clam juice, shiitake mushrooms, dried shrimp, and clams. The soup is light, smooth, and comforting, making it a morning staple for many locals.

  • Chinese Name: 锅边糊
  • Pinyin: Guo Bian Hu
  • Main Ingredients: Clam broth, shiitake mushrooms, dried shrimp, scallions, rice batter, shrimp paste
  • Typical Meal Times: Breakfast
  • Recommended Season: Year-round
  • Chaihuo Guobian
    • Address: No. 196 Wenjing Garden Shops, Yangzhong Road, Taijiang District, Fuzhou ( Apple Maps / Amap )
    • Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday, 04:30–11:00
    • Average Price: 10 CNY

Lychee Pork (Li Zhi Rou)

Lychee Pork (Li Zhi Rou)

Lychee Pork is a classic Fuzhou dish with origins in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. Lean pork is scored with a crosshatch pattern and fried until the pieces curl into lychee-like shapes. They’re then cooked with red fermented rice, vinegar, and sugar, creating a sweet-and-sour flavor that is crisp outside and tender inside—a perfect example of Fujian cuisine’s balance.

  • Chinese Name: 荔枝肉
  • Pinyin: Li Zhi Rou
  • Main Ingredients: Vinegar, sugar, soy sauce, sesame oil
  • Typical Meal Times: Lunch and dinner
  • Recommended Season: Year-round
  • Kaifu Restaurant (Jiahe Garden Branch)
    • Address: No. 150-6 Gutian Branch Road, Gulou District, Fuzhou ( Apple Maps / Amap )
    • Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday, 10:00–14:00, 16:30–21:00
    • Average Price: 42 CNY

Yu Ni (Fuzhou Taro Paste)

Yu Ni (Fuzhou Taro Paste)

Yu Ni—also called taro purée—is a traditional Fujian dessert often served at the end of banquet meals in eastern Fujian. Made from steamed taro mashed with lard and sugar, it becomes rich, smooth, and fragrant. Some versions include red dates or candied fruits for added sweetness and texture.

  • Chinese Name: 芋泥
  • Pinyin: Yu Ni
  • Main Ingredients: Taro, lard, sugar
  • Typical Meal Times: Snack
  • Recommended Season: Year-round
  • Tangchao Sweet Soup Shop (Shengfu Branch)
    • Address: No. 68 Shengfu Road, Gulou District, Fuzhou ( Apple Maps / Amap )
    • Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday, 11:30–22:30
    • Average Price: 34 CNY

Lao Hua (Fuzhou Rice Noodles in Broth)

Lao Hua (Fuzhou Rice Noodles in Broth)

Lao Hua—also known as Lao Xinghua—is a traditional Fuzhou snack and a well-loved representative of Fujian cuisine. It features Xinghua rice noodles served in a broth simmered from pork and beef bones. The bowl is then topped with ingredients like pork blood, pork intestines, beef tripe, and tofu skin. The result is savory, hearty, and deeply local, making it a popular choice among Fuzhou residents at almost any time of day.

  • Chinese Name: 捞化
  • Pinyin: Lao Hua
  • Main Ingredients: Rice noodles, bone broth, pork blood, pork intestines, beef tripe, tofu skin
  • Typical Meal Times: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
  • Recommended Season: Year-round
  • Back Street Laohua (Yadao Alley Branch)
    • Address: No. 95 Yadao Alley, Gulou District, Fuzhou ( Apple Maps / Amap )
    • Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday, 07:00–01:00
    • Average Price: 22 CNY

Hai Li Bing (Fuzhou Oyster Cake)

Hai Li Bing (Fuzhou Oyster Cake)

Hai Li Bing is a famous fried snack originating from Fuzhou. The batter is made from a mix of rice paste and soybean flour, wrapped around a filling of fresh oysters, minced pork, cabbage, scallions, and seaweed. After seasoning with five-spice powder and white pepper, the mixture is shaped using a small round ladle, topped with peanuts, and fried until golden and crisp. It looks like a small golden moon with a crunchy exterior and a warm, savory filling. Many locals enjoy it on its own or pair it with porridge or Guo Bian Hu for breakfast.

  • Chinese Name: 海蛎饼
  • Pinyin: Hai Li Bing
  • Main Ingredients: Rice flour, soybean flour, oysters, pork, vegetables, seaweed
  • Typical Meal Times: Snack
  • Recommended Season: Year-round
  • Azhengsao Fuqing Sweet Potato Balls & Oyster Cakes (Head Office)
    • Address: No. 138 Daming Road, Guxi Street, Gulou District, Fuzhou ( Apple Maps / Amap )
    • Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday, 09:30–21:30
    • Average Price: 13 CNY

Xian Mian (Fujian Hand-Pulled Thin Noodles)

Xian Mian (Fujian Hand-Pulled Thin Noodles)

Xian Mian is a traditional Fujian noodle made by hand-pulling dough mixed with flour and salt. The noodles are known for being long, thin, smooth, and elastic. A local legend in Putian claims that the craft was taught by a celestial goddess, who became the symbolic patron of noodle makers. The process requires multiple steps—kneading, resting, rolling, and stretching—and often takes nearly 10 hours from start to finish. The noodles are typically served with broth and meat, creating a simple but comforting bowl enjoyed throughout Fuzhou.

  • Chinese Name: 线面
  • Pinyin: Xian Mian
  • Main Ingredients: Flour, meat
  • Typical Meal Times: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
  • Recommended Season: Year-round
  • Mama Flavour Noodle Restaurant (Jincheng Mansion Branch)
    • Address: No. 12 Shangbin Road, Gulou District, Fuzhou ( Apple Maps / Amap )
    • Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday, 08:30–20:30
    • Average Price: 20 CNY

Essential Fuzhou Travel Resources