Hangzhou Dishes

Hangzhou cuisine is one of the most popular and fashionable cooking."Hangzhou Xiaochi", a shop that serves Hangzhou specialties can be found all over China. The master poet Su Dongpo of the Song dynasty once wrote in praise that “there are no better banquets in the world than those in Hangzhou.”

Recipes here usually contain a great deal of seafood including fish, shrimp, crab and oyster. Its famous dishes are Beggar’s chicken, West Lake fish, Dong Po Pork and stewed shelled shrimp cooked in Dragon Well tea, the famous tea from Hangzhou area.

Beggar's Chicken

It is said that this dish was first made by a beggar.

One day, the beggar got a chicken but he couldn't cook it since he had neither cooking equipment nor seasonings. Finally he wrapped the chicken in clay and baked it. To his surprise, the chicken was very tasty with his cooking method. A restaurant heard this and made some improvement to this dish, the dish was thus named. Several hundred years have passed, the cooking process was well developed and this dish has then become one of the most famous Hangzhou cuisines.

Beggar's Chicken Restaurants are Lou Wai Lou, Zhi Wei Guan and Tian Wai Tian.

West Lake Fish in Vinegar Gravy

The dish is cooked with live grass carp. The fish needs to be put in a tank to starve it for two or three days, to let go the trash in its bowels and the smell of soil. The fire need to be strictly controlled when cooking it.

it is said that it is originated from Song's younger brother and wife.Song and his younger brother are pretty knowledgeable, they lived a secluded life away from society. However, one day the villain Zhao met Song's wife and was attracted by her beauty. He killed Song by intrigues when he knew that the beauty was Song's wife. Song's wife and his younger brother were very indignant and they accused Zhao of committing crimes. But the local authorities were on the side of the villain, they were failed and swept out of the government. After getting home, Song's wife ordered the younger brother to escape from Hangzhou in case of reprisals. Before Song's brother gone, his sister in law made him a dish that is made of fish with sugar and vinegar. Song's brother was surprised and asked why the fish was cooked so strangely. His sister in law said: you will taste sweet and sour in this dish, I want you to remember how your brother died and remember to pay the revenge years later. The younger brother was deeply moved and he left home with his sister in law's request.

Several years later, Song's younger brother became an authority and put the villain to law. However, his sister in law was hidden and he couldn't find her. One day, the younger brother attended a banquet and he ate a dish that has the same taste as the one his sister in law had made. He asked the host and found that it was his sister in law who had become a maid to escape from reprisal. The younger brother was very happy and he resigned his title and lived a secluded life again at the lakeside with his sister in law.

Best West Lake Fish in Vinegar Gravy Restaurants in Hangzhou are Lou Wai Lou, Zhi Wei Guan, Huang Fan Er and Wai Po Jia

Braised Dongpo Pork

It is said that Braised Dong Po Pork was first made by the great litterateur Su Dongpo (Su Shi), he helped people in the flood in Xuzhou when he was the governor. In order to thank him, citizens send him plentiful pork when knowing that he was fond of that. Su Dongpo accepted the gifts and cooked them in his special way. He sent the cooked pork to the citizens, they were deeply moved by Su Dongpo. This tasty dish was then called Braised Dong Po Pork.

Braised Dong Po Pork Restaurants are Lou Wai Lou, Zhi Wei Guan, Huang Fan Er and Wai Po Jia.

 Fried Shrimps with Long Jing Tea Leaves

This dish originated from the Imperial Palace. It is said that Emperor Qian Long got some best Long Jing tea when he was on the royal tour. He brought the tea back to the Palace and the imperial cook made a dish with Long Jing tea and shrimps. When tasting the dish, Emperor Qian Long was very happy and he rewarded the cook. Later, there was a dish called Fried Shrimps with Long Jing Tea Leaves in Hangzhou Tian Wai Tian Restaurant. The dish is fragrant with both smell of Long Jing tea and shrimps, it had been one of the best Hangzhou cuisines from then on.

Best Fried Shrimps with Long Jing Tea Leaves Restaurants are Lou Wai Lou, Tian Wai Tian, Shan Wai Shan and Huang Fan Er