Qingdao: A Renowned Culinary City in Shandong, China

Actually, you’re really mistaken! The true Qingdao food is not found in large hotels, but in the small alleys and street corners of Qingdao, especially late at night.

I believe most of you have had Qingdao beer. It’s so well-known in China that it’s practically a household name. In fact, many German friends have told me that Qingdao beer is really delicious. You can even find it in Costco stores in the U.S.

But today, we’re not talking about beer. We’re talking about the hometown of Qingdao beer—Qingdao, China, a famous food city.

In Qingdao, you can enjoy authentic Shandong cuisine, one of China’s eight great culinary traditions, or you can taste dishes that combine Shandong flavors with a variety of local influences. Traditional Shandong dishes are famous for their freshness, with classics like Braised Sea Cucumber with Scallions. But what makes Qingdao unique are dishes like Spicy Stir-fried Clams, Oil-Braised Prawns, Liuting Braised Pig’s Trotter, and Mackerel Dumplings.

Speaking of Braised Sea Cucumber with Scallions, I must mention Chunhe Lou, which has been around since 1891 and is one of Qingdao’s oldest existing restaurants. Their Braised Sea Cucumber with Scallions is a living piece of Qingdao's culinary history. They use only the finest quality sea cucumbers, and the dish is “soft, chewy, and springy,” with a strong, rich aroma of scallions. The sauce is bright and salty, perfectly balanced. It’s the textbook example of classic Shandong cuisine. Of course, this place can be pricey.

If you’re not in the mood for a fancy meal but want to try some authentic local snacks, I highly recommend visiting a local beer house to enjoy some "authentic dishes." But before you do that, let me explain the process at the beer house. First, you go to Tuandao Market to buy fresh seafood, then take it to a nearby beer house. The small restaurant will cook the seafood for you, and the whole process takes no more than an hour. The best part is that you’ll be eating fresh, freshly prepared seafood. A recommended beer house: Xinxin Beer House.

Recommended dishes at the beer house: Spicy Stir-fried Clams. The cooking process is simple—stir-fry dried chili, scallions, ginger, and garlic in hot oil, and cook over high heat. It may sound like a rustic dish, but once you taste it, you’ll be amazed. The clam meat is tender and springy, savory, spicy, and fragrant—a real treat.

Next, I’d like to recommend Liuting Pig’s Trotter, which is arguably the best pig’s trotter I’ve ever tasted. This is a cold dish that showcases the exquisite braising techniques of Shandong cuisine. It blends various spices and when you first taste it, you’ll notice the “soft and chewy” texture, and it’s “fragrant but not greasy, with a perfect balance of salty and fresh.” You’ll realize that pig’s trotter can taste this good. A recommended restaurant: Xin Fusheng.

I’m sure most of you who love Chinese food are familiar with dumplings. Next, I want to recommend Mackerel Dumplings, a specialty of Jiaodong (Qingdao is located in the Jiaodong Peninsula). Mackerel is the most common fish in Jiaodong Bay, and Qingdao uses its meat to make dumplings. The fish bones are removed, and the meat is ground into a paste. It’s then mixed with scallions, ginger, egg whites, and spices, wrapped in dumpling skins, creating an incredibly fresh and delicious dumpling. It’s considered the “king of fresh dumplings.” In Qingdao, Mackerel Dumplings are often served to welcome guests from afar. The best time to eat them is during the spring and autumn when mackerel is at its freshest. Recommended restaurant: Chuange Fish Dumplings.

When it comes to food, one thing you can’t miss is Qingdao beer. If you’re at a local beer house, you must try draft beer, which is the most popular among the locals. It’s casual and refreshing. If you're at a hotel, you should definitely try Aogute or Classic 1903, which are representative of Qingdao beer.

As for non-alcoholic beverages, I highly recommend Laoshan Cola. Although you’ve probably tried Coca-Cola and Pepsi, I believe that once you taste Laoshan Cola, you’ll experience a completely different sensation. Laoshan Cola combines ingredients like black dates, galangal, cloves, angelica, and sand ginger, giving it a unique aroma and a sweet aftertaste. It’s said that these traditional Chinese herbs are very beneficial to your health.

I’ve shared a lot, but there’s no substitute for coming here and experiencing it for yourself. Chinese people have always been very hospitable, and we welcome our friends to come and taste our food. It’s a great way to strengthen cultural exchange and enjoy a truly authentic experience.