Hefei China – Best Recommendations on Where and What to Eat

The food local to Hefei is Anhui cuisine, this is one of the eight famous cuisines’ of China. Hefei has attracted some flavours from the surrounding areas into its food but still retains the traditional characteristics of the ancient Luzhou cuisine (Hefei has in the past been referred to as being Luzhou).

Dishes That are Unique to Hefei

There are four dishes that are considered to be unique to the city; they are Luzhou Roast Duck, Lord Bao Fish, Caocao Chicken and Li Hongzhang Hodgepodge Cuisine.

Luzhou Roast Duck will be the first dish you are recommended to try when you visit the city of Hefei, when compared to the more famous variety from Beijing this has a more salty taste, a crisp skin and tender meat and has been cooked in Hefei since before the Ming dynasty came to power in the 14th century.

The name Lord Bao Fish was originally only given to fish found in the Lord Bao River. It is traditionally served cold with tender meat and a dark red skin. Caocao Chicken has been a famous dish for almost 2000 years and takes its name from the Wei Emperor Caocao during the Three Kingdoms Period. The chicken contains medicinal herbs meaning it is good for your health. Both of these dishes are served in most restaurants across Hefei.

Li Hongzhang Hodgepodge Cuisine was said to be an invention of the cook to Li Hongzhang when he had to treat some guests from overseas. The dish contains sea cucumber, chicken, ham, pigs liver and spinach, all cooked in a chicken soup.

Cheap Restaurants and Street Food in Hefei

The signature street food of Hefei is crayfish or known locally as xiao longxia (literally, little lobster). They are usually cooked and eaten in a vinegar based or very spicy stock. It will cost CNY20-30 for a reasonable sized dish that is sufficient for 3 or 4 people while sitting outside and drinking beer.

Two popular areas known locally as longxia streets are Ningguo Road and Hupo Eating Street. Hupo Food Street is good for street food, barbeque and beer. It is best late at night from late spring until late into the autumn when you can sit outside eating and drinking. The beer prices are cheaper than the bars, and if you need some cheap DVD’s they are sold along this street as well.

Hefei has a few chains of low or mid range restaurants; some are so popular that you need to make a booking if you want to eat there. Luzhou Wife has at least four restaurants in locations across the city. Grandma’s Home is another Hefei chain of restaurants with a good reputation in the city. They have an expansive menu and it includes some English descriptions. Prices are low to mid range (up to CNY40 or 50 per person). The quality of the food is good, but because they are busy you will often have to wait a long time for your meal. If you go to one of their restaurants do not be surprised if you have to wait for a free table.

The Best Restaurants for Local Food in Hefei

The best restaurants in Hefei for Luzhou Roast Duck can be found at the Luzhou Roast Duck Shop on Suzhou Road or East Changjiang Road. There is also a famous brand of Beijing roast duck restaurants called Quanjude, they opened a restaurant in Hefei on Suixi Road in 2013, in addition to Beijing duck you can also get Sichuan food, expect to pay around CNY180 per person.

Tongqing Lou is a brand of restaurants in Hefei that cater for the top of the range clientele, they provide for weddings and other large functions. They have no English menus and no English speaking staff. A meal for four will cost around CNY1200, and a group of ten diners might have to pay in excess of CNY3000.

The East Seafood Restaurant has a central location on Jinzhai Road and is one of Hefei’s best independent restaurants with professional service, quality food and a good atmosphere. Its prices are similar to those at Tongqing Lou.

South Beauty is another Hefei chain of restaurants with some different dishes and not the standard Anhui cuisine. Their restaurants each have an appealing décor and attractive menus. The prices charged are around CNY150-180 per person.

Western or International Food in Hefei

In Hefei there are several restaurants that look as though they sell western food although most are local attempts at this. If you want genuine western food you should try the western style bars (listed below) as many of them serve food, real western food. Two exceptions to this are the New York Restaurant close to the Bell Tower and Brazil Barbeque on Hongxing Road.

Cafes and Coffee Houses

There are lots of coffee shops available in Hefei; most of them are Starbucks or Costa Coffee, although Qi Chao is a range of popular coffee shops across the city. Two of their most popular coffee shops are on Changjiang Road and Ningguo Road. In addition to coffee they have some great cakes and snacks available.

Bars, Pubs and Drinking Venues in Hefei

Hefei does not have a large expat community nor does it receive high numbers of foreign tourists, yet it does have quite a high number of foreign owned or themed bars. So that is good news for anyone that is visiting there.

The Belgium Bruges Beer House on Jinzhai Road is American owned and here you have a selection of imported beers. There is also beer on tap from a microbrewery in Hefei. The Lento bar on the intersection of Danxia Road and Feicui Road is popular among a group of expats living in the city.

1912 Street is possibly the unofficial bar and western food street in Hefei; along here you will find a selection of western style bars, some with imported beers. There are also a number of nightclubs along this street, they tend to be all Chinese music and very rarely frequented by foreigners.

There are two Helen’s bars in Hefei, I am not sure if they are connected but I do know of a Helen’s bar chain in other Chinese cities, so they may be part of this group. One is on Maanshan Road at Central Square; the other is on Jinzhai Road.

Along Jinzhai Road you will also find a good selection of western style bars. The Secret Bar is across the street from Helen’s and the Mini Club is next door. Hermes is a short walk along the street, as is the pirate themed Captain’s Bar.

The Shipyard on Shuguang Road is jointly owned by a Frenchman and a Scot and their Chinese wives. They have live bands, DJ’s, imported beers from Europe including Guinness on tap. Imported beers cost from CNY50. It is open from 2pm until 2am or later.

The Knight Bar is another popular bar with both ex-pats and Chinese. They have live bands, pool tables and cheap beer. You will find it down an alley opposite the west gate of USTC university.

Bitburger is the first German bar in Hefei, with imported German beer. It has good friendly staff and some good quality food. Imported beers cost from CNY45, they also have imported wines from CNY100-500 per bottle. You can find this bar on Wuhu Road.