Vienna Hotel (Quanzhou West Lake Store)

By the fading sign and vintage enamelware, it’s not hard to believe this noodle shop opened its doors 40 years ago. It focuses on mee sua gou – a wheat vermicelli soup of porridge consistency. Feel free to jazz it up with toppings like vinegar pork, pork intestine or oyster. Suck up the broth with a fried dough stick. Sautéed pork liver is another must-try: lightly coated in sweet potato starch, the liver has a burnt crust and a juicy centre.

This local culinary landmark is famous for braised duck, which is cooked in dozens of claypots that exude heady aromas by the entrance. The most popular item is ginger duck in rice wine. Consider paying extra for the gizzards before they run out. If you don’t fancy duck, you can choose free-range chicken or Silkie chicken instead. Also try Minnan home-style dishes like stir-fried duck blood curd with chives, garlic and bell pepper.

For over 10 years, regulars have been flocking here to sample ingredients that are rarely found elsewhere. The owner used to be a food distributer and has always been picky about his seafood. Adventurous eaters may try wild-caught mudskippers braised with shallots and black beans for springy meat. Gigantic sea snails and swimmer crabs are also exceptional and can be paired with home-style staples like braised pork rice, tofu in sa cha sauce or blood curd soup.

Jian Lai Fa started out as a snack stall back in 1984. Now in its third generation, it has grown into a restaurant that is spread over two storeys. The kitchen team strives to re-create authentic home-style Minnan cooking with a nostalgic tang. Their signature braised duck in rice wine with ginger and salt boasts tender meat that falls off the bone. Other star dishes include marine fish braised in soy and scallion and razor clam in peppered salt.

Tucked away in an alley, the restaurant is rather hard to find, but look for the small courtyard under a big tree. It is the epitome of vintage and adorned in splendid antique pieces. The menu is also a picture of nostalgia. Yongchun taro noodle soup boasts creamy mashed taro in flavorsome broth. Stir-fried pork liver is cooked perfectly, both tender and crispy. Ask for a table in the courtyard on a sunny day.

A veteran chef hailing from Quanzhou opened this rustic noodle shop in 2022 selling only Hokkien hae mee, or Fujian-style prawn noodles. Bouncy noodles of medium thickness served in a broth simmered for seven hours with complex depth and flavours. Though the signature hae mee is a must, you can add your own personal touch with incredibly fresh and umami-laden seafood toppings such as baby lobster, prawn, crabmeat, squid or razor clams.

The 40-plus-year-old shop has stayed true to its origins, boasting red wood furniture and old-school vibes. Niu Pai is the Chinese term for beef steak. Rather than being seared on a grill, here, it is braised with curry spices until it melts in texture. Veal from yellow cow boasts robust meaty flavours that work well with the complex, mild heat. With deep umami and faint herbal aromas, double-boiled oxtail soup impresses with a gelatinous texture.