Wyndham Grand Xinchang Downtown

A mezzanine adds visual depth to the venue and the boat-shaped pendant light sports an oceanic theme. The owner, who used to sell seafood, cherry-picks each ingredient. Natural flavours always come first in his score with an emphasis on razor-sharp doneness and seasoning. Try his red-braised squid with a snappy bite and heady aromas. Steamed Sanmen mud crab with soy sauce and scallion oil boasts firm meat and buttery roe.

The simple room may be a bit dated, but the incredible smell of its beef blood curd soup is irresistibly enticing. Its signature soup is the classic comfort food of the landlocked county; chunks of silken blood curd and melty white radish nestle in a savoury broth seasoned with dried chillies. Their beef offal noodle soup is equally famous: the offal is meticulously crafted and the flavourful broth clings nicely to the springy noodles.

Thanks to its Chinese farmhouse flair and cultural experiences like dough figurine making and guqin performances, this restaurant has been popular since it opened in 2007. The menu is rooted in classic Jiangzhe cuisine, but with pronounced Taizhou influences. The score avoids excessively elaborate recipes that overpower natural flavours. Try their claypot poached chicken in Huadiao wine with rounded aromas, and the must-try braised fish head soup with rice.

Fast food

Dim sum