Man hai Valley Homestay

This tiny gem run by a married couple has won the hearts of locals courtesy of their mi gao – steamed rice noodle rolls with a choice of filling like ground pork and veggies. Ask for an extra ladle of spiced soy marinade for additional flavour and depth. Also recommended is the plain mi gao without filling. Fuding pork slices in sour spicy soup are made with hand-chopped pork and boast bouncy texture. Expect to share a table at mealtimes.

This well-established, down-to-earth joint specialises in beef rice noodle soup - a staple for many Ningde natives. The broth exudes meaty and herbal aromas that draw in the customers. The slippery rice noodles work magically with pickled mustard greens as well as sliced beef, which retains a lovely chew. Also try their beef offal soup that features cuts like bouncy tripe and tender ox tongue. Beef meatball soup is another best-seller.

Despite a somewhat dated interior, this shop, founded in the 1990s, remains a hit courtesy of its fish ball soup: fish is deboned, pounded and hand-squeezed into pristine globes before being stuffed with savoury pork filling. The broth is loaded with umami thanks to dried seafood. For a more filling meal, order velvety glass noodles and bouncy pork intestine on top, or their pan-fried buns. Come early as some items tend to sell out.

Beloved by the locals, this simple shop hidden in an alley ticks all the boxes in the way of local snacks, including Fujian’s take on wonton known as bian rou, either served in a sour and spicy broth with laver and pork cracklings, or deep-fried until crispy. House-made xiaolongbao is steamed to order, stuffed with pork and is rich in mushroom and scallion aromas. Marinated pork diaphragm boasts a meaty flavour and chewy texture.