铂尔曼泉州水头酒店

The incredible range of quality live seafood on offer, prepared meticulously with exquisite technique, is the main draw here. There is no menu – diners choose from the three-tier fish tanks at the entrance themselves, then specify how they would like their pick to be cooked. Enjoy the soft roe and firm, flavourful meat of the chilled swimmer crab, or try the silky and aromatic swamp eel braised with tea seed oil and basil.

In business since 1994, this no-frills joint is part of the collective culinary memory of many locals. The menu on the wall is for reference only – head to the glass-fronted fridge to see what's in store that day. The signature dish is feng rou: skin-on pork trotter braised until tender in a brown sauce with chestnuts, mushrooms and dried shrimps. Ordered by almost every table, the sautéed frog is succulent, well-seasoned and nicely caramelised.

Famous for its beef dishes, this shop was named after the owner, whose moniker means "wryneck". His signature braised beef rib exudes curry flavour and a hint of Chinese herbs. The fork-tender meat goes well with the buttery seasoned rice. Another highlight is the double-boiled oxtail – the meat is slow cooked until gelatinous; infused with Indian mulberry root, the broth tastes mildly sweet. Certain items tend to sell out fast, so come early.

Since 2018, Antstory has been running this historic three-storey red brick villa. The young local chef reinterprets traditional Fujian recipes with modern techniques, home-made sauces and condiments. First-timers can pick from ‘10 classics’, like Shima five-spice pork roll and braised yellow croaker with scallion. The chef’s vinegar pork is a new take on the Quanzhou classic – pork marinated in apple cider vinegar, deep fried and served with wafer and macadamia nuts.

“Hokklo” means "hospitable" in Fujian, in keeping with the welcoming space furnished in elegant East-meets-West style. Hailing from the Minnan region, the head chef champions a refined modern take on traditional Fujian cooking. Signatures include steamed wine-scented yellow croaker, mud crab braised in aged wine with dried longans, and Hakka-style braised He Tian chicken claypot with salt and wine. Peruse the seasonal offerings and extensive wine list, too.

For 10-plus years, this flagship establishment has been packed with loyal patrons. The modern stylish interior showcases top-notch dried seafood which is used in the famous Fujian Buddha jumps over the wall dish, but you can also enjoy other first-rate dishes without breaking the bank. Try Minnan prawn noodles in orange coloured tomalley soup or made to order black mochi packed with black sesame aroma. The seasonal menu is also worth exploring.

The founder was a hawker who sold fish ball soup over 150 years ago, during the Qing Dynasty. Now run by the fourth-generation owner, the brand has grown into a restaurant chain, but its speciality remains the same. Catch of the day is deboned, puréed, hand-beaten and hand-squeezed into flavoursome globes served in a pork bone broth. The mock chicken roll, made with water chestnut, minced pork and fish, is another must-try.