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Cuifengyuan Hot Pot

The Cuifengyuan Hot Pot restaurant in Dalian’s southwest suburb of Hei Shi Jiao is a traditional Sichuan restaurant. While the most popular (and logical) time to visit the restaurant is during the chilly winter months, Cuifengyuan Hot Pot is busy all year rou...
The Cuifengyuan Hot Pot restaurant in Dalian’s southwest suburb of Hei Shi Jiao is a traditional Sichuan restaurant. While the most popular (and logical) time to visit the restaurant is during the chilly winter months, Cuifengyuan Hot Pot is busy all year round.
 
When you sit down, you will be given the choice of a very hot or mild sauce to boil the various foods you choose to cook in your hot pot. You can also choose to have a hot pot with both sauces separated, so you can enjoy two different flavours during the meal.
 
If you are not familiar with eating hot pot, the basic idea is that you cook your own food in a boiling pot on the table. The variety of meats (sliced beef, lamb and pork) as well as seafood and vegetables make the hot pot a complete and enjoyable meal. There is an incredibly long list of various meats, seafood, tofu, noodles, and vegetables that you can choose to include in your hot pot.
 
The price of the meal is reasonably cheap as are the Chinese beers (4-6 RMB per big bottle) and  selection of juices. The service is fast and efficient, but not particularly friendly. Most of the staff does not speak English.
 
For vegetarians, there is an option to have part of the hot pot contain only noodles and vegetables.
 
The restaurant is not the cleanest in town, but is still of acceptable conditions.
 
Cuifengyuan Hot Pot is always busy in the evenings, particularly on the weekends. Making a reservation in advance or collecting a number from the hostess an hour before your meal is recommended so you can be guaranteed to have a table.
 

The Cuifengyuan Hot Pot Restaurant is located on Zhongshan Lu in the suburb of Hei Shi Jiao to the southwest of the city. The No. 202 tram stops nearby and buses 801, 23, 406 and 28 also go to Hei Shi Jiao. The restaurant is just next to the western gate of the Xinghai Park. A taxi from the city centre will cost around 20-30 Yuan.

 

Shuang Yi Sheng Pancake King

The Shuang Yi Sheng Pancake King restaurant offers typical northern Chinese cuisine. The restaurant is quite spacious with several floors and private rooms for group meals.  It offers a large variety of seafood and northern style dishes. If you are feeling adventurous t...
The Shuang Yi Sheng Pancake King restaurant offers typical northern Chinese cuisine. The restaurant is quite spacious with several floors and private rooms for group meals.  It offers a large variety of seafood and northern style dishes. If you are feeling adventurous this is an excellent place to sample the famous Dalian speciality, The Sea Cucumber!
 
The Pancake Restaurant also specializes in roasted duck and pancakes. The roasted duck may not be as tasty as Beijing's legendary dish in terms of quality and price, but is still a solid choice. The roasted duck is served with pancakes, spring onions, and Hoi Sin sauce.
 
Most importantly, do not leave the restaurant without sampling the home brewed dark and light beer. English menus are available, but hopefully you can speak some Chinese or have a Mandarin phrasebook handy, because none of the staff members speak English.
 

 
 

 

The Pancake Restaurant is located on Zhongsan St. in the suburb of Hei Shi Jiao next to the Super 8 hotel. It is easy to get there by tram (No.202), by bus (801, 23, 28, 406, or 901), or by taxi (RMB 20-30) from the city centre.

Tapas Restaurant

Tapas is a culinary oasis set in the modern thriving city of Dalian, just a short hop from more well-recognized international cities such as Beijing or Shanghai. Gorka, the chef who hails from the Basque region of northern Spain, blends a mouth watering...
Tapas is a culinary oasis set in the modern thriving city of Dalian, just a short hop from more well-recognized international cities such as Beijing or Shanghai. Gorka, the chef who hails from the Basque region of northern Spain, blends a mouth watering selection of traditional Spanish dishes with a modern Asian twist. Favourites such as paella, Spanish tortilla, cured ham, fresh Spanish breads, and home made chorizo are complimented by a varied wine selection from Spain, France, Italy, Argentina and China.
 
     
 
All of the cakes and desserts are homemade and this author strongly recommends the chocolate moose and traditional cheesecake. Fresh homemade Sangria is another must as a few glasses allow patrons to feel as if they are relaxing on the Mediterranean!
 
As it is the only Spanish restaurant in Dalian Tapas attracts a wide variety of costumers, from local and visiting businessmen to students and travelers from around the world. The friendly atmosphere and authentic décor adds to the ambience to make Tapas a must-visit locale for any visitor to Dalian.
 

 

 

 

Tapas restaurant is located on Sheng Li Street, close to the Russian Custom Street and easy to find from Zhong Shan Square in the centre of Dalian. After crossing Victory Bridge you will find Tapas on your left, just look for the bull sign.
 

Port on the Water Seafood Restaurant

Port on the Water is one of Shenyang’s largest and most well known restaurants. This place has a great atmosphere, and delicious, fresh seafood. The restaurant is HUGE, and has several large seating areas, as well as many private rooms. They also use the “point and ord...
Port on the Water is one of Shenyang’s largest and most well known restaurants. This place has a great atmosphere, and delicious, fresh seafood. The restaurant is HUGE, and has several large seating areas, as well as many private rooms. They also use the “point and order” method for choosing food, so it’s very convenient for the linguistically challenged. It's not a bargain restaurant, but it's a bit cheaper than some other top-quality seafood places.  The food is fresh and prepared very well, and there is a great selection.  Plan on spending 50-100 yuan per person, but of course choosing expensive delicacies such as lobster, abalone, shark fin, or sea cucumber, could make the bill much higher. 
 
Location: The restaurant is at the intersection of sān jīng jiē(三经街) and wén yì lù (文艺路), 1 km north of San Hao Street Computer City. Tell a taxi driver “shuǐ shàng yú gǎng.” There is an enormous neon sign that says “水上渔港”, you can’t miss it. 
 

Yuan Wei Zhai Roast Duck

For both those who adore Beijing Roast Duck, or just those looking to give it a try, Yuan Wei Zhai is the place to go. There are several locations around Shenyang, and more and more seem to be popping up all the time. They are quite well known among Shenyang locals as t...
For both those who adore Beijing Roast Duck, or just those looking to give it a try, Yuan Wei Zhai is the place to go. There are several locations around Shenyang, and more and more seem to be popping up all the time. They are quite well known among Shenyang locals as the best places to eat duck in town. The prices are reasonable and the duck is delicious. 
 
  
How to get there:  
 
Nan ba branch: On Nan ba malu (南八马路) a few hundred km east of Xinhua Square (新华广场 xīn huá guǎngchǎng).  It's very near to a 120 emergency hospital that all taxi drivers know.  Ask them for the name of the restaurant or the hospital (120 医院
yāo èr líng yīyuàn）
 
Shi yi we lu branch:  It’s located a few blocks north of the U.S. Consulate, at the intersection of San Jing Jie (三经街) and Shiyi Wei Lu (十一纬路). 
  
 
 

Time Time Time Restaurant (24 hours)

Open 24 hours, Time Time Time offers pretty good food, specially brewed beer, a very contemporary upbeat environment, and sometimes live music. The food selection does not include most standard Chinese dishes, but rather many different “snack-type” foods. Their sp...
Open 24 hours, Time Time Time offers pretty good food, specially brewed beer, a very contemporary upbeat environment, and sometimes live music. The food selection does not include most standard Chinese dishes, but rather many different “snack-type” foods. Their specialty is “chuànr” products, a.k.a food on sticks. You can get various meats on sticks or the very popular “málà shuàndù” (麻辣涮肚), a variety of veggies, tofu, mushrooms, and other things on sticks boiled in some extra spicy water and oil. Another highly recommended specialty, the “India Flying Bread”-- yìndù fēibǐng (印度飞饼), is only available before 11:00pm. The bread comes in many flavors including chocolate, sesame, banana, strawberry, onion, etc. 
   
    

On the north side of Nan Wu Ma Lu (南五马路), just west of Fang Xing Square (方形广场). Ask a taxi driver for fāng xíng guǎng chǎng (方形广场), the restaurant is very large and on the top is written “Time Time Time” in large letters. 

 

Champa's Restaurant (Indian)

This small restaurant doesn’t have much in the way of atmosphere, but what they do have is delicious and inexpensive Indian food! Four people can easily eat for less than 100 yuan. 
        
Location: ...
This small restaurant doesn’t have much in the way of atmosphere, but what they do have is delicious and inexpensive Indian food! Four people can easily eat for less than 100 yuan. 
        
Location: Champa’s is a little difficult to find. It’s near MaLu Wan (马路湾) near the corner of Zhonghua Lu and Chang de jie (Chang de jie is between Nanjing Jie an Heping Da jie, running parallel to them). Keep your eyes open and you should be able to find it. 

Paulaner Bräuhaus

Located on the first floor of the ritzy Kempinski Hotel, this bar and grill is one of the more upscale places in Shenyang. Since the German-style restaurant caters largely to foreign business people staying in the hotel, the prices for both food and drinks are considerably higher ...
Located on the first floor of the ritzy Kempinski Hotel, this bar and grill is one of the more upscale places in Shenyang. Since the German-style restaurant caters largely to foreign business people staying in the hotel, the prices for both food and drinks are considerably higher than most places in Shenyang. Though the prices are high, the food and drinks are excellent. Dinner selections include steak and sausages, and they have German Paulaner beer on tap. There are Filipina singers/dancers performing English songs every night. 
        
Check in for parties and dinner/drink specials for special occasions, including Oktoberfest, World Cup, Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, etc. 
   
Prices:
Liter of Paulaner beer: 65 yuan
Local beers: around 35 yuan
Steak Dinner: At least 100 yuan
    
Location: On the corner of Qing Nian Da Jie (青年大街) and Xi Bin He Lu (西滨河路), kitty corner from the TV Tower. Ask a taxi driver for kāi bīn sī jī jiǔdiàn. You can enter through the hotel, or there is a side-door on the north side of the bulding. 
 

Tokyo Restaurant

Tokyo is probably Shenyang’s most well-known Japanese restaurant. They serve delicious Japanese food.  While the food is quite good, the prices are a little high and the portions are a little small…real Japanese style. 
 
Location:...
Tokyo is probably Shenyang’s most well-known Japanese restaurant. They serve delicious Japanese food.  While the food is quite good, the prices are a little high and the portions are a little small…real Japanese style. 
 
Location: The restaurant is on the west side of San Jing Jie (三经街), 100 meters south of the U.S. Consulate. Look for a large orange sign that says “东京餐厅”。 There’s no English on the sign.