Recommend Food

Squirrel Fish (松鼠桂鱼): Squirrel Fish, also known as Squirrel Mandarin Fish, is a famous Jiangsu Suzhou food. The mandarin fish is scaled, gutted, and its head and tail removed before being cleaned and sliced. The fish slices are marinated with starch, salt, and cooking wine. After marinating, they are deep-fried in hot oil until golden brown and drained. The crispy fish slices are then arranged on a plate, garnished with toasted sesame seeds and chopped green onions, and drizzled with a sweet and sour sauce. This Suzhou cuisine with a crispy exterior, tender interior, and a delightful balance of sweet and sour flavors.

Suzhou-style Sugar Porridge (糖粥): Sugar Porridge is a traditional winter solstice treat from Suzhou, known for its hot, sweet, and sticky texture. Red beans and rice are soaked and cooked separately. The red beans are boiled until soft, peeled, and transformed into a smooth bean paste, while the rice is cooked into a thick porridge. Glutinous rice flour is mixed with water, heated, and stirred until it forms a paste, which is then combined with the bean paste until smooth. The bean paste is poured over the white porridge, creating a striking red-and-white contrast. Suzhou-style Sugar Porridge is not only a distinctive delicacy but also a symbol of cultural heritage and cherished memories.

Yangcheng Lake Hairy Crabs (阳澄湖大闸蟹): Yangcheng Lake Hairy Crab is a renowned Suzhou specialty. Its crab roe is pale yellow, and the meat is white, tender, and elastic, with a rich flavor that has earned it the title “King of Crabs.” This crab can be prepared in various ways, including steaming, braising, and stir-frying. High in protein and low in fat, Yangcheng Lake Hairy Crab is not only delicious but also a nutritious choice, making it a staple in Suzhou’s culinary tradition. This famous Suzhou food is also a must-try for anyone interested in China travel.

Osmanthus Gorgon Fruit (桂花鸡头米): Osmanthus Gorgon Fruit is a Suzhou traditional dessert. The gorgon fruit, known as “chicken head rice” due to their protruding tops resembling a chicken’s head, are cooked in a hot pan and sweetened to taste. After a brief cooking period, dried osmanthus flowers are sprinkled on top. The combination of the gorgon fruit with the fragrant osmanthus flowers creates a rich aroma and a delightful sensory experience.

Sizzling Eel (响油鳝糊): Sizzling Eel is a classic Suzhou food featuring fresh eel. The eel is boned, cut into segments, and briefly marinated before being stir-fried in hot oil until it changes color. Seasonings are added, and the dish is simmered until fully cooked, then topped with hot chili oil, creating a sizzling sound. The eel has tender meat and a rich, fragrant broth, making it a beloved favorite in Suzhou cuisine.

Feng Town Big Noodles (枫镇大面): Feng Town Big Noodles are a specialty from Suzhou, praised for being “the most challenging, delicate, and delicious” noodles. The broth is made by simmering pork bones, eel bones, rice wine, and snails, resulting in a clear, rich-tasting broth that contains no soy sauce. The noodles are served with tender, flavorful braised pork belly. The dish’s layers of ingredients add depth and complexity to the flavor, creating a richly textured meal. This dish is part of the famous Suzhou cuisine, and visitors can enjoy it as part of their Suzhou tour.

Rice Wine Pancake (酒酿饼): Rice Wine Pancake is a traditional springtime pastry in Suzhou, also known as “Jiuniang Pancake.” Made with high-quality sweet fermented rice, which is carefully simmered to enhance its flavor, the cake features a filling of sweet bean paste and sesame seeds. The filling is wrapped in pastry dough and baked until the surface is golden and crisp. This pastry combines a crispy exterior with a sweet, flavorful interior, making it a cherished Suzhou food.

Crab Shell Yellow (蟹壳黄): Crab Shell Yellow is a distinctive Suzhou snack, named for its shape resembling a crab shell. Made from premium wheat flour, the pastry is filled with a mixture of pork and bamboo shoots and then steamed. The filling, combining meat and vegetables, complements the pastry’s rich and savory taste. Available in both sweet and savory varieties, Crab Shell Yellow is a beloved traditional snack in Suzhou, catering to a range of tastes. If you’re in Suzhou Jiangsu, this snack is a great option to try as part of your exploration of places to visit in Suzhou.

Three Shrimp Noodles (三虾面): Three Shrimp Noodles is a seasonal specialty from Suzhou, typically served as a tossed noodle dish. Its defining feature is the topping, which includes shrimp roe, shrimp brains, and shrimp meat—the most prized parts of the shrimp. The preparation involves a meticulous process of preparing and stir-frying these ingredients together. The result is a vibrant red topping that coats the noodles, infusing them with the rich flavor of shrimp roe. The noodles are sweet, tender, and packed with the elasticity of shrimp, offering a memorable culinary experience. When you visit Suzhou, this dish will certainly highlight your Suzhou itinerary.

Fried Shrimp with Biluochun (碧螺虾仁): Fried Shrimp with Biluochun is a traditional Suzhou dish that combines Biluochun tea leaves with shrimp. The tea is brewed and its infusion is used to cook the shrimp, imparting a delicate tea fragrance to the shrimp. The dish features shrimp that look like white jade, with tea leaves scattered throughout. The subtle tea aroma and the fresh taste of the river shrimp create a refined and aromatic dish. For anyone exploring Suzhou tourist attractions, this famous dish is a must-try experience in Suzhou cuisine.

Braised Pork Belly Noodle (焖肉面): Braised Pork Belly Noodle is a quintessential Suzhou noodle dish. The focus is on the braised pork, made from pork belly and slow-cooked with various seasonings in a rich broth. The slow cooking process results in tender, flavorful meat with a texture reminiscent of tofu. The braised meat is added to hot broth and cooked for an additional 1-2 minutes, enriching the flavor. The dish is renowned for its rich broth and satisfying texture, making it a great part of any Suzhou travel itinerary.

Salted Pork with Rice and Vegetables (咸肉菜饭): Salted Pork with Rice and Vegetables is a traditional winter dish from Suzhou, combining salted pork, vegetables, and rice into a hearty meal. The preparation involves stir-frying salted meat and vegetables in hot oil, then mixing in freshly cooked, soft rice. After a brief high-heat stir-fry, the dish is ready to serve. The combination of the salted meat’s aroma and the vegetables’ freshness makes for a simple yet flavorful dish, making it perfect for anyone keen on Suzhou food.

Watermelon Chicken (西瓜鸡): Watermelon Chicken is a seasonal Suzhou food featuring juicy chicken stewed with sweet watermelon. The chicken absorbs the watermelon juice, resulting in a rich, fruity aroma and tender, juicy meat. The watermelon’s sweetness enhances the overall flavor of the dish, making it both refreshing and perfect for cooling down in your Suzhou travel during summer.

Deep-fried Duck (母油船鸭): Deep-fried Duck is a traditional Jiangsu cuisine dishe known for its unique preparation. The duck is cooked with “Mu oil,” a soy sauce made from fermented yellow soybeans during the hot summer months. This method produces a duck with thin, tender skin and juicy meat, infused with a rich aroma from the soy sauce. Deep-fried Duck is a dish that not only delights the palate but also reflects Suzhou’s culinary history and culture.

Sauce Square (酱方): Sauce Square is a classic Suzhou dish, featuring pork belly marinated and braised in a rich, special soy sauce. High-quality pork belly is cut into cubes, marinated, and slowly cooked in a savory sauce until tender and deeply flavorful. The result is a vibrant red, aromatic dish with a smooth texture and a profound, savory taste.

Suzhou White Meat Soup (白肉羹): White Meat Soup is a traditional Suzhou comfort dish known for its delicate and smooth texture. It features finely shredded pork tenderloin, tofu, and wood ear mushrooms simmered in a rich, flavorful broth. The clear broth and tender meat create a nourishing and velvety taste that lingers pleasantly, making it a best food choice in your Suzhou travel for exploring the local taste.

Crab Roe Soup Dumplings (蟹粉小笼包): Crab Roe Soup Dumplings are a traditional delicacy celebrated for their exquisite flavor and delicate texture. Each dumpling is filled with a blend of fresh crab roe and pork, encased in a thin, delicate dough. Steamed to perfection, the dumplings are juicy and flavorful, with the sweet crab roe harmonizing beautifully with the rich pork filling. The dough is made from select flour and special soup to ensure a perfect balance of filling and crust. A visit to Suzhou would be incomplete without trying this famous dish, which can be found in many Chinese food restaurants across the Suzhou city.

Suzhou-style Mooncake (苏式鲜肉月饼): Suzhou-style Mooncake is a traditional pastry, particularly favored during the Mid-Autumn Festival. The filling consists of fresh, lean pork mixed with scallions and ginger, stir-fried and enclosed in a crisp, golden mooncake crust. The result is a mooncake with a crispy exterior and a savory, flavorful filling that makes for a delicious and memorable treat. It is also a best choice for Suzhou travel specialty.

Suzhou Rice Cakes (苏州糕团): Suzhou Rice Cakes are a traditional Suzhou local snack made from glutinous rice flour and various fillings. Common varieties include Ding Sheng Cake, Red Bean Cake, and Tiaotou Cake. Crafted from high-quality glutinous rice flour and filled with ingredients such as red bean paste, sesame, and coconut, these cakes are known for their sweet, delicate flavor and soft, chewy texture. They are often enjoyed during festivals and ceremonial occasions.

Honey Stewed Fried Tofu (卤汁豆腐干): Honey Stewed Fried Tofu is a cherished traditional snack in Suzhou. Made from premium yellow soybeans using traditional tofu-making techniques, the tofu is soaked in a special braising liquid, resulting in a shiny red appearance and rich flavor. The tofu has a robust, savory taste with hints of soy and a pleasing aroma, making it represents the unique flavors of Suzhou food.

Suzhou Preserved Fruits (苏式蜜饯): Suzhou Preserved Fruits are atraditional Suzhou snack made from fruits or vegetables preserved with sugar or honey. Popular varieties include Golden Silk Dates, Cream Plums, and Golden Kumquats. These preserved fruits are sweet but not overly so, retaining their original flavor and color through careful processing. They are a beloved part of daily life in Suzhou, providing a sweet and aromatic treat.