Devoted foodies: add Dalian and Shenyang to your culinary destination list as these two prosperous cities of China’s Northeast are home to a number of the world’s heritage sites as much as they are the birthplaces of a fascinating cuisine.
Named Dong Bei Cai, the dishes are the unique result of influence from its neighbours Russia and Korea, the diverse cultures of China's ethnic minorities as well as its physical landscape and the cold weather.
Be prepared to indulge in a mindboggling array of dishes: from hearty steaming stews of pickled cabbage to warm your soul to dumplings stuffed with fresh seafood – even bowls of Korean cold noodles to slurp to your heart’s content.
Not sure where to start? Here are seven hand-picked dishes that will walk you through the diverse taste profiles of this region's cuisine.
Named Dong Bei Cai, the dishes are the unique result of influence from its neighbours Russia and Korea, the diverse cultures of China's ethnic minorities as well as its physical landscape and the cold weather.
Be prepared to indulge in a mindboggling array of dishes: from hearty steaming stews of pickled cabbage to warm your soul to dumplings stuffed with fresh seafood – even bowls of Korean cold noodles to slurp to your heart’s content.
Not sure where to start? Here are seven hand-picked dishes that will walk you through the diverse taste profiles of this region's cuisine.
The streets of Dalian retain the architectural influences from Russia.
Dalian
1. Sea Urechis Dumpling (海肠水饺)
Address: Ri Feng Garden, 48 Xiao Ping Dao, Dalian 日丰园大连市小平岛48号楼
There are long queues outside the restaurant and the signature here is dumpling stuffed with sea urechis – a sea worm that is a locally popular seafood. It’s well-loved for its umami flavour, slight sweetness and juiciness when encased in the dumpling. Other best-selling seafood fillings include yellow croaker fish which pleases with its tender texture, and wahoo fish which has a pleasant flavour and firmer texture.
1. Sea Urechis Dumpling (海肠水饺)
Address: Ri Feng Garden, 48 Xiao Ping Dao, Dalian 日丰园大连市小平岛48号楼
There are long queues outside the restaurant and the signature here is dumpling stuffed with sea urechis – a sea worm that is a locally popular seafood. It’s well-loved for its umami flavour, slight sweetness and juiciness when encased in the dumpling. Other best-selling seafood fillings include yellow croaker fish which pleases with its tender texture, and wahoo fish which has a pleasant flavour and firmer texture.
Wheat-based staples formed the main component of Northeast Cuisine.
2. Sautéed cabbage with sliced sea snail (干锅包菜爆螺片)
Address: Yimu Sanfendi Farmhouse, 40 Wang Village, Ling Shui county Dalian 一亩三分地农家院大连市凌水镇王家村40号
Address: Yimu Sanfendi Farmhouse, 40 Wang Village, Ling Shui county Dalian 一亩三分地农家院大连市凌水镇王家村40号
Sea snail, Dalian’s famous local produce, will delight your taste buds for its refreshing chewy texture. It is widely enjoyed in Japan as Sashimi, but Dalian has its own rendition: sautéed cabbage with sliced sea snail. The portion at this restaurant is generous, and the cabbage absorbs the sweetness of the seafood while retaining its crunchiness. The sea snails are infused with a subtly fragrant vegetable aroma, enhancing the beauty of the dish.
3. Shredded Cucumber Salad, with vinegar and jellyfish head (黄瓜老醋蛰头)
Address: Dalian traditional restaurant, 3 Xin Sheng Street, Dalian 大连老菜馆，大连市新生街3号
Seafood has to be exceptionally fresh to taste good in cold dishes. In this salad, the crunchy texture of jellyfish head, the crispness of the cucumber and the tasty seasoning of vinegar, salt, sugar, garlic, parsley and chili oil make it a highly sought after cold starter.
Address: Dalian traditional restaurant, 3 Xin Sheng Street, Dalian 大连老菜馆，大连市新生街3号
Seafood has to be exceptionally fresh to taste good in cold dishes. In this salad, the crunchy texture of jellyfish head, the crispness of the cucumber and the tasty seasoning of vinegar, salt, sugar, garlic, parsley and chili oil make it a highly sought after cold starter.
This popular Chinese salad is made from shredded cucumber, vinegar and jellyfish head.
4. Pickled Cabbage, Pork Ribs and Oyster Stew (酸菜排骨海蛎子炖粉条汤)
Address: The Oyster Flavours, Store 168, 535 Huanghe Road Sha Kou district, Dalian 海蛎子味，大连市沙河口区黄河路535号168号商铺
One of the local favourites is stew with pickled cabbage, pork ribs and the pride of Dalian: oysters.
Address: The Oyster Flavours, Store 168, 535 Huanghe Road Sha Kou district, Dalian 海蛎子味，大连市沙河口区黄河路535号168号商铺
One of the local favourites is stew with pickled cabbage, pork ribs and the pride of Dalian: oysters.
As the name of the restaurant suggests, oysters are their specialty and the steaming hot pot strikes the right balance between the sourness of pickled cabbages and the sweetness of fresh oysters, bolstered by the depth of the pork rib broth. Vermicelli and local oysters are then added to the mix to create an authentic Dalian flavour.
Shenyang
Shenyang, a city a few hours away from Dalian, is one of the most prosperous towns in the Liaodong Peninsula and the capital of the Liaoning province. It is the birthplace of the Manchu-led Qing dynasty, before the royal family of Aisin Gioro relocated the capital to Beijing 300 years ago.
Now, it is home to two of the world’s heritage sites, namely the former Imperial Palace (or Mukden Palace) and the Imperial Mausoleum of the dynasty's earliest emperors like Nerachi. Contemporary Shenyang has not only succeeded in preserving the cultural relics and ancient buildings, but also its culinary traditions.
Shenyang, a city a few hours away from Dalian, is one of the most prosperous towns in the Liaodong Peninsula and the capital of the Liaoning province. It is the birthplace of the Manchu-led Qing dynasty, before the royal family of Aisin Gioro relocated the capital to Beijing 300 years ago.
Now, it is home to two of the world’s heritage sites, namely the former Imperial Palace (or Mukden Palace) and the Imperial Mausoleum of the dynasty's earliest emperors like Nerachi. Contemporary Shenyang has not only succeeded in preserving the cultural relics and ancient buildings, but also its culinary traditions.
The world heritage site of the former Imperial Palace from Qing Dynasty.
5. Steamed Dumpling Of Ma family (马家烧麦)
Address: 12, Tai Yuan North Street 4th Lane, He Ping District, Shenyang 沈阳和平区太原北街北四路12号
The shape of the Steamed Dumpling or Siew Mai of the Northeast resembles a burgeoning flower. The Ma family has been selling steamed dumplings for over two centuries. The technique they use is to mix boiling water (65℃ to 100℃) and flour to form the dough. This type of dough, or Tang Mian (烫面), gives rise to the chewy texture of the skin.
Address: 12, Tai Yuan North Street 4th Lane, He Ping District, Shenyang 沈阳和平区太原北街北四路12号
The shape of the Steamed Dumpling or Siew Mai of the Northeast resembles a burgeoning flower. The Ma family has been selling steamed dumplings for over two centuries. The technique they use is to mix boiling water (65℃ to 100℃) and flour to form the dough. This type of dough, or Tang Mian (烫面), gives rise to the chewy texture of the skin.
The shape of Northeast steamed dumplings resembles a blossoming flower.
6. Li Liangui Smoked-Meat Flatbread (李连贵熏肉大饼)
Address: 88 Zhengyang Street, Shenyang 沈阳市正阳街88号
Hundred years ago, Li Liangui Smoked-Meat Flatbread was already around to comfort hungry stomachs.
It stands out because the shop mixes a thick broth with oil and flour to make the dough, which imbues a irresistible umami flavour to the flatbread. The cuts of meat chosen have a fine balance of fat and muscle, stewed in the broth then smoked with brown sugar. To eat, the locals will halve the bread, stuff it with the fillings and finish off with soybean paste dressing.
7. Mul-naengmyeon of West Pagoda (西塔大冷面)
Address: 31 Shi Fu Street, Shen He District, Shenyang 沈阳市沈河区市府大路31号
The food of Shenyang is heavily influenced by its Korean neighbour, and it is no surprise that Korean cold noodles, or Mul-naengmyeon, is often sighted in the streets of Shenyang. Named after its proximity to West Pagoda, this cold noodle shop makes their noodles on the spot with flour and starch. The dough is squeezed into shapes of noodles and cooked directly in boiling water for just an instance, retaining the fresh texture. The noodles are then served in a hearty beef broth, letting out a delightful aroma.
Address: 88 Zhengyang Street, Shenyang 沈阳市正阳街88号
Hundred years ago, Li Liangui Smoked-Meat Flatbread was already around to comfort hungry stomachs.
It stands out because the shop mixes a thick broth with oil and flour to make the dough, which imbues a irresistible umami flavour to the flatbread. The cuts of meat chosen have a fine balance of fat and muscle, stewed in the broth then smoked with brown sugar. To eat, the locals will halve the bread, stuff it with the fillings and finish off with soybean paste dressing.
7. Mul-naengmyeon of West Pagoda (西塔大冷面)
Address: 31 Shi Fu Street, Shen He District, Shenyang 沈阳市沈河区市府大路31号
The food of Shenyang is heavily influenced by its Korean neighbour, and it is no surprise that Korean cold noodles, or Mul-naengmyeon, is often sighted in the streets of Shenyang. Named after its proximity to West Pagoda, this cold noodle shop makes their noodles on the spot with flour and starch. The dough is squeezed into shapes of noodles and cooked directly in boiling water for just an instance, retaining the fresh texture. The noodles are then served in a hearty beef broth, letting out a delightful aroma.
Korean-influenced cold noodle
A shared love for flavoured meat, pickled cabbage and wheat-based staples forms the essence of the Northeast cuisine. Given this and the influence of the physical landscape and the cold weather, Dalian and Shenyang have developed their own interpretation of the Northeast cuisine. The two cities offer a complete and unique culinary experience in Northeast China and it is worth a trip to explore their cultures and traditions.
HOW TO GET THERE
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