Dining in Qingdao – Restaurants, Cafes, Grills

Known as the “Cradle of Shandong Cuisine,” restaurants in Qingdao put a local spin on the usual Shandong dining experience with its concentration on fresh local seafood from the surrounding bays.  The Shandong coast is rich in seafood, including Sea Cucumbers, Squid, Prawns, Shellfish, Seaweed, as well as Spotted Maigre & Blue Spotted Sierra.  The Qingdao coast line, including Jiaozhou Bay, is a rich and stable environment teaming with China Prawns every Spring and Autumn. Qingdao also has an abundant supply of local shrimps offshore. It’s not surprising that Qingdao cuisine is rich in these foods. By virtue of its seafront location, seafood dominates Qingdao restaurant menus, ranging in cooking styles from spicy Sichuan to simple but delicate Shanghai Cuisine.

Being among the 8 major cuisine traditions in China, Shandong cuisine has grown into the representative of northern Chinese food. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Shandong cuisine became the principle part of royal diets. Qingdao Shandong Cuisine restaurants are known for preparing dishes with various sea foods, delicate aromas, and pure flavor. Sautéed clams with red or green chili, also known as (“GaLa” in local Qingdao dialect), are a local delicacy that is found on every restaurant’s menu.

The best restaurants in Qingdao have simple menus with attentive service and dishes made from the highest quality imported and local ingredients.

Popular Qingdao Restaurants, Cafes, Grills, and Diners: