Xiamen Food Guide: Must-Try Dishes and Authentic Street Snacks (2026)

Xiamen is not only a picturesque coastal city but also a culinary paradise. Its cuisine blends the bounty of the sea, the culinary wisdom of southern Fujian, and a rich historical heritage to create a unique and captivating flavor profile. This guide will take you on an immersive journey through the heart of Xiamen’s food scene, from street snacks to restaurant delicacies, allowing you to savor this culinary adventure like a local.

Core Characteristics of Xiamen Cuisine

Xiamen cuisine, a significant branch of Fujian cuisine, is renowned for its “light, fresh, delicate, crisp, and mildly spicy” style. Being coastal, seafood naturally takes center stage on the table, emphasizing natural flavors and seasonal ingredients. Simultaneously, centuries of overseas trade have introduced Southeast Asian and even Western influences to Xiamen’s culinary traditions, resulting in a distinctive fusion of East and West.

Distinctive Flavors of Xiamen Cuisine:

The Sweetness of Seafood: Vibrant fish, shrimp, crab, and shellfish form the foundation.
Rich Broths: Xiamen chefs excel at simmering soups, where premium stock serves as the soul of many dishes.
Signature Sauces: Satay sauce, sweet chili sauce, and tangerine juice are iconic dipping accompaniments.
Street Snacks as Culinary Essence: The bustling food stalls lining streets and alleys offer the quintessential experience of Xiamen’s culinary culture.

Must-Try Signature Dishes in Xiamen

Seafood Feast

As an island city, seafood is a must-try in Xiamen.
Soy Sauce Boiled Seafood: This preparation best showcases the “freshness” of Xiamen seafood. Simmered in just soy sauce, water, and a few slices of ginger, freshly caught assorted fish (like yellowfin croaker or mackerel) yield tender flesh, while the savory broth pairs perfectly with rice.
Ginger Duck: Though featuring duck meat, this dish incorporates generous amounts of ginger and sesame oil, creating an intensely aromatic flavor. The duck is stewed until tender and succulent, offering a warming yet non-drying effect—perfect for autumn and winter.
Oyster Omelette: Xiamen’s beloved street snack. Fresh oysters are mixed with sweet potato starch, eggs, and scallions, then pan-fried into a pancake. Crispy on the outside and tender within, it’s dipped in local sweet-spicy sauce for a rich, layered flavor. Known as “Oyster Omelette” in Taiwan.
Steamed Shrimp/Octopus: The ultimate test of seafood freshness. Simply blanched and dipped in soy sauce, mustard, or garlic vinegar, it delivers the purest taste of the sea.

Street Snacks & Noodles

Xiamen’s soul resides in its bustling night markets and alleyways.
Sha Cha Mian: The emblem of Xiamen cuisine. The broth is the soul—simmered from peanut butter, satay powder, dried shrimp, and dozens of other ingredients, it’s rich, aromatic, and slightly spicy. Customize your bowl with toppings like pork liver, tripe, tofu, or seafood.
Sea Cucumber Jelly: The boldest challenge! Resembling crystal-clear jelly, it contains a marine annelid called “starworm.” With a chewy, springy texture, it’s typically served with soy sauce, vinegar, mustard, and cilantro. Don’t let its ingredients scare you—it’s a refreshing, appetizing starter.
Peanut Soup: A heartwarming dessert. Peanuts are simmered until soft and nearly melted, creating a creamy, milky broth with a rich, sweet flavor. Often enjoyed with fried dough sticks or fried jujubes, it’s a classic breakfast or late-night snack.
Braised Pork Zongzi: Unlike northern-style zongzi, Xiamen’s pork zongzi boasts a rich filling of braised pork, shiitake mushrooms, dried shrimp, chestnuts, and salted egg yolk. The glutinous rice is stir-fried with sauce for an aromatic flavor, then dipped in sweet chili sauce and peanut sauce for a uniquely delicious taste.
Fish Ball Soup: Tender fish balls, typically made from eel or horse mackerel meat and stuffed with pork filling, float in a clear, savory broth. Garnished with scallions and pepper, it’s simple yet delicious.

Desserts and Beverages

Xiamen Pastries: The city’s most famous souvenir. Crispy crusts encase soft fillings in flavors like mung bean, red bean, or sesame salt, with “Gulangyu Pastries” being the most renowned.
Four-Fruit Soup: A summertime staple for cooling down. Combines lotus seeds, coix seeds, mung beans, and white fungus with rock sugar syrup, served over crushed ice for a refreshing, thirst-quenching treat. Variations abound.
Gongfu Tea: In Xiamen, you’ll often see people brewing oolong teas like Tieguanyin in small pots and cups. Follow the local custom—sit down for a cup and immerse yourself in the rich tea culture of Southern Fujian.

Practical Dining Guide for Foreign Visitors

Where to Eat?

Bashi Market: Xiamen’s oldest and most vibrant seafood market. Purchase fresh seafood here and have it cooked at nearby stalls—the best way to experience local life.
Zhongshan Road Pedestrian Street & Surroundings: Home to numerous time-honored snack shops and mall restaurants, perfect for one-stop tasting.
Shapowei/Zengcuo’an: These artistic hubs feature trendy restaurants, cafes, and food stalls, with an atmosphere more suited to younger crowds.
Gulangyu Island: Snack shops and cafes dot the island, ideal for eating while exploring, though prices are typically slightly higher.

How to Order?

Point to Samples: Many restaurants display food models or pictures at the entrance or inside. Simply point to what you want.
Use Translation Apps: If menus are only in Chinese, use your phone’s camera translation feature.
Ask Confidently: Most restaurant staff, especially in tourist areas, understand basic English dish names like “Seafood,” “Noodles,” or “Dumplings.”
Share dishes: Chinese meals are typically shared. Ordering 2-3 dishes plus one staple (rice/noodles) usually suffices for two people.

Cultural tips:

Chopstick etiquette: Avoid sticking chopsticks vertically into rice (this resembles funeral rites).
Dining atmosphere: Chinese tables can be lively; speaking at a slightly louder volume is normal.
Paying the Bill: Say “买单” (mǎi dàn). At street stalls, pay at the counter; in restaurants, waitstaff will bring the bill.

Embark on Your Xiamen Culinary Adventure

Xiamen’s food journey is a continuous exploration from street stalls to restaurants, from dawn till late at night. Don’t hesitate to try unfamiliar dishes—whether it’s bamboo shoot jelly or satay noodles—these unique experiences are the essence of travel.

The best advice? Approach local markets with an open mind and an empty stomach. Sit down at bustling eateries and order like a local. Let these flavors—blending coastal treasures with cultural heritage—become the most unforgettable memories of your Xiamen Trip.

Set out now to discover your own taste of Xiamen!

Xiamen Food Guide: Must-Try Dishes and Authentic Street Snacks (2026)

Core Characteristics of Xiamen Cuisine

Distinctive Flavors of Xiamen Cuisine: