Tianjin Restaurants

The local food in Tianjin is characterized by a variety of seafood that combines special features of Sichuan, Shandong, Huaiyang and Zhejiang cuisine to form a unique style of its own.

Goubuli's Stuffed Buns
Goubuli's stuffed buns are known for their generous filling, which is succulent but not greasy. This famous snack was created during the late Qing Dynasty by a native of Wuqing County, who had the nickname "Dogy." At the age of 14, Dogy left home and came to Tianjin, where he was apprenticed to a restaurant specializing in stuffed buns. As his stuffed buns tasted better and had a unique flavor, they attracted an increasing number of customers. As time went by, his nickname became known far and wide. Later, people changed "Dogy" to "Goubuli" and his buns were eventually called by the same name.

Ear-Hole Fried Cake
The Ear-Hole Fried Cake is another one of the famous traditional Tianjin snacks. It derived its name from the narrow Ear-Hole Street in Tianjin's Beidaguan, where the shop selling it was located. The Ear-Hole Fried Cake has a history of more than 80 years. The cake is made of carefully leavened and kneaded glutinous rice dough. The filling is bean paste made with good-quality red beans. The pastry of the finished cake is golden in color, crisp and crunchy, while the filling is tender and sweet with a lingering flavor.

Guifaxiang Fried Dough Twists
Visitors to Tianjin can see fried dough twists, a traditional Tianjin snack, sold almost everywhere in the city. The most famous ones are the "18th Street Fried Dough Twists," so called because they were originally made on 18th Street. The Guifaxiang Fried Dough Twist General Shop is now situated at 568 Dagu Road South in the Hexi District. The traditional 18th Street Fried Dough Twists at this shop are aromatic, sweet, and crisp.

Chatang Soup
Chatang is made of baked millet and glutinous millet flour. The soup is made by pouring boiling water into the flour and then adding sugar. Chatang is served from a big copper pot whose spout is usually fashioned into a dragon's head.

Tangdui
It is a custom in Tianjin to eat Tangdui on the eve of the Chinese New Year. The most popular Tangdui is made of hawthorn berry. Hawthorn berries have their seeds removed and are skewered on a thin bamboo stick, then dipped in hot syrup. When they cool, the berries wrapped in crystal sugar look like beautiful stone beans and are sweet and sour. Sometimes, the hollowed hawthorn berries are filled with red bean paste, walnuts and melon seeds.

PRICE GUIDE
$ = CHEAP
$$ = REASONABLE
$$$ = EXPENSIVE
$$$$ = VERY EXPENSIVE

Nanshi Goubuli Stuffed Bun Restaurant
Add: 1st District, Nanshi Food Street
Tel: 27270062
Type of Cuisine: Tianjin Cuisine
Open: 08:00-20:00
Average Spending: $
Credit Cards: Not Accepted
Menu: Chinese
Language Spoken: Mandarin

Tianjin Kobe Restaurant
Add: 2nd District, Nanshi Food Street
Tel: 27270955
Type of Cuisine: Japanese Cuisine
Open: 11:00-20:00
Average Spending: $$-$$$
Credit Cards: Not Accepted
Menu: Japanese, Chinese
Language Spoken: Mandarin

Jiuhelou Seafood Restaurant
Add: 4th District, Nanshi Food Street
Tel: 27270690
Type of Cuisine: Tianjin/Shandong Cuisine
Open: 11:00-21:00
Average Spending: $$-$$$
Credit Cards: Not Accepted
Menu: Chinese
Language Spoken: Mandarin

Jixian Restaurant
Add: 3 Jixian Road, Beichen District
Tel: 26391444
Type of Cuisine: Seafood
Open: 11:00-21:00
Average Spending: $$$
Credit Cards: Not Accepted
Menu: Chinese
Language Spoken: Mandarin

Fook Lam Moon Restaurant
Add: 6/F Isetan, Nanjing Road, Heping District
Tel: 27220610
Type of Cuisine: Cantonese Cuisine
Open: 11:00-22:00
Average Spending: $$-$$$
Credit Cards: Not Accepted
Menu: Chinese
Language Spoken: Mandarin

Chongqing Yudu Restaurant
Add: 146 Xingan Road, Heping District
Tel: 27300407
Type of Cuisine: Pepper chicken
Open: 11:00-21:00
Average Spending: $-$$
Credit Cards: Not Accepted
Menu: Chinese
Language Spoken: Mandarin

Tianjin Goubuli Stuffed Bun Restaurant
Add: 77 Shandong Road, Heping District
Tel: 27302540
Type of Cuisine: Tianjin Cuisine
Open: 08:00-20:00
Average Spending: $
Credit Cards: Not Accepted
Menu: Chinese
Language Spoken: Mandarin

Endecheng Restaurant
Add: Jiefang Road, Tanggu District
Tel: 25892533
Type of Cuisine: Moslem
Open: 11:00-20:00
Average Spending: $-$$
Credit Cards: Not Accepted
Menu: Chinese
Language Spoken: Mandarin

Maobuwen Restaurant
Add: 58, 3rd Section, Nanshi Road Street
Tel: 27270029
Type of Cuisine: Dumplings
Open: 10:00-20:30
Average Spending: $
Credit Cards: Not Accepted
Menu: Chinese
Language Spoken: Mandarin

Chenggui Restaurant
Add: 287 Hebei Road, Heping District
Tel: 23303474
Type of Cuisine: Western Cuisine
Open: 10:00-22:00
Average Spending: $$-$$$
Credit Cards: Not Accepted
Menu: English, Chinese
Language Spoken: English, Mandarin