Category Archives: Xiamen

China, Xiamen

Sun Dance – Xiamen, Guangdong, China

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This last entry wraps up my write ups for Xiamen good foods. Too much to eat, too small stomach! Will definitely be back!

Anyways, came to know about this place as it’s much talked about in Xiamen. So I decided to check this place out for lunch before I head back. Went in the place, pretty empty on a weekend lunch, found a table near the door as I had my luggage with me. And boy did I regret that. It was warm near the door and the air-condition was not strong enough during summer. Nevertheless I placed my orders and went around snapping pics of the place. Check out the pics and review below:

Cafe front
From the door
Inside the cafe
I think this is a smoking area
Many books for reading
Stage for ad hoc performances at night
More CDs
Loads of CDs… some are super classics
PC for surfing
View from the other end
Sweet basil pizza, quite unique and tasted pretty good
Spaghetti Bolonese – tasted pretty good also and the sauce is nice and thick.
My latte… a total disappointment… auto machine.
Loads of coffee specks at the bottom
My damage RMB$140, discounted RMB8

Rating: 3.5/5.

Taste: 4/5. Food was good. Coffees really bad. I reckon they sell more alcohol at night than coffees.

Portion: 3/5.

Ambience: 4/5. Very homely feel. Not very comfy though.

Service: 2/5. Very short handed and slow.

Price: RMB140

RTE: Not very likely… Xiamen has got too many good food places.

Location: 思明区鹭江道254号国贸海景. Tel: 0592-2390538

China, Xiamen

1980烧肉粽(中山路店) – Xiamen, Guangdong, China

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As the name suggested, this place was founded in 1980 selling rice dumplings or bak zhang in SG terms. This place came highly recommended and since I was in Zhongshang Road, I went ahead to try their food.

Restaurant front
“Queue up first, then place your orders” – Choose your ingredients for your noodles or soup.
Menu on the wall… Dunno how to read Chinese just ask or point. 🙂
Bak Zhang 加料肉粽RMB7 – Taste pretty ok but I still like the one in Singapore or Johor Bahru.
Inside the bak zhang
沙茶面 RMB$6 without any ingredients – A must try when in Fujian or Xiamen. But this place not famous for this. Hence so so only.
Pork Soup RMB$6 – Soup is not bad. At least no pork smell. Wanted to try the wonton soup but ran out.
五香 – This ngoh hiang is better than the one at 潮福城 but still SG one taste better. Maybe because I’m not a big fan of 80% lard inside and no liver.
拌面 – Typical Fujian staple of sesame paste sauce and noodles. This one is a little like Taiwanese influence, with sweet chilli sauce under it. Not bad in taste.

Rating: 4/5. 

Taste: 4/5. It’s a typical Xiamen or Minnan food eated by the locals. For me the taste is just ok only, nothing to shout about.

Portion: 3/5.

Service: Counter aunties are friendly. Self-service though.

Ambience: 3/5. You come out you smell of ngoh hiang…

Price: Very affordable. Less than RMB$30 per pax.

RTE: Maybe.

Location: 思明区中山路353号(近工人文化宫旧址). Tel: 0592-2032869

China, Street Food, Xiamen

宫廷月亮虾饼 (Prawn Cakes) – Xiamen, Guangdong, China

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This is a famous franchise chain of street food which you can see in tourist spots in Xiamen. I went to the one at Zhongshang Lu since I wanted to visit there to check out this famous walking street of Xiamen. 宫廷 means ‘Palace’ in Chinese, makes me wonder sometimes if this snack was an official imperial dish that was served to the royalties.

Road sign
Another signage
Was there around 2pm and surprisingly, the street was empty.
Selfie!
The little stall
Friendly staff who serve girls better than same gender.
Prawn Cakes – It’s prawn cake as it is. Nothing special. It taste good just like anything that is served hot.

Rating: 4/5.

Taste: 4/5. Everything is made to order. Hence it’s served hot all the time. They have the BBQ squid and another prawn cutlet which I didn’t try. Too full!

Portion: 4/5. 

Service: Girls gets better service.

Ambience: N/A. Stand by the side and eat!

Price: RMB$15. Can check out for online discount groupons for RMB$10 per piece.

RTE: Maybe, if I have stomach space.

Location: 思明区中山路(思明区中山路泰山路口).

China, Xiamen

Malasang Fruit Juice (马拉桑果汁) – Gulangyu, Xiamen, China

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This is a nation wide chain of fruit juice stalls. The best thing about their juices is that it is freshly squeezed right in front of you. No added sugar or any other preservatives! This one is located in front of the pier, straight about 200m walk. Definitely refreshing after a hot day of walking on the island of Gulangyu!

Shop front
Literally squeeze… manual but it works damn well.
Passionfruit (In season Sept-Oct) with Guava juice. RMB13
Lemon with Starfruit juice RMB10
Bits of Passionfruit pulp and seeds with every sip.

Rating: 5/5

Taste: All natural, wholesome!

Portion: Average

Service: I dunno about other shops but this shop’s young couple were very friendly and took the time to recommend what is suitable for us.

Ambience: Takeaway but no sign of houseflies.

Price: Affordable!

RTE: If I’m there again, I would!

Location: 鼓浪屿福州路64号

China, Xiamen

康家龙头海蛎煎(龙头路一店) – Gulangyu, Xiamen, China

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After the wonderful experience at the coffee place of 褚家园咖啡馆, I walked through the back alleys to discover many nice B&Bs and more street food. But I was pretty locked in to try one of the famous oyster omelette in Xiamen, hence skipped the rest. Oyster Omelette is pretty well known in Guangdong, Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. It’s a lovely fried plate of sweet potato flour with eggs and of course, oysters. The locals in Xiamen call these oyster omelettes 海蛎煎(Hai Li), while in Taiwan it’s known as 蚝仔煎 (Orh Ah Jian), in Thailand it is known as Hoy Tod (But with seafood) and back home in Singapore (also Malaysia), we call it 蚝煎 (Orh Jian) for the Hokkiens and Orh Luak for the Teochews. Whichever way it is, I still enjoy oyster omelette and I miss it sometimes as I’m base in Shenzhen now.

When arrived at the little hole in the wall shop, there was already a long queue… so no choice, have to join the queue and check out what the fuss is about. Check out the pics below:

Back alleys along the way… much to be discovered!
Old buildings and lovely skies
Some nice lodging places but right in front of the rubbish collection center
another nice lodging
Another one
Back on Long Tou Road, towards the end
The Oyster Omelette hole in the wall shop
Super long queue…
Publicity
They have customed holes to fry the omelettes…
Eggs like free… Love it!
Awesome dish!
Yummy juicy plump oysters!

Rating: 4.5/5.

Taste: Pretty good. Flour is the soft type, which is more traditional actually. A lot of juicy plump oysters, and coated with a serious layer of egg! Great snack! Must try!

Portion: Average.

Price: RMB$10 only!

Service: The aunty taking orders is nice and friendly. The guy frying the omelettes not so friendly but after chatting with him, he started smiling. Overall nothing unpleasant.

Ambience: N.A.

RTE: YEAH!

Location: 鼓浪屿思明区龙头路189号。

China, Xiamen

褚家园咖啡馆 – 鼓浪屿(Gulangyu), Xiamen, China

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As I continue to walk after my food tasting at 林氏鱼丸, I was actually searching for this place. If you have taken a wrong turn, you may never find this nice little secret garden. But if you speak Mandarin, just ask the locals. This place is well known in Gulangyu or even Xiamen for their coffees and if I’m not wrong, their barista came in runners-up in some barista competition. I was lucky to have found this place, which looked like someone else’s garden from the main door, and trotted in to find a lovely paradise hiding in the small island of Gulangyu.

Main door. It’s actually a conserved historical building. Entry only for customers.
Walking towards the main building.
For group meetings
Hidden piped in music in the garden, which adds to the lovely ambience.
Facade of the building
Reminds me of the old Shanghai
Wow 1930s building
Lovely colonial ambience
The table where I sat
Bar Counter
My triple shot latte RMB35 – Blend is pretty robust, lovely crema and served at a good temperature.
Teaspoons from UK… Maybe made in China haha
伯爵红茶 RMB30 – Signature ice red tea. It has a very strong flowery fragrance. I thought it was some flavored tea leaves but I was told it isn’t… It’s just the fragrance from the tea leaves! Nice and refreshing!
Homemade signature Tiramisu RMB58
Their signature cheesecake RMB38. Not cheap for this baked cheesecake but it was very rich and enjoyed every bit of it!
Bill

Rating: 5/5.

Taste: Awesome for a nice tea session! My only regret is not trying their popular food like Beef Rice, Baked Escagots, etc. But the desserts will do really fine!

Portion: Average.

Service: Really good. Service staff would be so obliging to explain to you the make of the food on the menu.

Ambience: Nice and serene. Was there during autumn, still warm so didn’t sit outside in the garden. Inside’s aircon is chillax!

Price: See last photo.

RTE: Definitely!

Location & Contacts: See last photo. 🙂

China, Xiamen

林氏鱼丸 – Gulangyu, Xiamen, China

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Just up ahead of 沈家闽南肠粉 in my previous post, you’ll find this shop with long tradition for their fish and prawn balls. No much of a queue so I placed my order for the 丸子开会 for RMB20, which basically has 5pcs of the 黄金鱼丸 and 6pcs of the 秘制虾丸. My reviews as follows:

Store front
Very simple operation of 1 cook and 1 cashier/packer.
Menu and price list
My order of 丸子开会… very unique naming of the dish… Balls Meeting… ;P
Minced pork inside the 黄金鱼丸… we call this 福州鱼丸 back in Singapore.

Rating: 3.5/5.

Taste: Taste is not bad. Balls are soft and not too salty. Soup has some dried shrimps and seaweed to enhance the taste but still bland. So maybe the soup is not meant for drinking? But I’ve tasted better. Hate to say this, the frozen ones from my supermarket taste just as good if not better. 🙂

Service: Pretty good.

Ambience: N.A. Takeaway and eat nearby standing.

Portion: Slightly below average. Balls are a little small… especially the prawn ones… Ok, I sounded a little corny over there… ;P

Price: RMB20

RTE: Maybe not

Location: They have 2 locations but all on the same road. One of which has tables and seats. 鼓浪屿龙头路234 or 416号. Tel: 0592-2096361