What to eat in Shenzhen? 15 popular dishes & famous food in Shenzhen you have to try

What to eat in Shenzhen, what’s so special about Shenzhen’s specialties, where to eat in Shenzhen? If you’re planning to travel to Shenzhen, make sure you try these 15 popular dishes, best food in Shenzhen, famous food in Shenzhen below!

Shenzhen cuisine is a blend of Cantonese tradition and the modernity of China’s most vibrant city. Not only attractive for its richness, the dishes here also make visitors remember forever thanks to their unique flavors that are hard to find elsewhere. From street stalls to high-end restaurants, each dish carries an interesting story of this youthful land.

Let’s take a look at 15 Shenzhen specialties that you can’t miss to prepare for a complete culinary journey!

Shajing Oysters – Shenzhen Specialty for Seafood Lovers

On a cool evening in Shenzhen, there’s nothing better than enjoying a plate of hot Shajing oysters that have just been grilled and smelled of garlic. Oysters in Shajing are famous for their large size, thick, sweet and fragrant meat. When grilled over hot coals, the soft meat blends with the layer of scallion oil and garlic sauce, creating a fascinating symphony of flavors. Diners often eat with a little spicy chili sauce and a few drops of fresh lemon to balance the rich flavor. Each oyster is like a “natural spoon”, bringing the full feeling of freshness from the sea into the heart of the diner.

• Suggested location: Li Ji Zhang Guang Oyster House (Xia Sha Third Branch) – Futian District, Shenzhen.
• Reference price: About 81 RMB/portion (~291,808 VND).

What to eat in Shenzhen: Gongming Roasted Duck

In addition to Beijing, Shenzhen also has a famous roast duck dish that makes diners stunned – that is Gongming roast duck. Each duck is marinated with a traditional recipe, hand-roasted over a red-hot charcoal stove until the skin is blistered, shimmering with a honey-brown color. Take a bite, the crispy skin melts right on the tip of your tongue, followed by a layer of soft, fragrant, juicy meat, with a strong aroma of well-cooked duck. This dish is often served with thin rice paper, raw vegetables and hoisin sauce to enhance the flavor. A portion of Gongming duck can be divided into 2-4 people depending on the portion.

• Suggested location: Xia Cun Xin Qiang Ji Roast Goose Shop – Quang Minh District
• Reference price: 63 RMB/portion (~226,961 VND).

Shenzhen Wonton

Wontons in Shenzhen have a strong flavor of Cantonese cuisine, with a thin skin, embracing the soft shrimp and meat filling inside. This dish is often dropped into a clear broth simmered from pork bones and radishes, creating a naturally sweet and surprisingly rich flavor.

When eating, just a spoonful of wonton soup with a little green onion, white pepper and sesame oil is enough to make people linger forever. Although not a delicacy, Shenzhen wontons clearly demonstrate the meticulousness in the preparation of traditional local dishes.

• Suggested locations: Dim sum stalls in Longhua or local night markets
• Reference price: from 15–30 RMB/portion of 6–8 pieces. Equivalent to 54,038 – 108,077 VND.
• Suitable time to eat: early morning or late afternoon

Best food in shenzhen: Chow Mein Noodles

Indispensable in any culinary list in Shenzhen is Chow Mein Noodles – a dish that is both simple and flavorful. Each golden noodle is stir-fried in a large pan at high temperature, both chewy and fragrant, mixed with soy sauce, fresh vegetables, sometimes adding eggs or seafood. At first glance, it seems simple with a moderate burnt edge, a little smoky aroma from the stir-fried pan is the soul of the dish.

Chow Mein in Shenzhen is suitable for breakfast, lunch or dinner, especially when you need to recharge after a long day of walking around the city. A hot plate of noodles with a little spicy chili and a bowl of vegetable soup is enough to make visitors feel warm in the stomach.

• Suggested location: Family restaurants in residential areas such as Luohu, Futian
• Reference price: 25–35 RMB/portion (~90,064 – 126,090 VND)

Shenzhen Sausage

Shenzhen sausage is usually handmade according to a traditional recipe – the pork is chopped, mixed with Mei Guilu wine, rock sugar, soy sauce, then stuffed into pig intestines and dried naturally. When processed, just steam or lightly fry, the sausage will give off a fragrant aroma, the meat is sweet and rich.

This is a typical dish during the New Year holiday, however, it is also easy to find in traditional markets or large supermarkets on normal days. Many tourists also choose to buy it as a gift because Chinese sausage can be kept for a long time, is easy to transport and goes well with rice. Don’t forget to try black garlic Chinese sausage – a strange variation that is causing a fever.

• Suggested locations: Traditional markets in Songgang, specialty stores
• Reference price: 60–80 RMB/500 grams (~216,154 – 288,205 VND)

Shenzhen Seafood Hot Pot

Shenzhen’s proximity to the sea helps it always have a source of fresh seafood, and there is nothing more enjoyable than sitting around a steaming hot pot, dropping each shrimp, octopus, clam, and crab into the boiling broth. The seafood hot pot here is not as spicy as Sichuan, but focuses on the sweet taste of fish bones and mushrooms, accompanied by special dipping sauces such as sweet and sour garlic sauce or ginger sesame oil.

Qing Peng Zheng Pin Seafood Cheng Restaurant in Wanxiangcheng is an ideal destination. Here, diners can choose fresh seafood directly from the water tanks, including shrimp, crab, scallops and many others. Each dish is prepared on the spot, ensuring freshness and rich flavor. The average price is about 200 RMB/person (~720,514 VND).

Cantonese-style porridge

Without noise or ostentation, Cantonese-style porridge has gently crept into the local culinary culture as a pleasant habit. The rice is cooked until it is soft, the porridge is smooth like cream. Depending on preference, people often add minced meat, catfish, pork liver or century eggs, although the porridge still retains its pure sweetness.

Locals often eat porridge in the morning with crispy fried dough sticks, or choose it as a light main dish for the evening. To enjoy traditional Cantonese porridge, Jin Dao Yuan Shaguo Zhou in Jingtian area is a worthy choice. The restaurant is famous for its porridge cooked in a clay pot, which retains heat for a long time and has a rich flavor.

Gongming Rice Noodles

Although it is a popular dish, Gongming rice noodles are associated with the childhood memories of many Shenzhen residents. This type of noodle is not like hu tieu or pho – the noodles are small, soft and not mushy, served with clear broth, with a light but sweet aftertaste. This dish is often served with sliced ​​pork, boiled eggs, fish cakes or pork rinds.

The ideal way to enjoy it is to add a few drops of chili oil, a little vinegar and eat it while it is still steaming. Each bowl costs only about 16-22 RMB (~57,641-79,256 VND), quite economical but still filling. A suggested destination is Gongming Rice Noodle Shop in Guangming Market, where the vendors have maintained the traditional cooking method for more than 20 years.

Fuyong Fish Tofu – Traditional Shenzhen Food

Fuyong fish tofu is a traditional dish from Fuyong Town, Bao’an District, famous for its golden brown crust and soft filling inside. This dish is made from fresh fish ground into patties, seasoned and fried until crispy on all sides. In addition to holidays or when entertaining guests, visitors can enjoy this dish for lunch or dinner, combined with a slightly spicy dipping sauce to enhance the rich flavor.

A famous place to enjoy this dish is Delightful Zha·Guangdong Zha Zha Pot restaurant, located at No. 125, the outer area of ​​​​the East Coast City Shopping Mall, Wenxin Fourth Road, Nanshan District, Shenzhen. A portion costs around 70 RMB (~252,179 VND).

Songgang Salted Duck

Songgang salted duck is a prominent specialty of the Songgang region, often appearing on holiday dinner trays or bought as gifts. After being marinated thoroughly with traditional spices, the duck meat will be dried in the sun and wind until it has a characteristic aroma. The popular way of preparing it is to steam it until soft or fry the edges, helping the skin to be crispy while the meat inside still retains its chewy and fatty texture.

Some street stalls in Songgang specialize in selling prepackaged salted duck for around 60 RMB/portion, convenient to take away. If you want to experience the original taste, buy it at stores in large supermarkets or Shenzhen airport. You should dip it in ginger soy sauce to enhance the inherent rich, salty and fatty flavor. This is not only a dish but also a culinary culture worth exploring.

Longgang Chicken – King of Chicken in Shenzhen

Known as the “king of chicken” in Shenzhen, Longgang chicken is a famous specialty originating from Longgang district – a place famous for its firm free-range chicken breed, golden skin and naturally sweet meat. Unlike regular boiled chicken dishes, Longgang chicken is often prepared simply: boiled in lightly salted water or steamed to preserve its freshness, then cut into pieces and dipped in a special ginger soy sauce.

The chicken meat is firm, not tough, the skin is thin and crispy, and when eaten, you can clearly feel the flavor of home hidden in each piece of meat. This is a dish that often appears in parties, holidays or cozy family meals of Shenzhen people. The price for a whole chicken is about 80 – 120 RMB, depending on the number of guests and the preparation method.

Shenzhen Fried Rice Cake

Enjoying a portion of fried rice cake in Shenzhen is like tasting the full flavor of childhood in the countryside. The cake is made from selected glutinous rice, soaked, ground into fine powder, mixed with sugar and oil, pressed into blocks and fried until crispy. Each piece of cake has a light sweetness, the crispy crust combined with the softness inside makes people remember it forever after eating it once.

This is a snack loved by locals, especially in the afternoon when they need something to nibble on. The recommended address is Ken De Xiang Biscuit Shop, located at 15 Tongsha Road, Nanshan District. A portion of cake is only about 10 yuan, very “cheap” for a sweet and emotional experience.

Crispy Egg Cake

It would be a real mistake to come to Shenzhen without trying egg cakes. This dish stands out with its golden, crispy crust, while the inside is soft and spongy, with a fragrant smell of egg and milk. Each small honeycomb-like ball expands evenly, bringing a feeling of joy and enjoyment when bitten. This dish is usually eaten hot, lightly dipped in condensed milk or fresh cream is “standard taste”.

One of the famous egg waffle stalls is Hodo Egg Waffle, located in COCO Park shopping mall, Futian district. Each portion costs around 15 – 20 RMB, depending on the toppings. This is a simple yet sophisticated street food, very popular with both young people and international tourists.

Pearl Milk Tea For The Sweet Team

Not only in Shenzhen, pearl milk tea is an indispensable “symbol” of modern Asian snacking culture. However, the interesting thing is that many shops in Shenzhen have transformed this drink with typical flavors such as jasmine tea, brown rice black tea, or honey pearls. The tea here is often rich, has a distinct aroma and a light aftertaste.

A place worth trying is Heytea (喜茶) – a famous brand with creative milk tea lines, especially cheese milk. The shop is located on the 1st floor, MIXC shopping mall, Luohu district. Prices range from 25 to 35 yuan for a cup, but it is completely worth it for the special taste experience in the modern and bustling space of the city.

Notes When Enjoying Shenzhen Specialties

To fully enjoy Shenzhen specialties, you need to master the following important things. First, do not rush into the restaurant just by looking at the sign or photos online. Finding places that are highly rated by locals is always the safest choice. Deep inside a small alley or next to a bustling market, there are often restaurants with more “standard” flavors than luxury restaurants. Ask the hotel receptionist or check through reputable review apps like Dianping or Xiaohongshu to avoid “falling into tourist traps”.

Shenzhen cuisine is influenced by Cantonese, so the spiciness is not too strong, although some dishes like dry hot pot or mixed noodles still use quite a lot of chili. If you are not used to spicy food, feel free to ask the chef to reduce the taste or choose lighter dishes such as dumplings, dim sum or steamed fish.

Shenzhen is not lacking in restaurants that are both delicious and affordable. However, in tourist areas such as Huaqiangbei or Shenzhen Bay, prices may be slightly higher. A small tip: look at the menu with clear prices, avoid the unclear “price-by-price” style, which will help the food tour go more smoothly.

Frequently Asked Questions About Shenzhen Specialties

What is the spiciest dish in Shenzhen?

Spicy dry hotpot and Sichuan mixed noodles are often the first names to mention when talking about spiciness in Shenzhen. Dried chili, Sichuan pepper and spicy oil sauce make this dish “over the threshold” for those who are not used to it.

Where should I try Shenzhen specialties?

Dongmen Night Market, Huaqiangbei Food Street or small shops in local residential areas always have diverse menus, reasonable prices, and authentic Cantonese – Shenzhen flavors.

Do you need to know Chinese to order food in Shenzhen?

Not required. Just take a photo of the food, use Google Translate or point to the menu with pictures. Many places now also support basic English for international visitors.

Are there any notes on dining etiquette in Shenzhen?

Chopsticks should not be inserted directly into the rice bowl. Before sharing a meal, pour tea for the elders first. And if invited to eat, do not refuse too many times – that can easily make the inviter feel disrespectful.

Are there any budget-friendly Shenzhen food tours?

Many local food experience tours led by locals are reasonably priced, often found on Klook, Airbnb Experience or through travel groups on Xiaohongshu.

Shenzhen cuisine, in addition to reflecting the fusion of Cantonese tradition and the modernity of a technology city, also attracts visitors with its rich flavors and creative preparation methods. From street food to delicacies, every culinary experience here brings a sense of surprise and excitement – ​​like an unpredictable taste adventure.

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in, from and to Shenzhen you can refer to

• Tangzaki. Tangquan Life TENZ (Futian Port Store)
• [Shenzhen’s largest ski resort] Karoo Ice and Snow World
• [Limited time offer] Shenzhen Wildlife Park Tickets
• Tickets for Shenzhen Mission Hills Ocean World
• Lollypet Cute Pet Paradise (the cute pets come from Shenzhen Wildlife Park)
• Window of the World Ticket in Guangdong
• Happy Harbor Ferris Wheel
• Shenzhen – Hong Kong Ferry Ticket
• Glass Hammer Brewing Co. in Shenzhen, Guangdong
• Private One Way City Transfers between Shenzhen and Surrounding Areas
• Shenzhen Shekou – Macau Ferry Ticket

Read more Shenzhen travel guide here and China guide here.