Top Local Dishes & Where to Try Them in Suzhou, Anhui, China

1. Suzhou Pagoda Cake

Delicious traditional cake with a unique shape like a small pagoda. Enjoy it at Lingering Garden's famous tea house.

Local Tradition: Traditionally made in Suzhou for over 800 years.
Unique Shape: A miniature pagoda structure, a symbol of Suzhou's rich culture.
Taste: Sweet and crispy cake with a smooth filling, often made with lotus seed paste.

Tender pork dish created by the famous Song Dynasty poet Su Dongpo. Try it at Tongli Town's local restaurants.

Culinary Legend: Created by a renowned Chinese poet and scholar.
Steamed Preparation: Unusual steaming method that keeps the pork incredibly tender.
Flavorful Sauce: Rich sauce made from fermented yellow soybeans, vinegar, and sugar.

Heavenly dish featuring fish head cooked in a rich soy sauce broth with silken tofu. Visit Master Chen's Kitchen at Pingjiang Road.

Culinary Skill: Requires masterful cooking skills to prepare the fish head correctly.
Fusion of Tastes: Combines the flavors of fish and tofu in a single, harmonious dish.
Broth: The broth can be sipped like soup, making it a complete meal.

Tasty spareribs cooked in a sweet and sour sauce with pineapple. Enjoy them at Shantang Street's local eateries.

Local Twist: Sweet and sour sauce is a local adaptation of the traditional dish.
Pineapple Element: The addition of pineapple adds a unique, refreshing touch.
Tender Meat: Meat is tender and falls off the bone, cooked to perfection.

Flavorful rice cake stir-fried with vegetables, eggs, and soy sauce. Try it at Beisi Street's local food stalls.

Street Food Favorite: A popular street food in Suzhou.
Versatile Ingredients: Variety of vegetables and ingredients can be added to customize the dish.
Soy Sauce Flavor: The soy sauce used in Suzhou gives it a unique, savory flavor.

Spicy noodle dish with tender lamb and aromatic cumin. Enjoy it at Xiangcheng District's local eateries.

Local Flavor: A flavorful adaptation of traditional Chinese noodle dishes.
Cumin Aroma: The strong cumin aroma adds a unique taste to the dish.
Spiciness Level: Adjustable spiciness level depending on personal preference.

Soft, steamed buns filled with various fillings like pork, vegetables, or lotus paste. Find them at local snack shops along the canal.

Traditional Snack: A traditional street food in Suzhou.
Variety of Fillings: Many fillings to choose from, catering to different tastes.
Soft Texture: Soft and tender texture makes for a satisfying snack.

Delicate duck dish cooked in sweet and tangy mandarin orange sauce. Try it at Panmen Gate's upscale restaurants.

Local Ingredient: Mandarin oranges are a specialty of Suzhou.
Sweet and Tangy Sauce: The sauce is both sweet and tangy, creating a harmonious flavor.
Tender Duck Meat: Duck meat is cooked until it's incredibly tender.

Crispy fried gluten strips coated in a savory soy sauce. Find them at local snack shops along the canal.

Street Food Favorite: A popular street food in Suzhou.
Crispy Texture: The gluten strips are incredibly crispy and satisfying to eat.
Soy Sauce Flavor: The soy sauce used in Suzhou gives it a unique, savory flavor.

Delicious crabs from Shanhu Lake, cooked in various styles. Try them at local seafood restaurants around the lake.

Fresh Ingredient: Crabs are freshly caught from Shanhu Lake.
Variety of Cooking Styles: Crabs can be cooked in various styles, such as steamed, stir-fried, or hot pot.
Sweet and Tasty Meat: The crab meat is sweet and flavorful.

Fresh fish steamed with ginger and green onions. Try it at local seafood restaurants around the city.

Simple Ingredients: Simplicity of ingredients showcases the freshness of the fish.
Healthy Option: Steaming method retains the nutritional value of the fish.
Fragrant Aroma: Strong ginger and green onion aroma enhances the flavor of the dish.

Crisp and tangy pickled vegetables, a great accompaniment to any meal. Find them at local markets.

Soft and silky tofu pudding dessert. Try it at local teahouses and dessert shops.

Traditional Dessert: A traditional dessert in Suzhou.
Soft Texture: The tofu pudding is incredibly soft and silky.
Sweet and Mild Flavor: The sweet and mild flavor makes it a perfect dessert.

Delicate Suzhou-style tea with a subtle aroma and sweet flavor. Enjoy it at local teahouses.

Local Tradition: A long history and tradition of tea production in Suzhou.
Subtle Aroma: The subtle aroma is a unique characteristic of this tea.
Sweet Flavor: The tea has a sweet, smooth flavor that's incredibly refreshing.

Mild and fragrant rice wine made from glutinous rice. Try it at local bars and restaurants.

Local Specialty: A specialty of Suzhou.
Mild Flavor: The wine is mild and easy to drink, with a slight sweetness.
Fragrant Aroma: The aroma is fragrant and inviting, making it a delightful beverage.