Xiamen Cuisines
Xiamen cuisines is representative of Fujian cuisine which is characterized by its similarity to Canton food, a sweet, light and popular with Western taste. The food is certainly one of the best things about Xiamen, especially the seafood, which is particularly fresh. Dishes here are widely used in oysters, crabs, shrimps and peanuts. Xiamen peanut soup is served with everything. Sweet Peanut Shop (Huangzehe Huashengtang Dian) on Zhongshan Road is the best place to enjoy one of Xiamen food specialty.
Local specialties of Xiamen are fish ball soup, shrimp noodles and oyster soup. There are some great fish restaurants around the city. On the island of Gulangyu has plenty of places to choose, especially around Lujiang Hotel. The hotel itself also provides a good Chinese food including an impressive banquet facilities.
Those who tired with seafood should seek the Marco Polo Hotel in Jianye Road and enjoy their authentic Peking Duck. There are also a couple of good vegetarian restaurants in Xiamen, the famous one is in South Putuo Temple and the other, the Hao Qing Xiang Restaurant on Hubin Zhong Road.
The Holiday Inn also make a good Western-style buffet for those who desire something different. Guest of Holiday Inn will enjoy western cuisines and has a magnificent view of Gulangyu Island.
Muslim cuisines is also popular here around Xiamen. Tasty lamb skewers and Xinjiang bread are all available from street vendors and small cafe Muslim located around the city. See List of Xiamen Restaurants
Xiamen Special Cuisines
Seafood
Xiamen Seafood (haixian) is easy to find in Xiamen, especially in Gulangyu Island. Seafod is a great introduction to the culinary delights of the town. It has a long history here, locally the seafood has been around forever, but as early on as the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911 AD), grouper, yellow croaker, red crab, lobster and sleeve-fish were already frequently ordered dishes in local hotels.
The Chinese in Xiamen do have the strangest taste in their selection of edible fruits of the deep, with tendancies to select the most formidable, and horrific looking of the days catch. Having got over this, however, the seafood here is always fresh (you normally get a swim by preview outside most of the restaurants) and, once cooked, is delicious. Oysters (Muli), Crabs (Pangxie) and Prawns (Xia) are the best of the batch.
Peanut Soup
Xiamen Peanut soup (huasheng tang) is by no means easy to make despite the fact that it is made of only one ingredient--peanut. First, carefully selected peanuts are dipped in boiling water for deshelling.
Then they are stewed with mild flame until they totally soften. Last add sugar and continue stewing the soup for half an hour, and this Xiamen cuisine is ready to serve.
Local people always have this soup with youtiao (deep-fried twist dough sticks), fried dates or buns.