The top ten Dalian restaurants are centered around seafood, blending Shandong and Northeastern cuisine. Representative dishes include stewed zi, grilled squid, salted fish pancakes, sea cucumber dumplings, seaweed buns, sea urchin dumplings, clam noodles, grilled seafood, red-roasted whole shrimp, and colorful snowflake scallops.
Featured Dishes and Recommendations
Stewed zi: Pan-fried with sweet potato starch until golden brown, drizzled with sesame paste and garlic sauce, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.
Steaked squid: Grilled squid basted in a sweet and spicy sauce, savory and sweet.
Salted fish pancakes: Salted fish served with corn tortillas, a savory and sweet blend.
Sea cucumber dumplings: Crispy and juicy sea cucumber, best served fresh.
Seaweed buns: Steamed with seaweed and pork, fragrant and juicy.
Sea urchin dumplings: Filled with sea urchin, sweet and rich, peaking in September and October.
Clam Noodles: A clam broth base creates chewy noodles.
Grilled Seafood: Charcoal-grilled scallops, oysters, and more, served with garlic vermicelli for a fresh flavor.
Red Roasted Whole Shrimp: Whole shrimp grilled for a tender, springy texture.
Colorful Snowflake Scallops: Egg white base, adorned with scallop meat, for a delicious and visually appealing dish.
Recommended restaurants include Sun Moon Seafood Restaurant (sea sausage rice), Xi Ding (sea urchin dumplings), Minzhu Square Old Shop (sea sausage dumplings), and night market stalls (stewed zi, grilled squid). Avoid overpriced frozen foods in tourist areas and opt for stalls frequented by locals.