10 Best Hangzhou Restaurants: Try Authentic Local Cuisine

Hangzhou is honored as a heaven on the Earth with picturesque scenery and mouth-watering foods. Sampling the authentic local cuisine is always an indispensable part of a tour in Hangzhou. Featured in a light and healthy style, Hangzhou dishes are noted for the elaborate and sophisticated food material preparation, elegant appearances, fresh and tender flavors, and abundant nutrients. Here we list the 10 best restaurants in Hangzhou where you can enjoy the most authentic Hangzhou cuisine.
 

Lou Wai Lou Restaurant

Chinese Name: 楼外楼 (lou wai lou)
If you ask a Hangzhou native which restaurant is the most popular one in this city, he or she will surely say Lou Wai Lou because it offers the most superb authentic Hangzhou food. Founded in 1848, this Hangzhou restaurant boasts a long history and has a large patronage. The specialties include the West Lake Fish in Vinegar Gravy, Fried Shrimps with Longjing Tea and the Beggar's Chicken. Lou Wai Lou has over 30 branch stores in the city, offering both dine-in and take-out services. Among them, the flagship store at the foot of the Solitary Hill, an isle in the West Lake, is the most recommended one to go, for you can taste the great dishes while appreciating the nice scenery.

Average cost per person: CNY 100 – 200
Business Hours: 10:30 – 20:30

Addresses of some popular branches:
Flagship Store: No. 30, Gushan Road, Xihu District
Tianwaitian Branch: No. 40, Lingyin Road, Xihu District
Yuefei Temple Branch: No. 3, Hukou Road, Xihu District
Songmuchang Branch: No. 6, Wangjia Lane, Xihu District
Jade Spring Resort Branch: No. 7, Yuquan Road, Xihu District (inside the Hangzhou Botanical Garden)
 

Chinese Name: 知味观 (zhi wei guan)
Zhi Wei Guan, established in 1913, now has been the biggest and the most modern Hangzhou restaurant. Apart from authentic Hangzhou dishes, it also serves snacks like crab steamed buns and wontons as well as savory dim sums and moon cakes. Therefore, it’s one of the best restaurants in Hangzhou to taste various local snacks. The Dongpo Pork and Steamed Lotus Root Stuffed with Sweet Sticky Rice are worth a try.

Average cost per person: CNY 60 – 120
Business Hours: 07:00 – 21:00

Addresses of some popular branches:
Flagship Store: No. 83, Renhe Road, Shangcheng District
Gongbei branch: No. 1035, Shangtang Road, Gongshu District
Wulin branch: No. 20, Zhijietansi Lane, Xiacheng District
Wenyuan Road Branch: No. 253, West Wensan Road, Xihu District
Dongshan Lane Branch: No. 86, Outer Dongshan Lane, Xihu District
 

Chinese Name: 奎元馆 (kui yuan guan)
When travelling to Hangzhou, you can’t miss the noodles in Kui Yuan Guan Restaurant. It is a hundred-year-old noodle restaurant which has received many celebrities from all sectors of China. A variety of noodles are offered there, among which the Noodles with Quick-Fried Eel Shreds & Shelled Shrimps (Xiabao Shanmian) and Noodles with Preserved Vegetables (Pian Er Chuan) have won the most favor of customers.

Average cost per person: CNY 30 – 50
Business Hours: 09:30 – 20:30

Address:
Jiefang Road Flagship Store: No. 154, Jiefang Road, Shangcheng District
Starry City Branch: No. 502, Wensan Road, Xihu District
Civic Center Branch: No. 2, 1F, Block H, Civic Center, East Jiefang Road, Jianggan District
 

Chinese Name: 外婆家 (wai po jia)
The Grandma’s Home (Wai Po Jia) is a well-known Hangzhou restaurant which has over 160 branches in China. The food there features in a home-like style and wallet-friendly price. You can taste the best local food with less than CNY 100! The Grandma’s Red Braise Pork and Steamed Fish Head with Diced Hot Red Peppers are the two most frequently ordered dishes on the menu.

Average cost per person: CNY 50 – 100
Business Hours: 10:30 – 21:00

Addresses of some popular branches:
Hangzhou Tower Branch: 8F, Building B, Hangzhou Tower, No. 1, Wulin Square, Xiacheng District
Macheng Road Branch: No. 6-1, Macheng Road, Xihu District
Union Building Branch: 2F, Building B, Union Building, No. 2, Zijinghua Road, Xihu District
Yuhang Wanda Plaza Branch: 4F, Wanda Plaza, No, 1888, West Wenyi Road, Yuhang District
In City Branch: 2F, In City Plaza, No. 588, Gudun Road, Xihus District
 

Chinese Name: 山外山 (shan wai shan)
Shan Wai Shan is famous for both its exquisite cuisine and the comfortable dining environment. It is right next to the Hangzhou Botanical Garden, so customers can enjoy a tranquil environment while dining. The Fish Head Stewed with Eight Treasures, including sea cucumbers, fish balls, shrimps, mushrooms, and abalones is a must-taste dish there.

Average cost per person: CNY 100 – 150
Business Hours: 11:00 – 13:30, 16:30 – 20:30
Address: No. 8, Yuquan Road, Xihu District
 

Chinese Name: 张生记 (zhang sheng ji)
Among all the Hangzhou restaurants, Zhang Sheng Ji stands out for its quality food materials and elaborate workmanship spirit. The specialty Old Duck Soup with Dried Bamboo Shoots is a good proof of these two points. The duck soup is appetizing with tender duck meat, dried bamboo shoots, hams, and reed leaves.

Average cost per person: CNY70 – 150
Business Hours: 11:00 – 13:30, 16:30 – 20:30

Addresses of some popular branches:
Yintai City Branch: 6F, Yintai City, No. 380, Fengtan Road, Gongshu District
Heping Branch: 4F, Heping International Convention and Exhibition Center, No. 158, Shaoxing Road, Xiacheng District
Shuangling Branch: No. 77, Shuangling Road, Jianggan District 
 

Chinese Name: 天香楼 (tian xiang lou)
Founded in 1927, Tian Xiang Lou is also one of the best restaurants in Hangzhou with a long history. The specialties include Dongpo Pork, Fried Shrimps with Longjing Tea, Fried Stuffed Bean Curd Paste, and West Lake Fish in Vinegar Gravy.

Average cost per person: CNY 60 – 150
Business Hours: 11:00 – 14:00, 17:00 – 21:00
Address: No. 447 - 509, Yan’an Road, Xiacheng District
 

Chinese Name: 新周记 (xin zhouji ji)
In Hangzhou, Xin Zhou Ji is a restaurant noted for its long queues of customers. It is good at developing new dishes of Hangzhou cuisine. Formerly a sidewalk snack booth, the Hangzhou restaurant offers delicious food at an affordable price. Among all the dishes, the Spareribs with Garlic Flavor and the Fried Prawns in Soy Sauce are best sellings.

Average cost per person: CNY 80 – 100
Business Hours: 11:00 – 14:00, 17:00 – 21:00

Address:
Drum Tower Flagship Store: No. 2, Shiwukui Lane, Shangcheng District
Zheda Branch: No. 16, Zheda Road, Shangcheng District
Suoxiang Branch: No. 36, Suo Lane, Xiacheng District
West Wensan Road Branch: 1F, No. 87, West Wensan Road, Xihu District
 

Chinese Name: 味庄 (wei zhuang)
Located at the Yanggong Dike along the West Lake, this Hangzhou restaurant is famous for its gardenlike environment. From the seats near the window, guests can enjoy the splendid scenery of the West Lake. The Fried Crab Meat Steamed Inside Orange there is very unique. It’s said to be a royal court dish dating back to the Southern Song Dynasty (1127 - 1279).

Average cost per person: CNY 150 – 200
Business Hours: 10:30 – 16:00, 16:30 – 20:00
Address: No. 10, Yanggong Dike, Xihu District
 

Chinese Name: 龙井菜馆 (long jing cai guan)
The highlight of Long Jing Restaurant is its advantageous location in the Longjing Tea Village of Hangzhou with tranquil environment and fresh air. There is a courtyard in the ground floor offering an open view of the green mountains nearby. The countryside style foods there are generally light in taste but very special. 

Average cost per person: CNY 150 – 200
Business Hours: 10:00 – 15:00, 17:00 – 20:00
Address: No. 1, Longjing Village, Longjing Road, Xihu District