Must-Visit Restaurants in Dalian

A list of must-visit restaurants in Dalian that you'll want to return to again and again.

1. Mingji Kao Yu
This is a chain restaurant with multiple locations. We visited the branch near Zhongshan Square. You can choose a half-and-half set recommended by the staff, where you pick two types of fish, two sauces, and toppings.

- Recommended menu: We tried sea bream and bass, and while both were delicious, the sea bream was exceptionally tasty. / For sauces, the garlic flavor and spicy mala flavor, popular among Koreans, are a combination that can't go wrong.

2. Egg Tarts at the Entrance of Xi'an Road Night Market
- Familiar yet irresistible, these egg tarts are rich in buttery flavor and feature a smooth custard filling. They're affordable and taste great even the next day, so be sure to pack plenty to take home.

3. Mala Grilled Squid at Xi'an Road Night Market
- Fresh squid grilled on the spot with a smoky aroma and coated in spicy mala sauce! Perfect as a beer snack.

4. Xinxing Chuancheng Roast Duck (Beijing Duck Set)
- A great place to enjoy the premium dish of Beijing Duck at a reasonable price. We ordered the half set for two people. The duck is carved right at your table, and it comes with a soup (which is large and contains plenty of meat, not just bones). The crispy duck skin melts in your mouth, but it can get a bit heavy after a while, so we paired it with spicy cabbage salad and fried rice. The portions were so generous that we couldn't even finish a quarter of it. When we asked if we could take the leftovers, they kindly packed everything neatly, including the sauce, in containers. We secretly enjoyed two more meals at the hotel with the leftovers. Even reheated in the microwave the next day, it was still delicious. You can also buy discount coupons on Dazhong Dianping for a slightly cheaper price.

5. Pavilion The Tree
- Located at the far end of the 5th floor of a shopping mall, this restaurant offers an upscale atmosphere, excellent service, and high-quality food at street food prices. The fried tofu and cheese pineapple buns are incredibly tasty, and the beer is very affordable, almost at supermarket prices.

6. Xiding
- A must-visit iconic restaurant in Dalian. Though the wait can be long, it's worth it. The dumpling skins looked thick in photos, but when eaten, they didn't taste floury or feel heavy at all. They were filled with juicy, flavorful fillings, and the seafood ingredients blended perfectly without any odd taste. We tried sea urchin, shrimp, and sea cucumber dumplings. The shrimp dumplings were good but relatively ordinary, while the sea urchin dumplings were outstanding. The dried shrimp cabbage salad was salty and paired well with the dumplings. If you enjoy alcohol, try their baijiu cocktails!

7. Daoyuan Morning Market
- Similar to seafood markets in Korea, you can buy fresh seafood and have it cooked to your liking at restaurants within the market. We bought clams, scallops, sea urchins, and crayfish (longxia) and showed photos of the cooking styles we wanted. Although we were a bit worried about communication, the results were incredibly delicious. The taste was on a whole different level compared to what we had in Korea. Prices are about one-third of those in Korea. You can also buy drinks or alcohol from the supermarket within the market and enjoy them with the fresh seafood for an authentic local experience.

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