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September 20, 2012

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HomeCity specialsHangzhou

Restaurants serve up great mix of hearty fare

GUDUN Road is near a wealthy residential area and features a good selection of restaurants.

Some of the eateries have made their name in Hangzhou, earning strong reputations that attract foodies from all over the city.

Shanghai Daily fills its tummy at a noodle shop, a seafood restaurant and a Mexican eatery.

Chao Zhong Ren River Food Restaurant

This popular restaurant serves Chaozhou cuisine, one of the most common cuisines among overseas Chinese.

The two-floor restaurant is not stylish nor fancy, but its fresh fish, crab, shrimp and other seafood swimming in tanks or lying on ice attract many diners. A dozen tables in the restaurant serve people from noon to midnight.

The restaurant started as a stall, but has since expanded to four locations, including the one on Gudun Road. Chaozhao cuisine is famous for its fresh seafood and vegetables and light, natural flavors. It's also healthy since it's made with minimal oil.

Chaozhou cooking originated in the Chaoshan coastal region in southeastern Guangdong Province. It's a major school of Guangdong cooking, influenced by Cantonese style and techniques and by the richly flavored fare of its northeastern neighbor, Fujian Province.

The restaurant purchases all its seafood from Guangdong. All dishes are made without much oil, and dishes tend to be poached, steamed, simmered, braised or stir-fried.

The seafood porridge has more than 20 kinds of seafood, including crab, shrimp, lobster, scallop and eel. The porridge is stirred frequently while it is boiled so the rice stays clear but does not get sticky. It has a strong umami flavor.

Address: 368 Gudun Rd

Tel: (0571) 8775-5259

Chef's picks: All seafood porridges, steamed squid, scalded sea whelk

Panehos Mexican Restaurant

Mexican Alexander Garcia opened Panehos about six years ago. He came to Hangzhou to study at Zhejiang University seven years ago, but decided he wanted to start his own restaurant.

The decor inside is full of Mexican elements such as the national flag, Aztec paintings and banners, high chairs and traditional costumes.

As the only Mexican restaurant in Hangzhou, Panehos keeps everything authentic.

Gringa, a staple food in Mexico, is a tortilla stuffed with mozzarella cheese, Mexican sauce, salad and ranchera sauce. Nachos Panchos, a blend of tortilla chips, guacamole, sour cream, cheese, and topped with meat, is a main course that is popular with diners.

Garcia said the restaurant hosts parties or buffets to celebrate Mexican holidays.

While many foreign restaurants are expensive, Panehos serves comparatively cheap and hearty meals, attracting an endless stream of consumers.

Garcia said Panehos' success has made him consider opening a second restaurant in Hangzhou.

Address: 376 Gudun Rd

Tel: (0571) 8512-1219

Chef's picks: Gringa, nachos panchos, tacos, burrito

Lao Shan Noodle Shop

Although Hangzhou is far from Shaanxi Province, Lao Shan Noodle Shop brings the original taste of the province's Loess Plateau to the city, giving locals a chance to appreciate that faraway place.

A Shaanxi native has operated the noodle shop for more than a decade in Hangzhou.

Most of the hand-made noodles served here are comparatively shorter and wider than most noodles.

Biangbiang noodle, considered one of the symbols of Xi'an, the provincial capital of Shaanxi, and saozi noodle are the most popular dishes at Lao Shan. Of course, like other Shaanxi dishes, they are spicy, but customers with a mild palette can request milder versions.

Rou jia mo, considered by many as the Chinese hamburger, is another classic Shaanxi creation. The bun's stuffing can be either a spicy fried meat with green peppers while the pot-stewed meat isn't quite so fiery.

Hele is a noodle made of buckwheat, a crop commonly planted in Shaanxi.

At Lao Shan, hele is mixed with cucumber and bean sprouts and served cold. It is often eaten to complement the spicy rou jia mo.

Address: 204 Gudun Rd

Tel: (0571) 8897-9884

Chef's picks: Hele mixed with cucumber and bean sprouts, rou jia mo, biangbiang noodle, saozi noodle


 

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