4 Best Restaurants in Ji'nan, Beijing to Shanghai

Malena Belgian Beer Bar

$$ Fodor's choice
With a huge beer list, decent cocktails, and great Western food, Malena is popular with travelers and expats. The people-watching here is good, too, thanks to a lively outdoor terrace and a Quancheng Square location.
Quancheng Sq., Ji'nan, Shandong Sheng, 25000, China
0531-8601–6627
Known For
  • wood-fired pizza
  • good salads
  • English-speaking staff

Foshan Yuan

$$

This comfy vegetarian restaurant specializes in dishes that look and taste remarkably like meat or fish. If sea cucumbers made from textured soy protein sounds like a gastronomic step too far, fear not: the delicious vegetable dumplings, braised mushrooms, and hearty tofu dishes are sure to satisfy.

17 Foshan Yuan Xiao Qu, Ji'nan, Shandong Sheng, 250000, China
0531-8868–0888
Known For
  • huge menu and a cheap buffet lunch
  • friendly regulars
  • tricky to find (locals can point you in the right direction, though)
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: No credit cards

Jufengde Restaurant

$$

This long-standing eatery is a well-liked spot to sample Jinan lu cai, a variation of one of the eight famous cuisines of China. The signature dish is jiu zhuan da chang (literally "nine turns intestine"), chewy braised spirals of pork chitterlings, but if that sounds extreme, try the sweet-and-sour fried carp, or their decent local take on roast duck with pancakes.

11 Jingwu Lu, Ji'nan, Shandong Sheng, 25000, China
0531-8616–2888
Known For
  • huge portions
  • youxuan (Ji'nan's famously crispy fried bread snacks)
  • local favorite

Recommended Fodor's Video

Shunhe Seafood

$$$
A must-try for seafood lovers, Shunhe is a bright and clean nautically themed restaurant with tank-upon-tank of live seafood. There are also plenty of Chinese classics to choose from on a foreigner-friendly point-and-pick photo wall.
10 Wenhua Xi Lu, Ji'nan, Shandong Sheng, 250000, China
0531-8608–1666
Known For
  • multiple shellfish varieties; free pickles station; good service