Food streets

Sea World 蛇口海上世界

Sea World. Photo by Sun Yuchen

This is the most exotic food street in Shenzhen, where foreign and Chinese culinary cultures perfectly converge. At Sea World, the Minghua, a ship moored ashore on reclaimed land, represents the international side of Shenzhen. When night falls, the neon lights flash, and the mast lights and the bright moon complement each other. Sea World is one of the best choices in Shenzhen for dinner, where you can try delectable dishes at such restaurants as Mushroom World, Wanchu, Chef Tan’s Kitchen, and No. 6 Garden Hotel. 

Add: Wanghai Road, Nanshan District (南山区望海路海上世界广场)

Metro: Line 2 to Sea World Station (海上世界站)

Leyuan Road 乐园路

Located in Luohu District, Leyuan Road is the oldest food street set up in the central urban area, yet it has lost none of its popularity. The restaurants here are mostly stall-style eateries, which have earned a strong reputation among locals with their tasty and affordable seafood. They are a great choice for friends to enjoy a casual get-together, especially if the diners are not too picky about the eating environment.

Some of the stalls stay open around the clock, meaning you can drop by anytime. Popular restaurants include Huacheng Fishing Port, Jindaoyuan Restaurant, Wuji Seafood Stall, Baofa Restaurant, and Zhanjiang Fishing Port.

Add: Leyuan Road, Luohu District (罗湖区乐园路海鲜一条街)

Metro: Line 2 to Hubei Station (湖贝站) or Line 3 to Shaibu Station (晒布站)

Bagua 1st Road 八卦一路

Situated at the junction of two central districts, Futian and Luohu, Bagua 1stRoad enjoys a unique geographical location. Most of the eateries here are established chain restaurants, with the quality and taste guaranteed. The list includes Xiaoyu Hotpot, Baheli Haiji, Longchao Xuyi Lobster, Xibei Oat Noodle Village, and Muwu BBQ. Aside from these, there is also a generous helping of specialty restaurants, such as Haolinju, Old Captain, and Zhentanjia, all of which are worth a visit.

Add: Bagua 1st Road, Futian District (福田区八卦一路美食街)

Metro: Line 9 to Yuanling Station (园岭站)

Yantian Seafood Street 盐田海鲜街

This seafood street retains the atmosphere of a small fishing village complete with docks and bridges, while local villagers maintain the tradition of going to sea on a dailybasis. There are a dozen seafood restaurants here, mostly small three-story buildings along the coast. 

Each of the restaurants has glass pools full of freshly caught seafood, like miniature oceanariums. The best seats are usually found on the top-floor terraces, offering beautiful sea views. Sitting by the harbor, watching the sea and listening to the crashing waves, customers can enjoy fresh crabs and shrimps while appreciating the beauty of nature. 

Most of the restaurants offer lunch and dinner. Top picks include Shigonghui Restaurant, Pier 3, and Wangfu Donghai Restaurant.

Add: 12 Beishan Road, Yantian District (盐田区北山道12号盐田海鲜食街)

Metro: Line 8 to Yantian Road Station (盐田路站) then take bus

Shuitou Seafood Street 水头海鲜街

Shuitou, located on the Nan'ao Peninsula, is probably the most authentic, dedicated seafood street in Shenzhen. With the advantage of being close to Nan’ao Fishing Pier, customers still flock here despite the relatively long distance from the urban area. 

Its 30 stalls line the roadside and only sell seafood. If you want your fresh catch cooked into one of your favorite dishes, proceed to the two rows of eateries on both sides of the street. A small processing fee will be charged.

The cost of buying seafood here plus the processing fee is similar to buying a seafood meal in the downtown area, but the taste is quite different and much fresher.

Add: Side road of Kuinan Road, Dapeng New Area (大鹏新区葵南路辅路水头海鲜街)

Metro: No metro is currently available in Dapeng New Area

Shimudi 十亩地 

Shimudi, located in Chegongmiao in Futian District, was once a cluster of dilapidated factories but was transformed in 2015 into a large commercial leisure park integrating catering, entertainment, leisure, and sports. 

With its proximity to the CBD and in the wake of the demolition of Xiangmihu Food Street, Shimudi quickly emerged as a popular meeting place for young people in Shenzhen to while away the nights. Its success can be attributed to the atmosphere it has created and its targeting of young consumers. The queues at Tongren Four Seasons, Aunt Lu Chicken Pot, Osaka Yakiniku are always long, so try to get there early to guarantee a seat.

Add: 21 Tairan Road 9, Futian District (福田区泰然九路21号十亩地)

Metro: Line 1, 7, 9 or 11 to Chegongmiao Station (车公庙)

Dongmen Old Street 东门老街

Dongmen Old Street in Luohu District is one of the earliest business circles in Shenzhen and remains popular among both locals and tourists. In addition to shopping for clothes and bric-a-brac, you can also find joy in browsing the hundreds of shops selling a wide range of snacks at inexpensive prices here. 

Add: Shennan East Road, Luohu District (罗湖区深南东路东门老街)

Metro: Line 1 and 3 to Laojie Station (老街站）