8 popular food streets in Shenzhen
Like most cities in Asia, street food culture is alive and well in Shenzhen, and plenty snacks and goodies of all shapes and sizes are offered in abundance on skewers, in boxes and bags, or in cute little plastic trays all over town. Eating in Shenzhen has been made super easy with its myriad "food streets", each with its own character and specialization.
Dongmen Pedestrian Street 东门美食街
Dongmen in Luohu District is not only known for its affordable shopping—it's also a paradise for street eating. On Dongmen Pedestrian Street, fish and meat ball stalls abound—one in particular takes inspiration from a Stephen Chow movie, "The God of Cookery", serving "pissing beef balls" that are hollow in the center and squirt out steamy juices (hence the name) once bitten. In the movie, the beef balls are supposed to be bouncy like basketballs due to the air pockets in the middle, and although we can't exactly prove the same with these real-life beef balls, they are worth trying—if only for novelty's sake. Along Dongmen, you'll also be able to find delectable seaweed-topped takoyaki balls (sizzling bite-sized flour dough balls with squid and sometimes prawn or bacon for filling), smelly fried tofu, lamb and seafood skewers, mala-style marinades, onion cakes, green bean pastries and much much more, all competing for your attention.
Add: Dongmen Street, Luohu District
Metro: Laojie Station (老街站), Exit A, Line 1
Buses: 1, 3, 64, 102, 103, 106, 113, 203 (Dongmenzhong or Laojie Stops 东门中或老街站)
Bagua Road 八卦路美食街
Bagua Road in Futian district is a collection of mid-sized restaurants that offer specialties from different parts of China. The street has a quaint historical vibe—add to that the authentic Chinese venues flanking its length, and it's an ultimate foodie landmark. Whether it’s lamb from Inner Mongolia or fish from Guangdong, you'll be able to find it on Bagua.
Add: Bagua Road 1, Luohu District
Buses: 7, 13, 24, 105 (Bagua'er lu or Kangtaiyulecheng Stops 八卦二路或康泰娱乐城站)
Yantian Seafood Street 盐田海鲜街
Yantian Seafood Street, in the coastal portion of Yantian District, is famous for abalone, lobsters and all sorts of creatures fresh from the sea. Not only will you be able to enjoy delicious fresh stuff, but you can also buy dried seafood and fresh produce from the wholesale and retail markets here. Prices are cheap, and quality is commendable—need we say more?
Add: Yantian Seafood Street, Yantian
Buses: 103, 387 (Meishalukou Stop 梅沙路口站)
Huaqiangbei Food Street 华强北美食街
Huanqianbei refers to Zhenxing Lu, Huafa Lu, Yannan Lu and Zhonghang Lu in Huaqiang Commercial Center. Here you'll find a great variety of Sichuan, Anhui and Cantonese cuisine.
Add: Huaqiangbei Street, Futian District
Metro: Huaqiangbei Station (华强北站)，Exit A, Line 2
Bus lines: 9, 12, 212, 216, 238, 302, 385 (Huaqiangbei Stop 华强北站)
Meilin Food Street 梅林美食街
Some expatriates love it so much that they call it a “street-food heaven.”
Add: Meilin Food Street, Futian District
Metro: Shangmeilin Station (上梅林站), Exit C, Line 4
Bus lines: 102, 216, 222, 328 (Shangmeilin Stop上梅林站) ; 60, 102, 207, 324, 328 (Shangmeilin Stop )
Leyuan Road Food Street 乐园路美食街
Restaurants on this street in Luohu District are the best choice for a big meal of seafood at affordable prices. Most restaurants are in the form of outdoor stalls.
Add: Leyuan Road, Luohu District
Metro: Hubei Station (湖贝站), Exit A, Line 1
Buses: 2, 10, 29, 104, 205, 220, 223, 311, 312 (Jingpengdasha or Luohuquwei Stops 京鹏大厦或罗湖区委站)
Jingtian Road North Food Street 景田北路美食街
The Jingtian Road North food street in Futian District is new on the scene and its dozen-odd eateries are quickly gaining fans. Shunde Native Tianxin Restaurant is the best known.
Add: Jingtian Road North, Futian District
Metro: Jingtian Station (景田站), Exit D
Buses: 6, 11, 21, 38, 41, 73, 104 (Jingtian Road North Stop 景田北站)
OCT Food Street 华侨城美食街
Covering the pedestrian street and the themed bar street beside OCT Ecological Plaza, the food street offers delicacies from the whole country.
Add: OCT-LOFT, Nanshan District
Metro: OCT Station (华侨城站), Exit B, Line 2
Buses: 26, 101, 113, 204, 223, 310, 311, 234, 232 (Fanghuayuan or Kangjiajituan Stops 芳华苑或康佳集团站)
Coco Park Bar Street
Conveniently located in the city's central business area, Coco Park is near to major luxury hotels and the convention and exhibition center. The shopping center's bar street primarily wraps around one corner of the building, sprawling out on the sidewalk and beneath some impressive trees. When much of the city is going to sleep at midnight, the bar street here is often packed.
Add: Fuhua Road 3, Futian District ( 福田区福华三路 )
Buses: 73, 109, 221, K318, 398 (Gou Wu Gong Yuan stop 购物公园站 ), or 50, 121, 371, 375, 379 (Zhong Hai Hua Ting stop 中海华庭站 )
Metro: Gou Wu Gong Yuan Station (Coco Park Station 购物公园站 ), Exit C
Shark Fine Wine & Dine at Shopping Park （鲨鱼餐吧）
Presenting a new lifestyle in Shenzhen, Shark --- a global Wine Bar that offers more than 100 different selections of wines, hand-picked by international sommeliers from 8 different countries. These exquisite wines are accompanied with trendy mouthwatering tapas and unique continental cuisine animated by Michelin-Star chefs. Boasting a wide range of fresh imported seafood, prime steak and other meat dishes, Shark is the new place to share your time with friends, family and loved ones.
Brotzeit （博璨）
Brotzeit is a German concept casual dining restaurant offers authentic German cuisine accompanied by world-famouse German Beers in a chic and contemporary setting.
Demon Bar (Mowang 魔王 )
With another outlet at CITIC City Plaza, the bar is spacious. Outdoor seating is available at both of them so when the weather is good they are great options. Regular live music addsto the atmosphere. Offering pitchers of cocktails, the Coco Park bar also has a pool table.
Norway Place Oslo (Aosilu 奥斯陆 )
This is the first Norwegian bar on the Chinese mainland. Live bands play in the two-story indoor bar, while much more seating is available outside. It features happy hour drink specials, Scandinavian food and a good selection of draft beer.
Pupo Bar (Piaobangba 飘邦吧 )
This open-air bar features live performances over a shimmering pool, including hip-hop emcees and singers.
Shekou Bar Street
Leisure, taste, a touch of the exotic — they all describe Shekou. Here's where Shenzhen's fi rst Western-style bar opened in early 1987 when an expatriate opened the Snake Pit. Since then, bars of every style have mushroomed on Taizi Road and Sea World square. Now more than 40 bars, cafés and restaurants with styles and cuisine from Asia, Europe, Africa and America cater to locals and expatriates alike.
Add: Yingchao Building, Bitao Center, Taizi Road, Shekou, Nanshan District ( 南山区蛇口太子 路碧涛中心迎朝大厦 )
Buses: J1, 19, 22, 37, 77, K105, 109, 122, 224, 226, 230, 231, 232, 331, 332 (Hai Shang Shi Jie stop 海上世界站 )
Coyote's Mexican Cantina （Xianrenzhang 仙人掌餐厅）
Coyote's Mexican Cantina has become well known not only for its authentic food, but also as a chilled-out destination for meeting friends for a few drinks on a Sunday afternoon. It has an ample rustic outdoor seating and a bar area where you can enjoy imported Mexican beers.However, the main attraction at the Cantina is undoubtedly the very best, most authentic Mexican food, with lunch buffet deals and daily specials. Also noteworthy is the pastor taco plate, which offers four tacos of pork meat flavored with more than 25 seasonings, roasted in a special oven and served on corn tortillas with pineapple, cilantro and onions. It's also a perfect spot for an early evening margarita, which come house-style or in flavors including lime, mango, peach and strawberry.
Add:West of Bar Street, Sea World Square
McCawley's Irish Bar and Restaurant (Maikaoli Jiuba Xicanting 麦考利酒吧西餐厅)
With Celtic atmosphere, pubs are a part of everyday life in each town and village throughout Ireland, and a little of that can now be found in Shenzhen. McCawley's features traditional Irish decor, old Irish carriages and antique Irish-style bookcases, where the books are from faraway Ireland. You can enjoy Guinness on tap while watching your favorite sporting events on its roof-top big-screen projector.
Add: Shop No. 118, Sea World, Taizi Road, Shekou ( 蛇口 太子路海上世界 118 号商铺 )
The Terrace Restaurant and Bar (Lutai Canting 露台餐厅)
Well-known for its nightly live performances by international musicians, The Terrace offers authentic Thai and American cuisine prepared with imported ingredients. Diners can also enjoy the relaxing view from its large balcony.
Add: Shop No. 201, Sea World, Taizi Road, Shekou ( 蛇口 太子路海上世界 201 号商铺 )
X-TA-SEA Sports Bar and Restaurant (Haiyangzhixin 海洋之心)
Visitors are encouraged to place a pin in a large world map on the wall to show where they've come from. Today there are thousands of pins representing customers from 75 countries. The walls are decorated with sports pictures and pennants from both professional and college
teams. In addition to live sport programs on wide TV screens and house music, the bar also has pool tables, dart boards and a football table.
Add: 1/F, Minghua Ship, Sea World, Shekou ( 蛇口海上 世界明华轮一楼 )
Lowenburg Brauerei and Restaurant( Lewenbao Pijiufang Xicanting 乐汶堡啤酒坊西餐厅)
This is perhaps as close as you'll get to a European-style beer garden in Shenzhen. The dining area has traditional German decor. A live band with top-grade lighting and sound system keeps the energy level high. The restaurant owns world-renowned German brewing scales and equipment for top quality microbrewed beers. The restaurant also provides traditional German food.
Add: 6/F, Minghua Ship, Sea World, Shekou ( 蛇口海上 世界明华轮六楼 )
Snake Pit (Sheba 蛇吧)
One of China's longest established expat bars, Snake Pit was originally opened to serve the oil riggers working offshore in the South China Sea. Now at a new location, the club is a favorite expat retreat, offering the atmosphere of an English local pub with an Asian twist. Don't answer your cell phone inside or you'll have to buy everyone a round. Filled with hash and touch rugby players.
Add: Shop No. G16, Taizi Square, Shekou ( 蛇口太子广 场 G16 号商铺 )
Other Bars
Yes Club( Yese Jiuba 夜色酒吧 )
A favorite for singles. The bar provides note cards for pub-goers to write down their personal information and post on the notice board at the entrance.
Add: 2/F, Shizheng Sheji Building, 3001 Sungang Road West, Futian District ( 福田区笋岗西路 3001 号市 政设计大厦二层 )
Buses: 6, 11, 12, 30, 53, 58, 59, 79, 102, 209, 213, 216, 234, 244, 302, 317, 319, 323, 357, 365, K302, 398 (Shi Er Yi Yuan stop 市二医院站 )
Musibase Bar( Genjudi Jiuba 根据地酒吧 )
Known as the heart of rock music in Shenzhen, this bar has a red-and-black color scheme and features rock bands. Unlike most bars that invite professional musicians to play, the Musibase bars enable ordinary people to jam and develop their musical chops. A good sampling of Shenzhen music can be found at the bars. Pub-goers say it has already become a center for writing and performing new music. Its Binhai outlet is jazz-centered.
Shangbu outlet (Shangbu Dian 上步店 )
Add: Opposite Guoqi Building, Shangbu Road South, Futian District ( 福田区上步南路国企大厦对面 )
Buses: 4, 25, 29, 67, 75, 202, 302, 305, 395 (Shangbu Nan stop 上步南站 )
Metro: Ke Xue Guan Station (Science Museum Station 科学馆站 ), Exit B
Nanshan outlet (Nanshan Dian 南山店 )
Add: Inside West Coast Building, Nanhai Thoroughfare, Nanshan District ( 南山区南海大道西海岸大厦内 )
Buses: 19, 37, 39, 70, 80, 123, 113, 226, 230, 231, 232, 245, 328, 329, K113 (Hai Ya Bai Huo stop 海雅百货站 )
Binhai outlet (Binhai Dian 滨海店 )
Add: No. 1, Building 2, Binhai Zhichuang, Haide Road 3, Nanshan District ( 南山区海德三道滨海之窗二栋一号 )
Buses: 58, 72, 76, 80, 231, 305, 322, 337, 353, 382 (Bin Hai Zhi Chuang stop 滨海之窗站 )
True Color Club
A standout leader in Shenzhen's nightlife scene, True Color has six venues across the city, featuring house music, great food and English-speaking wait staff. With Western decor, the bars are famous for their house bands and singers, one of whom was Chen Chusheng, the champion of the 2007 “Happy Boy” national television singing contest. It is a very dynamic place with new DJs and bands from abroad every month.
Dongyuan outlet (Dongyuan Dian 东园店 )
Add: 3/F, Dongyuan Building, Dongyuan Road, Futian District ( 福田区东园路东园大厦三楼 )
Buses: 7, 8, 23, 24, 29, 30, 33, 62, 63, 214, 302, 352, 353, 377, 378, K302 (Hong Ling Nan Lu stop 红岭南路站 )
Guoqi outlet (Guoqi Dian 国企店 )
Add: 25/F, Block A, Guoqi Building, Shangbu Road South ( 上步南路国企大厦 A 座 25 楼 )
Buses: 4, 25, 29, 67, 75, 202, 302, 305, 395 (Shang Bu Nan stop 上步南站 )
Metro: Ke Xue Guan Station (Science Museum Station 科学馆站 ), Exit D
Zhenhua outlet (Zhenhua Dian 振华店 )
Add: 2/F, Zhonghangyuan Building, Zhenhua Road, Futian District ( 福田区振华路中航苑大厦二楼 )
Buses: 65, 219, 375, 395 (Zhong Hang Di Chan stop 中航地产站) or 6, 50, 104, 215, 230, 301A, 303, 311, 335 (Hua Fu Lu stop 华富路站)
Metro: Hua Qiang Lu Station (Huaqiang Road Station 华强路站), Exit B
OCT outlet (Huaqiaocheng Dian 华侨城店 )
Add: OCT Ecological Plaza, Qiaocheng Street West, Overseas Chinese Town, Nanshan District ( 南山区华侨城侨城 西街华侨城生态广场 )
Buses: 21, 26, 32, 54, 59, 101, 109, 113, 121, 123, 204, 209, 210, 222, 223, 232, 234, 245, 311, 319, 327, 338, 367, 369, 370, 373, 383, 390 (He Xiang Ning Mei Shu Guan stop 何香凝美术馆站 )
Metro: Hua Qiao Cheng Station (Overseas Chinese Town Station 华侨城站 ), Exit B
Dongmen outlet (Dongmen Dian 东门店 )
Add: 4/F, Dongmen Golden World Commercial Center, Jiefang Road, Luohu District ( 罗湖区解放路东门金世界商 业中心四楼 )
Buses: 3, 59, 64, 113, 203, 103B, 103 (Dong Men Lao Jie stop 东门老街站 )
Metro: Lao Jie Station (Old Street Station 老街站 ), Exit A
Lanuno Club (Langlu Guoji Julebu 朗路国际俱乐部 )
Add: 1/F, Zhenhua Building, at the intersection of Huafa Road North and Zhenhua Road, Futian District ( 福田区华发北 路和振华路交汇处振华大厦首层 )
Buses: 65, 75, 80, 219, 375, 395 (Zhen Xing Zhong stop 振兴中站 ) or 9, 216, 238, 302, 317, 385 (Man Ha Shang Cheng stop 曼哈商城站 )
Metro: Hua Qiang Lu Station (Huaqiang Road Station 华强路站 ), Exit A