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)