You will find both excellent local dishes and a full range of international cuisine on offer at the restaurants and hotels in Hainan Province. This means the visitor has the choice of appetizing snacks or something more familiar that they would choose if dining out in their home town. You need never go hungry in Hainan as there is something to please all palates!

When visiting Haikou, you will find some fine seafood restaurants that are a must as well as the famous local specialties of Wenchang Chicken, Jiaji Duck and Dongshan Mutton. Hainan mutton is prepared in a special way and so does not have the attributes that are often associated with mutton that make it less than appetizing to many people. Here is not only smells good but tastes good and comes highly recommended!

Seafood restaurants in Haikou fall into two categories. One is the up-market variety where the decor and service is as much of the dining experience as the quality of the food. Such places are the Jinghao Restaurant on Binhai Avenue and Nanzhuang Restaurant on Haixiu Avenue. These extra touches come at a price, so eating in these venues is rather more expensive. The alternative is the one on the roadside where you will see the seafood alive and kicking in the tank! This kind of restaurant is much more reasonably priced especially if it is merely your hunger you wish to satisfy. Popular venues in this category include those on Haixiu Middle Road and on Xinbu Island.

Hainan's four local specialties should not be missed.

The first one is Wenchang Chicken. The chicken, originally found in Wenchang City of Hainan, is the choice chicken species that has come down to us over many generations. The dish looks pleasing to the eye, and the special seasoning ensures that it is also very delicious.

The second is the Dongshan Mutton. With a black skin, the meat is fresh and tender and the soup is dense and savory. It is prepared in several ways, stewed, roasted or cooked in coconut milk. All of them are worth trying.

The Hele Crab is produced in Wanning County and Lezhen Town, Hele Crab is famed for its tough shell and fresh and tender meat. You can cook it by steaming, boiling, stir-frying, roasting. Steaming Hele crab is probably the best way as it gives full flavor and retains the shape of the crab. You will be amazed by this delicacy!

The last one is Jiaji Duck. Initially the duck was bred in Jiaji Town of Qionghai City, hence its name. It can be cooked in various kinds of ways, but it is often best when it has been cut.

Where to Dine

Chinese Cuisine Street:
Jinlong Road is called the Cate Street of Haikou, where the restaurants specializing in dishes of different parts of China, like Hunan cuisine, Sichuan cuisine, Shandong cuisine, Xinjiang cuisine and Jiangxi cuisine converge. Haixiu Road, Nansha Road and Xisha Road are assembling places of cuisines from northeastern China and northwestern China. Of all, restaurants dealing in Hunan cuisine and Sichuan cuisine are popular.

Hotpot Restaurant:
The most famous Chongqing style hotpot restaurants are in Haidian Erdong Road, Nanbao Road, and Baipol. Taguang Hotpot Restaurant at the junction of Haifu Avenue and Bailong South Road specializes in Hainan local hotpot and mutton hotpot. Hotpot restaurants in Longkun South Road mainly deal in Sichuan flavors.

Seafood Street
Longkun South Road is famous for all sorts of seafood restaurants that are gathered here.
Getting there: Public Bus No. 9, 10, 21, 38, 209

If you are looking for local snacks, Bo'ai South Road should not be missed. Here you can get the chance to take Hainan Rice Noodle and the dainty fried dumplings.

Western fast food chains like KFC and McDonald's also do a booming trade these days for those who are feeling unadventurous and prefer to eat those only things that may be familiar to them! But the best Chinese food is served in China - give it a try; we are sure you will never be disappointed!

KFC
Floor 1 and 2 of Mingzhu Square, No. 10, Haixiu Road
Floor 1 of Jinmao Department Store, No. 28, Guomao Avenue

McDonald's
Dongfang Square, Longhua Road