Hangzhou Snacks

Hangzhou's cuisine, Hangbangcai (杭帮菜) includes a range of snacks. Some of them have more than thousand years of recorded history. Those that in my opinion deserve to be tried are listed below (in order of my personal preference):

1. West Lake Sweet Lotus Root

West Lake Sweet Lotus Root (西湖糖藕) is actually available throughout the Jiangnan region (江南) - which is consisted of several provinces, including Zhejiang (浙江). Version of this dish traditionally prepared in Hangzhou is sweet and chewy. The lotus root is filled with sticky rice and topped with sugar syrup and dried (or fresh!) osmanthus flowers. This is my absolute favorite of all Hangzhou deserts. One of the reasons is because the first time I tried it was thanks to a friend’s mom who traveled from one to another part of the city just to buy a portion of this dish for me. It made me love it even more, it always reminds me of this sweet woman and her husband who welcomed us in their country in the warmest possible way. Some of the places to try sweet lotus root are listed below:

Lou Wai Lou, No.30 Gu Shan Road (楼外楼-西湖景区孤山路店, address 西湖风景名胜区北山街孤山路30号),
Hubin 28 in Grand Hyatt, No.18 Hu Bin Road (杭州君悦酒店，湖滨28中餐厅, address 湖滨路 28 号),
Grandma’s Kitchen, No. 147 Nan Shan Road (外婆家-西湖天地涌金店, address 南山路147号西湖天地2A号楼),
Hangzhou The New Hotel – 1913, No. 58 Bei Shan Street (杭州新新饭店-1913餐厅, address 北山街58号).

2. Pien Er Chuan

Pien Er Chuan (片儿川) is noodles in a soup topped with stir fried pickled vegetables, slices of winter bamboo shoots and meat slices. It is nutritious and comforting dish. I don’t know why local residents consider it a snack when it is a full meal, but nevertheless you can try it here:

Fang Lao Da Noodles, No. 629 Jiang Cheng Road (方老大面, address: 江城路629号),
Fang Chuan Noodle Shop, at the intersection of Wulin Road and Wanshouting Street (方传面馆, address: 武林路与万寿亭路交叉口),
Juying Noodle Shop, No. 368 Zhong Shan South Road (菊英面店, address: 中山南路368号),
Zhi Wei Guan, No. 83 Ren He Road (知味观, address 仁和路83号一楼).

3. Shallot Stuffed Pancake

Shallot Stuffed Pancake (葱包桧儿), filled and then fried on both sides until golden and crispy. This traditional breakfast option can be made with range of fillings. Perhaps the most famous place you can try it at is Grandma Sun’s Street stall:

Grandma Sun, No. 391 Zhong Shan Road (孙奶奶葱包桧, address 中山南路391号). If you are already there, try her red bean paste zongzi (红豆纱粽子) or osmanthus cake (桂花糕),
Wu Aunty, No. 397 Zhong Shan Road (吴阿姨葱包烩, address 中山南路397号).

4. Lotus Root Powder

Lotus Root Powder (藕粉) is another lotus root specialty of Hangzhou (not surprisingly, with all the lakes, ponds and wetlands, lotus can grow pretty much everywhere around the city). Different parts of lotus plant, such as root, leaves or seeds, according to TMC can be used to treat different issues. Lotus root, in particular is known to strengthen the spleen, replenish blood, help with digestion, diarrhea, heavy sweating, balance emotions, and acts as an anti-oxidant. Neutral in nature, it doesn’t affect the balance in the body which means one can eat it as much as one likes. West Lake lotus root powder is among the best ones available in the market. Once prepared, it is sweet, can include nuts, sesame seeds and dried fruits. It has a texture of something between soup and jelly. You can try it here:

Huang Fan'Er, No. 101-103 Hefang Street (皇饭儿·王润兴酒楼, address 河坊街101-103号),
Jia Ou Tian Cheng, No. 27-29 Zhong Shan Middle Road (佳藕天成, 南宋御街店, address 中山中路27号-29号).

5. Cat Ears

Cat Ears (猫耳朵) is a type of pasta, in the shape of cat ears (hence the name), served in a light, clear soup. You can try it here:

Zhi Wei Guan, No. 10-12 Yang Gong Causeway (知味观·味庄, address 杨公堤10-12号),
Zhi Wei Guan, No. 83 Ren He Road (知味观, address 仁和路83号一楼).

6. Longjing Pastry

Longjing Pastry (龙井酥) is a crispy pastry with rich filling usually served with tea. Among the most popular fillings are green tea, red bean paste, green bean paste, cream and so on. It is available in most shops located in tourist areas. Zhi Wei Guan (知味观), Nan Song Hu Ji (南宋胡记) and Lao Hang Ban (老航邦) are the most popular brands, here are some of the locations, there are many others:

Zhi Wei Guan, No. 10-12 Yang Gong Causeway (知味观, address 杨公堤10-12号),
Nan Song Hu Ji, No. 217 Yan’an Road (南宋胡记, address 延安路217号).

7. Victory Cake

Victory Cake (定胜糕) is a sweet snack popular in Hangzhou and the surrounding region. It has been around for some thousand years.

According to the legend, after Hangzhou became capital of Southern Song Dynasty, General Yue Fei (岳飞) was in charge of protecting this area. Every time he led his army to a battle, people of Hangzhou would send these cakes with soldiers to wish them victory and safe return. Today Victory Cake is quite popular right before the College Entrance Examination, Gao Kao (高考), for obvious reasons. Victory cake, prepared of rice flour and sugar, has sweet, mild flavor and soft, light texture. It will not sweep you off your feet, but it is pretty and makes a nice gift. You can buy it here:

Jiangnan Chun, No. 356 Zhong Shan Middle Road (江南春, address 中山中路356号),
Zhi Wei Guan, No. 83 Ren He Road (知味观, address 仁和路83号一楼),
Lao Kai Xin Tea Shop, No. 388 Xiao He Road (老开心茶馆, address 小河路388号).

8. Wu Shan Crispy Cake

Wu Shan crispy cake (吴山酥油饼) is another type of cake with history than can be recorded all the way back to the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms (五代十国, 907 – 979AD). It originated at Wu Hill (吴山) in Hangzhou. Wu Shan crispy cakes is puff pastry rolled and cut in circles, then fried in peanut oil until golden brown. Once fried and covered with fine white sugar, crisp and sweet, it melts in the mouth. You can buy it here:

Victory Cake Little Shop, No. 236 Hefang Street (定胜糕小店-蒋顺发, address 河坊街236号).

9. Xiao Long Bao

Xiao Long Bao (小笼包), dumplings filled with chicken broth and minced pork, shrimps or ham. If you are wondering how to pour soup into dumplings, the procedure is actually quite simple. Aspic (soup jelly) is wrapped in dumplings skin. Once steamed, it turns into broth. This snack is incredibly popular all around China. You can try it here:

Ding Tai Feng, No. 701 Fu Chun Road, MixC mall 4th floor (鼎泰丰, address 富春路701号万象城4层422号商铺) – this restaurant is the best place to try dumplings,
Xin Feng Snacks, No. 209 Qing Chun Road (新丰小吃, address 庆春路209号天阳明珠商业中心1-2层),
Zhi Wei Guan, No. 83 Ren He Road (知味观, address 仁和路83号一楼),
Lou Wai Lou, No. 30 Gu Shan Road (楼外楼, address 西湖风景名胜区北山街孤山路30号).

Do not take my opinion for granted, there are numerous other options you can try when it comes to food. Do not forget to enter any supermarket and try some of the snacks you can find on the shelves. You will most certainly find matcha tea flavored kit-kat, cucumber flavored chips, green beans ice-cream and much, much more.

If you would like to know more about Hangzhou traditional dishes read this post.

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