Four dishes to know in Hangzhou
Many Hangzhou classics are tied to the city's history. Four names come up again and again: West Lake fish in vinegar sauce, Dongpo pork, Longjing shrimp and beggar's chicken. West Lake fish, Longjing shrimp and Dongpo pork are the three most often named as Hangzhou classics.
This page explains the dishes and gives you a short ordering guide. Menu prices change from place to place, so check the menu on the spot. If you want help with the tea behind the shrimp, see Longjing tea villages. For a guided day with food stops, compare Hangzhou tours.
Our pick: lunch at a tea farm
Our take: this day trip includes lunch at a tea farm or restaurant.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Hangzhou tours and day trips
Guided days around West Lake, the tea hills and nearby sights, with live prices and availability.
The classic dishes compared
What is in each one.
| Dish | Pinyin | Main ingredient | How it is cooked |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Lake fish in vinegar sauce | Xihu Cu Yu | Fish, often grass carp | Poached or steamed, with a sweet and sour vinegar sauce |
| Dongpo pork | Dongpo Rou | Pork belly | Braised until soft |
| Longjing shrimp | Longjing Xiaren | Shrimp | Cooked with Longjing tea |
| Beggar's chicken | Jiaohua Ji | Stuffed chicken | Slow-cooked in lotus leaves and clay, in the traditional version |
For most first-time visitors, order West Lake fish and Dongpo pork together, because they are very different. Add Longjing shrimp if you eat seafood and want to taste the tea in a dish.
West Lake fish and Dongpo pork
West Lake fish is usually grass carp, cooked gently and served with a sweet and sour vinegar sauce. The name does not mean the fish comes from the lake today. The lake is protected, and a restaurant dish with this name is not proof of a catch from the water.
Dongpo pork is braised pork belly, linked to the poet and official Su Dongpo. The link is a tradition, not a proven story of the poet cooking it himself. Su Dongpo also shaped the lake itself, which you can read about in the West Lake history.
Longjing shrimp and beggar's chicken
Tea in the pan, clay around the bird.
Longjing shrimp
Shrimp cooked with Longjing tea, also called Dragon Well tea. It is not a vegetarian dish, so skip it if you avoid shellfish.
Beggar's chicken
A stuffed chicken, traditionally wrapped in lotus leaves and clay and cooked slowly. Modern kitchens may use another container. Stories about its origin are legends, so enjoy them as stories.
Ordering and paying
Simple habits that make a meal easier.
Show the name
Save the Chinese name of the dish on your phone and show it to the staff. A photo of the dish works too.
Ask about allergies and meat
Allergen-free and vegetarian versions of a recipe are not something to assume. Tell the staff what you cannot eat and ask what is in the dish.
Prices
Menu prices change from place to place. Check the menu before you order.
Paying with a foreign card
A suitable foreign card can be linked to Alipay or WeChat Pay. Above CNY 200, a fee of 3 percent can apply to the whole amount, not just the excess. Check the fee in the payment screen, and carry another way to pay, as not every shop accepts every card (as of 2026).
Getting there and getting around →Plan the rest of your trip
Where to eat well and see more.
Hangzhou food: frequently asked questions
What is Hangzhou's most famous dish?
West Lake fish in vinegar sauce is one of the best known. Dongpo pork and Longjing shrimp belong to the same group of classics.
Does West Lake fish come from the lake?
Not necessarily. The name refers to the dish. It does not tell you that today's fish was caught in the protected lake.
Is Dongpo pork really from the poet Su Dongpo?
The dish is linked to him by tradition. Treat the tale of his invention as a story, not a proven event.
Is there a vegetarian dish among the classics?
Not among these four. Longjing shrimp uses shrimp, and the others use fish, pork and chicken. Ask the staff in each restaurant about vegetable dishes.
How do I pay in restaurants as a visitor?
Many visitors link a foreign card to Alipay or WeChat Pay. A fee of 3 percent on the whole amount can apply above CNY 200, so check the payment screen.
Is this an official website?
No. This is an independent travel guide. It has no link to the city of Hangzhou, the West Lake Scenic Area or any restaurant.