Stinky tofu, braised lamb, wonton soup…the best of it all!
Most restaurants in Wuzhen will be fairly clean, so you won’t need to worry so much about hygiene issues as you would in other Chinese cities. But there are always THE BEST of a certain dish that a restaurant uniquely features. That’s how this list will come in handy!
1. San Zhen Zhai 三珍齋 – For the Duck
Wuzhenzhen, Tongxiang, Jiaxing, Zhejiang, China, 314501 (map, website)
San Zhen Zhai is an older brand that began during the Qing dynasty, known for their crispy duck which isn’t outrageously expensive, you should also order the braised lamb which is also one of their signature dishes.
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2. Sanbai Wine Distillery Workshop 三白酒坊 – For Rice Wine
Wuzhenzhen, Tongxiang, Jiaxing, Zhejiang, China, 314501 (map, website)
The locally made Sanbai (or, 3-white) rice wine is made from: white rice, white noodles & white water. When you’re wandering through the streets on the East Side of Wuzhen, you’ll get whiffs of the wine from the distillery workshop. Here, you can freely taste the wine on the house, but don’t miss the courtyard in the back of the store, ti was where a famous film was shot.
3. Shusheng (or Scholar) Lamb 書生羊肉 – For Braised Lamb Soup Noodles
Wuzhenzhen, Tongxiang, Jiaxing, Zhejiang, China, 314501 (map, website)
In China, Hong Kong or Taiwan, one thing you can’t miss on the menu is a hot bowl of spicy braised meat noodles. Most of them come with beef, but in this rare case in Wuzhen, you’ve gotta try a signature local lamb. Prepared for hours, the meat is tender, juicy, just the right amount of chewiness without going stale.
4. Wuma Wonton 吳媽餛飩店 – For the Wontons
Wuzhenzhen, Tongxiang, Jiaxing, Zhejiang, China, 314501 (map)
First, there will be a line. The word on this tiny boutique of wontons sure gets around. Meaty, seafood, mushrooms…any ingredients you choose inside comes with a soup base that’s clean, tasty with seaweed. Combined with old-school ambiance inside the restaurant, this is a classic Wuzhen experience.
5. Maolaotai Stinky Tofu 茅老太臭豆腐 – For the Stinky Tofu
China, Jiaxing Shi, Tongxiang Shi, 乌镇西栅水上集市口003号 邮政编码: 314501 (map)
Don’t have a stinky attitude about stinky tofu! Don’t knock it until you try it! Stinky tofu might just be a personal favorite dish of mine, but then again, I grew up with this stuff. If you’re in this lovely town, try new things! Maolaotai Stinky Tofu is the crispy kind. Though once you bite into it, it’s buttery soft tofu on the inside. Sauce this baby up, and enjoy the view!
