In the old days, Jinzhou became famous for its mixed pickled vegetables, which were praised by Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty. Later, the city rose to fame because of the well-known remark: "Jinzhou is the place where apples grow". Today, Jinzhou has built its reputation as the "Barbecue City", aiming to bring its barbecue flavours all over the country and even the whole world.

The most renowned local delicacies include Goubangzi Smoked Chicken, juicy soup dumplings, Bai’s pan-fried dumplings and mixed pickled vegetables.

For fresh seafood, head to the seaside of Dabeijia Mountain. Prices here are lower than those in Beidaihe and Dalian, and comparable to those in Xingcheng.

Eating barbecue while sitting on wooden benches is a unique local tradition. Jinzhou serves the most authentic lamb skewers and grilled lamb kidneys you can find anywhere.

Another celebrated local product is dried tofu from Hongluo County, which is paper-thin and incredibly delicious.

If you want to enjoy Chinese dishes in Jinzhou, Renmin Street is your best choice. Dozens of restaurants line this road, offering tasty food at affordable prices. Besides classic Northeastern cuisine, you can also find Sichuan hot pot, Korean barbecue, cross-bridge rice noodles and other regional specialties.

The barbecue streets at Sanjiaodi and Hankou Street are the top spots for local snacks and grilled food. Popular restaurants include Xiaoguo Barbecue, Liu Chicken Heads, Laoliu Rabbit Heads, Yanji Restaurant and Xiaohui Rib Skewers. Even the street stalls serve satisfying barbecue.

Rongpeng was one of the earliest restaurants of its kind in Jinzhou and enjoys wide popularity with several branch stores. A set meal includes a plate of flatbread and a plate of stewed dishes. Simple as it is, the flatbread is thin, translucent and chewy. The stew is pork cooked with potatoes and kidney beans, representing authentic Northeastern home cooking. The only downside is that the dining hall gets noisy and crowded during the evening rush hour.

Korean-style barbecue is hugely popular in Jinzhou, and this restaurant is a must-visit. It is always packed with diners on both floors in the evening. The dining environment and hygiene conditions are good, though the prices are a bit high. Don’t miss their specially marinated beef, which tastes wonderful with dry spice or seafood dipping sauce.