Last updated on March 28th, 2026
In this Wuzhen Food Guide, we introduce some of the most popular places for street food and delicious meals when visiting this charming town.
If you are visiting Wuzhen for the first time, there is so much to explore! This ancient Chinese water town is renowned for its rich culture and authentic historical atmosphere. The canals and narrow streets, lined with traditional architecture and colorful Chinese lanterns, contribute to a relaxing ambiance. One surprising highlight of Wuzhen is the food. There is a wide variety of culinary choices and street food options to enjoy during your visit.
We spent two days in Wuzhen and sampling many local snacks and tasty meals. Wuzhen offered easy access to various snack stalls that lined the alleys. As we wandered along the cobblestone paths, we encountered an array of local delicacies. The selection was impressive, ranging from deep-fried shredded radish pancake to dingsheng cake. We loved sampling both these small treats and full meals at sit-down restaurants.
In this Wuzhen Food Guide, let me walk you through the complete list of culinary delights and the best places to enjoy them!
Wuzhen Food Good: What and Where To Eat
Trying local food is an important part of the Wuzhen experience. Here, we are sharing the top 10 foods you must try in Wuzhen.
Wuzhen Food Good: What and where to eat in Wuzhen:
- Braised Lamb at Sushen Mutton Noodles Shop (乌镇书生羊肉面馆)
- Dingsheng Cake (定胜糕) at Jin Ji Pastry Shop (锦记糕点铺)
- Osmanthus Square Cake (桂花方糕), qingtuan (青团) at Yongping FenTuan Shop (永平粉团铺)
- Shredded Radish Pancake (萝卜丝饼) at Xiao Mazi Radish Shredded Pancake Shop (小麻子萝卜丝饼店)
- Boat-Shaped Sticky Rice Dumplings (乌镇船头粽) at Tongji Sauce Zongzi Store (通济酱粽店)
- Handmade Wonton at Wu Ma Wonton Shop (吴妈馄饨店)
- Wuzhen Sauce Duck (乌镇酱鸭) at Master Xu Braised Duck Shop (徐師傅醬鴨店)
- Cong Bao Hui (葱包烩) at Cong Bao Hui Shop (舌尖葱包烩)
- Dried vegetable shaobing (梅干菜烧饼) at Qiao Li Qiao Shaobing Shop (桥里桥烧饼店)
- Wuzhen Breakfast Zao Cha Ke (早茶客)
Next, let’s begin our exploration of the best food in Wuzhen!
Braised Lamb
One of the highlights of the Wuzhen Food Guide is the braised lamb. This famous dish features lamb that is slowly cooked for many hours, resulting in a reddish-brown color. The meat is tender, low in fat, and offers a wonderful aftertaste. It has a crispy texture, with flavors that are sweet and slightly spicy.
The best time to enjoy this dish is after the winter solstice.
We tried the braised lamb noodles at Sushen Mutton Noodles Shop (乌镇书生羊肉面馆), and it was truly delightful. Diners can choose from various lamb parts served with a bowl of noodles. We ordered the most popular option: braised lamb leg noodles, and it was absolutely amazing.
Sushen Mutton Noodles Shop (乌镇书生羊肉面馆)
Address: 216-220 XiZha Main Street (西栅大街216-220号).
Business hours: 10:00 – 22:00.
Jiangnan Traditional Pastry
When visiting Wuzhen, be sure to try the Jiangnan Traditional Pastry. This pastry is celebrated for its delicate textures and mildly sweet, often floral flavors. Some popular varieties of Jiangnan Traditional Pastry include Dingsheng Cake (定胜糕), Osmanthus Square Cake (桂花方糕), and Qing Tuan (青团).
Dingsheng Cake
Dingsheng Cake (定胜糕) is a famous traditional pastry from Wuzhen. Made from glutinous rice and steamed in wooden molds, these traditional pastries are typically filled with red bean paste and delicately scented osmanthus. The result is a chewy texture that is sweet but not overly greasy.
Dingsheng cakes symbolize “victory,” representing success in exams and good fortune. In ancient times, locals took great pride in the imperial examination. Preparing several chewy Dingsheng cakes was a common way to wish candidates success.
During our visit to Wuzhen, we tried Dingsheng cakes at Jin Ji Pastry Shop (锦记糕点铺).
This shop is well-known for its variety of Dingsheng cakes, including the most popular ordinary Dingsheng Cake (定胜糕), Shuita Cake (水塔糕), double happiness Dingsheng Cake (双喜定胜糕), and more.
The pastries were light and fluffy, with a fragrant aroma and a subtle flavor. While they may not have been particularly impressive, we appreciated their significance. Overall, those Dingsheng cakes were a delightful treat during our trip.
Jin Ji Pastry Shop (锦记糕点铺)
Address: 318 XiZha Main Street (西栅大街318号).
Business hours: 8:00 – 21:00.
QingTuan
The next item is qingtuan (青团). This local snack is created by mixing tender leaves and grass shoots with glutinous rice powder to form fragrant green cakes.
Traditionally, qingtuan was made for ancestor worship, but it has since become a popular street food. There are several fillings available for qingtuan, both sweet and savory, but the traditional version remains the most popular. Its taste is reminiscent of Shen Da Chen in Shanghai.
Square Cake
Square Cake (方糕) is a type of glutinous rice dessert shaped in squares and wrapped in rice paper. There are three flavors available: osmanthus, fresh meat, and red bean paste.
Among these, the Osmanthus Square Cake (桂花方糕) is the most popular choice. It has a subtle flavor but is infused with a delightful osmanthus fragrance, giving it a soft and chewy texture. Priced at 3 to 5 yuan each, it’s worth trying one!.
We had the Dingsheng cake at Jin Ji Pastry Shop. You can try the Jiangnan Traditional pastry at Yongping FenTuan Shop (永平粉团铺), located right beside the Zilala Pan-fried Food Store. While it may not be particularly impressive, it’s worth a try if you’re passing by.
Yongping FenTuan Shop (永平粉团铺)
Address: 497 XiZha Main Street (西栅大街497号)
Business hours: 13:00 – 20:30.
Wuzhen Shreded Raddish Cake
Shredded Radish Pancake (萝卜丝饼), also known as You Dun Zi (油墩子), is a classic local snack from Wuzhen. Although this snack is quite common and can be found in many places, Wuzhen is particularly proud of its well-known version.
For the best experience, visit Xiao Mazi Radish Shredded Pancake Shop (小麻子萝卜丝饼店), which comes highly recommended for trying this delicacy in Wuzhen. The shop often attracts long lines, and even some celebrities have tasted their pancakes. The wait may take some time, as each pancake is made fresh and deep-fried on the spot. There are no pre-made or half-fried batches here.
When you bite into the pancake, you can enjoy the crunch of the radish shreds and their subtle sweetness. The radish flavor is quite strong, and while these local snacks can be greasy, they are incredibly addictive.
In addition to shredded radish pancake, this shop also sells exceptional fresh meat spring rolls (鮮肉春捲).
Xiao Mazi Radish Shredded Pancake Shop (小麻子萝卜丝饼店)
Address: 499 XiZha Main Street – inside the Zilala Pan-fried Food Store (西栅大街499号 – 滋啦啦油煎铺).
Business hours: 10:30 – 20:00.
Boat-Shaped Sticky Rice Dumplings
The Wuzhen Sticky Rice Dumpling, also known as Boat-Shaped Sticky Rice Dumplings (乌镇船头粽), is a local snack with distinct characteristics.
Similar to traditional sticky rice dumplings (Zong Zi, 粽子), the Wuzhen version is made of glutinous rice filled with a variety of ingredients and wrapped. However, these dumplings are uniquely shaped like boats, with flat tails at all four corners. They are typically savory, featuring glutinous rice and marinated meats such as Dongpo pork, bacon, or pork ribs.
You can get the Boat-Shaped Sticky Rice Dumplings from Tongji Sauce Zongzi Store (通济酱粽店). Popular varieties include the Braised Pork Rice Dumpling (东坡肉粽), Marinated Pork Rib Rice Dumpling (酱排粽), Ham and Duck Rice Dumpling (火腿老鸭粽).
Tongji Sauce Zongzi Store (通济酱粽店)
Address: 3393 XiZha Main Street (西栅大街3393号).
Business hours: 10:30 – 20:30.
Handmade Wonton (Wu Ma Wonton Shop)
Wu Ma Wonton Shop (吴妈馄饨店) is a popular local eatery in Wuzhen. This small, cozy shop specializes in handmade wontons, which are freshly made each day.
They offer a variety of fillings, including fresh meat, shrimp, and wild vegetables such as bamboo shoots, as well as a famous three-combo option in one bowl.
Choose your favorite filling to enjoy the thin, soft wonton skin filled with juicy ingredients. The wontons are served with a hearty stewed big bone soup. The fresh meat is especially tender and flavorful. Personally, I find the wild vegetable filling to be the best among all the options.
The prices are quite reasonable, with around CNY 20 for 8 pieces of fresh wontons. Be prepared to queue, as the shop is always packed with hungry diners.
Wu Ma Wonton Shop (吴妈馄饨店)
Address: 425 XiZha Main Street (西栅大街425号)
Business hours: 13:00 – 21:00.
Wuzhen Sauce Duck
Wuzhen Sauce Duck (乌镇酱鸭) is a renowned traditional delicacy from Wuzhen. Celebrated for its rich, savory flavor and reddish-brown color, the duck is marinated in soy sauce, braised, and sometimes dried. It is a popular ready-to-eat specialty that many tourists enjoy.
You can often find Wuzhen Sauce Duck in local specialty stores and restaurants throughout the scenic area of Wuzhen.
One notable place to try this dish is Master Xu’s Braised Sauce Duck Shop (徐師傅醬鴨店), which offers deliciously fragrant sauce duck. The shop is located next to the Jinji pastry shop.
Although the braised suace duck is served cold, the meat is tender and juicy. The flavorful and thick braising sauce is highly addictive. It’s definitely worth a try!
Master Xu Braised Duck Shop (徐師傅醬鴨店)
Address: 465 XiZha Main Street (西栅大街465号)
Business hours: 8:00 – 22:00.
Scallion Pancake Wrap
Scallion Pancake Wrap, also known as Cong Bao Hui (葱包烩), is a famous savory snack from Hangzhou. It consists of crispy fried dough filled with fresh green onions.
You can also sample this local delicacy in Wuzhen. Cong Bao Hui Shop in Wuzhen is very popular and often has a long queue.
Cong Bao Hui Shop (舌尖葱包烩)
Address:465 XiZha Main Street (西栅大街465号)
Business hours: 12:00 – 21:00.
Shaobing
Qiao Li Qiao Shaobing Shop (桥里桥烧饼店) is a very popular local eatery in Wuzhen, specializing in Shaobing, a type of Chinese baked flatbread. The shop is renowned for its crispy and fragrant Shaobing, which attracts many tourists due to its delicious flavors.
The most popular option is the dried vegetable shaobing (梅干菜烧饼). It is a flaky, crispy, and savory traditional snack.
Since the Shaobing is made fresh, there’s often a long queue, which can be daunting. Besides, orders are limited to two shaobing per person at a time. We decided to give up on the wait this time.
At the end, we managed to try the dried vegetable and fresh pork shaobing at the “zao cha ke” (早茶客). The dried vegetable shaobing was truly delicious!
Qiao Li Qiao Shaobing Shop (桥里桥烧饼店)
Address:658 XiZha Main Street (西栅大街658号)
Business hours: 13:00 – 20:30.
Breakfast at Zao Cha Ke
If you decide to stay one night in Wuzhen, you can book a breakfast option to try the morning tea called “Zao Cha Ke” at the morning market or choose to have breakfast at the guesthouse.
We highly recommend the Morning Tea or “Zao Cha Ke” (早茶客) experience in Wuzhen, which offers a unique and leisurely way to immerse yourself in the traditional atmosphere of this water town. You can enjoy a local breakfast in rustic teahouses along the scenic canals of the Xizha area.
Savor various local snacks while taking in the calming morning mist over the river and watching boats pass by.
The breakfast menu varies and features a range of local specialties, including traditional tea, steamed bao, shaobing, and other Jiangnan delicacies. Enjoying breakfast with a view of the lake is truly a delightful experience.
Book a one-night stay in Wuzhen to enjoy the zao cha ke. Our recommendations:
- Wuzhen Tong’an Inn for a wonderful, comfortable, and pleasant hotel-class experience.
- Wuzhen Homestay (Wuzhen Minsu) for a unique local homestay.
Overall: My lists of Wuzhen Food Guide
Overall, we hope this Wuzhen Food Guide gives you some ideas about what to eat when visiting this charming town. My experience in Wuzhen was wonderful, both for its food and its beautiful scenery. It is the combination of culture and local cuisine that really makes Wuzhen stand out.
In short, we are excited to share our lists of what and where to eat in Wuzhen, and hope this Wuzhen food guide helps you plan your trip. Enjoy your food trip to Wuzhen!
Related Wuzhen travel blog:
Lastly, this Wuzhen Food guide is part of our Shanghai Suzhou Hangzhou travel blog. Continue reading for more travel stories.
- Shanghai itinerary: A Travel Guide Blog
- Where To Stay in Shanghai: Best Areas and Hotels
- Shanghai Food Guide: What and Where To Eat
- Day Trip Suzhou itinerary: A Travel Guide Blog
- Hangzhou itinerary: A Travel Guide Blog
- Where To Stay in Hangzhou: Best Areas and Hotels
- Trip to West Lake: A Travel Guide Blog
