The best restaurants in Nanjing

In this year’s inaugural Jiangsu Michelin Guide , Nanjing claims multiple entries. The former national capital nurtures a diverse food culture that reflects its distinguished character, from dishes that showcase the skill of Huaiyang cooking methods to snacks that carry generations of memories. Explore the city’s essential culinary destinations, including time-honoured institutions and streetside eateries, and discover the story of Nanjing via your palate.

1. Plum Garden

This restaurant inside the Jinling Hotel in Nanjing is a pilgrimage site for gourmets seeking the pinnacle of Huaiyang cuisine, which is renowned for its elegance and artistry. Plum Garden ’s classic dishes, such as the traditional Chinese salted duck and braised pork meatballs with crab roe, represent 42 years of refinement. The duck is particularly remarkable; made daily, the meat undergoes a process of salt-curing and traditional brining. The result is a creation with skin as white as porcelain, concealing blush-pink meat beneath. Every firm, savoury bite is unforgettable.

2/F, Jinling Hotel, 2 Hanzhong Road, Gulou District

2. Dai Yuet Heen

Located within The Ritz-Carlton, Nanjing in the bustling Xuanwu District, Dai Yuet Heen is the only Michelin-starred Cantonese restaurant in Jiangsu province. Created by executive chef Donny Liang, the menu not only preserves the essence of traditional Cantonese cuisine but elaborates on it, too. Dai Yuet Heen’s signature chicken, made with premium Qingyuan birds, is perfectly soft and seasoned, with exceptionally crisp skin. Tender pork shoulder makes for a succulent and flavourful char siu that leaves a lasting impression.

39/F, The Ritz-Carlton, Nanjing, 18 Zhongshan Road, Xuanwu District

3. Xi Bei Qiao Tou La Mian Da Wang

Over several decades, this small halal beef and lamb noodle shop has transformed itself into a Michelin Guide sensation. Its pan-fried dumplings ensure there’s always a queue out of the door. They’re plump and golden-brown, with a crispy base and generous beef filling; the fragrant meat and flavourful dough meld together perfectly in each bite. As chefs skilfully manage the massive pans of frying dumplings, the air is filled with an irresistible aroma.

18 Dingjiaqiao, Gulou District

4. Urban Camp Coffee

Urban Camp Coffee is a coffee space designed to feel like a campsite, offering escape from the stress of daily life. Its natural wood interior is enhanced by outdoor-themed elements – a lovely setting to pause with a coffee and treat from the café’s delicious dessert selection. The signature Cream Dirty – a double espresso topped with cream – is smooth and light, while the salted lemon Americano soda jolts the senses awake with its bright, tangy notes, followed by a pleasantly bittersweet finish that invites another sip.

1/F, Building No. 15, Minghua New Village, Guanjiaqiao, Huaqiao Road, Gulou District

5. Yuan Space & Feast

A star of Nanjing fine dining, Yuan Space and Feast offers an immersive, theatrical dining experience inspired by Jinling culture and grounded in Huaiyang cuisine. The signature braised goose wings honour Nanjing’s culinary tradition of salt-brining, resulting in a dish that is exquisitely tender and flavourful. The popular Lion’s Head meatball – so-named because of its shape – is made using a red braising technique (a type of stewing that imparts a reddish-brown hue), creating a firm yet tender texture and a rich, aromatic profile that pairs perfectly with rice.

Building No. 7, 1 Sifangcheng, Ten Dynasties Cultural Park, Xuanwu District

6. Du Shi Li De Xiang Cun

Hidden among high-rises, this long-standing Nanjing restaurant has a word-of-mouth reputation that draws food lovers from far and wide. Inside, you’re met by the buzz of conversation and aroma of home-style cooking. The signature dish, braised soft eel, is curled in a way that resembles a child’s bib. It’s cooked in a savoury sauce with a hint of sweetness, and a sprinkle of white pepper, minced garlic and a dash of aromatic vinegar are added just before serving.

26-1 Qingyun Lane, Gulou District

7. Guang Ying Ju Lao Zheng Xing

Guang Ying Ju Lao Zheng Xing is a champion of Jiangsu cuisine, blending its characteristic rich, savoury-sweet flavours with local ingredients. Among its signature dishes, the Eight Treasures gourd-shaped duck is the most memorable. It arrives as a whole duck, stewed until tender and aromatic. Inside lies a hidden surprise: a delicious stuffing of glutinous rice, lotus seeds, ham, mushrooms and other “treasures”. The richness of the meat and the savoury filling create a complex, layered feast.

102 Daming Road, Qinhuai District

8. Fang Po

A legend of Nanjing’s snack-food scene, Fang Po is recognisable by the long queue that forms at its doorstep every morning. The quintessential order is the black rice roll wrapped around youtiao (a fried dough stick): chewy rice encases wonderfully crispy dough, savoury pork floss and a tender braised egg, all sprinkled with sugar for a multi-layered bite. For dessert, fermented rice soup with glutinous rice balls is a Nanjing classic, offering a sticky, smooth and fragrant taste of the region.

50 Wangfu Street, Qinhuai District

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