Culture of Yexiao: Late Night Meal in Sanya

 

Sanya is a gastronomic paradise for those who love to treat themselves to something yummy in the evening. This late night meal has a special name — yexiao (alternatively, xiaoye, 夜宵 or 宵夜). Being an important part of the food culture of Southern China, it comes after dinner, and is similar to supper. Mealtime may start from about 9 pm onwards until 4 am. It can range from a snack to a full-fledged meal. People would usually gather in the open air, enjoy the refreshing sea breeze and have a lively chat. Let’s take a closer look at what kinds of delicacies Sanya locals prefer for yexiao!

 

Many street stalls in different corners of Sanya can’t wait for you to try the local delicious barbecue! Apart from the “classics”, like beef, lamb and chicken skewers, make sure you order barbecued prawns, oysters, saury fish, snail meat, and other seafood right from the sea! Shop owners often apply a special way of preparing seafood to preserve the best flavor by wrapping the ingredients in foil, in which charcoal grilled shellfish with bean sprouts, dried shrimp, Chinese cabbage and glass noodles. We suggest you having barbecued vegetables, such as leeks, water spinach, green pepper, eggplant.

 

Places to eat BBQ:

1. Agong BBQ (阿公烧烤)

Address: Inside the Pearl Garden, Shengli Road, Tianya District (天涯区胜利路明珠花园内)

2. The pork ribs & seafood BBQ No.1 (第一家排骨海鲜烧烤)

Address: No. 5, Donghai Road, Dadonghai Tourist Area, Jiyang District (三亚市吉阳区大东海旅游区东海路5号)

3. Tanka People Huangji Seafood BBQ (疍家人黄记海鲜烧烤)

Address: Behind the Drunk Goose Shop, Honggang Market Road, Shengli Road, Jiyang District (吉阳区胜利路鸿港市场路醉鹅店后面)

4. Little Princess Wrapped Chicken & Roast Chicken BBQ (小公主包鸡烤鸡烧烤)

Address: No. 217, Lane 4, Nanbianhai Road (南边海路四巷217号)

 

Rice Noodles（米粉 mifen）

Locals are literally in love with rice noodles, stirred or fried, with broth or with a special sauce. The noodles usually go with meat, seafood, fresh vegetables, and various seasonings. The most brave ones can add the Hainan yellow lantern chili. We’d recommend you try all the variations of the dish to choose the one you enjoy the most.

 

1. Yahua Gangmen Fired Rice Noodles (港门亚花炒粉)

Address: No. 21 Tuanjie Street, Tianya District (三亚市天涯区团结街21号)

2. Jiaxia Gangmen Rice Noodles (家霞港门粉)

Address: No. 18, Second Lane, Shangpin Street (商品街二巷18号)

3. Langkewei Restaurant (浪可唯餐饮店)

Address: On the right hand side of the intersection of Shizai Village, Guoying Nanxin Farm, Jiyang District (吉阳区国营南新农场市仔村路口右手边)

 

Seafood（海鲜 haixian）

What is a definite must-do in Sanya? Have a seafood feast, of course! Visit lively seafood plazas in the evening to buy sea fish, shellfish, shrimps, crabs and other delicacies fresh from the sea. Local chefs will prepare them in such a way to preserve their exquisite taste. Before eating, create your own sauce by mixing various sauces and seasonings from the small bowls lined up in even rows on a separate table. For example, take peanut sauce, soy sauce, lime juice, add chopped peanuts, chopped garlic, coriander, etc. Dip seafood in your favourite sauce and feel how beautiful life is!

Places to eat seafood：

1. Huochetou Seafood Plaza (三亚火车头万人海鲜广场)

Address: North Section of Hairun Road, Jiyang District (三亚市吉阳区海润路北段)

2. Chunyuan Seafood Plaza (春园海鲜广场)

Address: Chunyuan Seafood Plaza, Tianya District (三亚市天涯区春园海鲜广场)

3. Agricultural Market No.1 (第一市场)

Address: The area around Xinmin Street, First Market, Tianya District (三亚市天涯区第一市场新民街附近一带)

 

Congee（粥 zhou）

It may seem strange to us, but Sanya locals prefer to have a bowl of hot rice congee for a late night meal. Traditionally rice congee is served with various seafood, like crabs, shrimps, shellfish, with ginger and other seasonings. We strongly recommend you give pigeon congee a try. There is a famous Chinese saying, “one pigeon wins nine chickens”, which emphasises a high nutritional value of pigeon meat. The finished dish is sprinkled with finely chopped green onions and coriander.

 

Places to eat congee:

1. Meiduoxian Cantonese Style Congee Shop (美多鲜广东粥馆)

Address: No. 104 Wenming Road, Tianya District (天涯区文明路104号)

2. Gangmen Rice Noodles and Casserole Porridge King (港门粉砂锅粥王)

Address: No. 76, Qunzhong Street (群众街76号)

 

Fried Chicken（炸鸡 zhaji）

If you crave some “junk food”, try the local version of deep-fried chicken. It tastes better than KFC’s! Dip the chicken pieces in sweet and sour sauce and let the calories be your best memories in Sanya.

 

Places to eat fried chicken: 

1. Fried Chicken of Yucun Village (渔村炸鸡店)

Address: No. 97, Lane 7, Yucun Rd, on the opposite of the Rural Commercial Bank (渔村路7巷农商银行对面97号)

2. Haiji Fried Chicken (海记炸鸡)

Address: No. 50, Yucun Road, Tianya District (天涯区渔村路50号（近秋收商行）)

 

Ching bo leung（清补凉 qingbuliang）

Ching bo leung is a popular sweet cold soup in the southern part of China. You can choose between coconut milk or sweet water and add different ingredients, for instance, red beans, pieces of pineapple, watermelon, jelly, etc. Delicious and nutritious, this dessert is ideal for cooling off in the hot weather!

Places to eat Ching bo leung： 

1. Aju Cold Drinks Shop (阿菊冷饮店)

Address: No. 19, Lane 1, Hongqi Street（红旗街一巷19号，第一市场海鲜加工一条街后面）

2. Old Place Yogurt Fruit Fried Ice (老地方酸奶水果炒冰)

Address: Shop No. 2 on the east side of Danzhou Community Market (丹州小区市场东侧2号铺面)

3. Good Auntie Fried Yogurt (好阿姨炒酸奶)

Address: The entrance of the vegetable market in Danzhou Community, Fenghuang Road (凤凰路丹州小区菜市场门口)