Zhongshan

Food courts and sidewalk vendors offer the cheapest fare and the resulting quality shows, often times re-using ingredients or using artificial ingredients. When walking around shopping malls, most of the food courts are underground levels. Foreign fast food chains can be found but the city lacks the variety found in larger cities.

Over the bridge noodles 过桥米线; guòqiáo mǐxiàn is a dish native to Yunnan province in where raw ingredients typically a variety of meats, vegetables and quail eggs are dropped along with rice noodles into a large bowl of boiling hot chicken stock at the table. A thin layer of oil on the top of the soup allows the ingredients to cook inside the soup the name derives from a legend that a scholar's wife found that any food she took to her husband on the other side of a large bridge went cold before she reached him, so she invented a way of keeping it hot. A dish from the southwest may seem a strange thing to seek out in the Northeast, but guòqiáo mǐxiàn are incredibly popular, with restaurants all over town serving it. Probably the best is located on a side road off the eastern edge of Labour Park, near the Peking Opera House head east along the road parallel to and south of the street the opera house is on until you find a small restaurant with a couple of seats out the front with a board running along the wall which acts as the restaurant's loyalty scheme, 6th bowl is free. The combination of ingredients are listed on the wall. Busy from 1PM-2PM on weekdays during the school year. ¥6-10.

Century City Food Court

Offers Chinese fare, as well as some Japanese and Korean. Mālàtàng 麻辣烫, a kind of soup served in a wide dish with various ingredients cooked inside the soup the name literally means "hot, spicy and mouth numbing" but do not be put off by the name. Chili sauce served in a side bowl along with sesame sauce available. As with most mālàtàng places, to order you simply select the ingredients you wish to have the ingredients are placed on skewers in easy reach and hand them over to be cooked.

Dongdouting

Dalian's proximity to South Korea and significant Korean population means there is a large number of both northern and southern Korean restaurants. Meat, seafood, and vegetables for barbecuing most liberally marinated in spices can be cooked on the table or by staff.

Red Lotus Cantonese, Seafood and Dim Sum Restaurant

Authentic dim sum and the chef is excellent. Cantonese specialties and Dalianese seafood recipe also. 20 private rooms but better book in advance.

Qing Dynasty Dumplings

Dumplings are a common staple in North China, and this Shenyang-based chain does them better than most. Wide variety of dumplings but the menu lacks English but not photos. Try the sample plate, offering four different foods from various parts of China.

Zhongshan Hotel Dim Sum, Indian and Russian Hot Pot Restaurants

The usual dim sum dishes are offered and in the same dining area as the Indian restaurant. The hotel also has a Russian hot pot and vegetarian restaurant.

The most expensive restaurants in the city tend to offer seafood or Japanese cuisine. Meals vary in price, but expect to pay ¥200 or more for meals at the high quality establishments.

Intermezzo Italian Restaurant

Authentic recipes. 5-star quality, good selection of affordable wine and grappa.

Tian Tian Fishing Port

National chain seafood restaurant with good reputation.