Pichai Courtyard Food Street
Pichai Courtyard, composed of several ancient streets, was once the busiest commercial center in Qingdao from the 1920s to the 1990s. Now, it has become a favorite food gathering place for tourists. There are no expensive seafood here, but there are many affordable food stalls and specialty snacks. Sea urchins, starfish, and grilled squid are common on the streets.
Yunxiao Road Food Street
Yunxiao Road Food Street is composed of two food streets, Minjiang Road and Yunxiao Road. No matter where you are during the day, Minjiang Road Food Street is always bustling with cars and people. This classic seafood dish and the recently popular Qingdao 'seafood steamer'—where various types of seafood are placed in a large pot and steamed to retain the maximum moisture and original flavor of the seafood—are highlights. Yunxiao Road also gathers various Western restaurants to satisfy travelers with different tastes.
Maidao Seafood City
Due to its proximity to the fishing village, Da Maidao Road has an abundant supply of fresh seafood and serves as a major thoroughfare for tourists entering and leaving Laoshan District. Therefore, it has always been Qingdao's main seafood gourmet street. Although today's Maidao Gourmet Street is not as bustling as it once was, when it comes to eating seafood, Maidao Road still ranks among the top.
Yingkou Road Agricultural Market
Yingkou Road Market is the busiest seafood market in Qingdao. It usually operates until 7 PM, which is 2-3 hours longer than other markets, and in summer, it can last until around 10 PM. After 4 PM, nearby areas such as Taidong 8th Road, Taidong 6th Road, and Changping Road spontaneously form a 'street seafood market.' Scattered around the streets and alleys near the market are over a hundred beer houses where you can have your seafood processed after purchase. The prices are much cheaper compared to Beer Street and the area near Zhanqiao Pier. Additionally, the roads around the market are relatively narrow and crowded, so it is recommended that self-driving tourists park in advance and walk to the market.
Nanshan Market
Nanshan Market is the largest seafood market in Qingdao city. In addition to common local seafood, it also offers rare seafood from other regions such as lobsters, bread crabs, and geoducks. However, the prices of seafood at Nanshan Market vary greatly, so it's advisable to compare prices among different vendors and bargain with stall owners. There are also many seafood processing shops around the market.
Tuandao Morning Market
Tuandao Market is a seafood shopping paradise in the old town of western Qingdao. Every morning, you can see locals carrying large bags to buy seafood here. The strong old Qingdao atmosphere is worth exploring. It is recommended for tourists to arrive before noon to best experience the bustling market. The seafood stalls are located on the basement level. After the open sea season, the prices of locally sourced seafood are moderate, with shrimp, clams, fish, etc., being 2-5 yuan cheaper than other markets.
