Sanya top food and best restaurants, what and where to eat

Sanya, a city located on the southern tip of Hainan Island, is known for its tropical climate, beautiful beaches, and diverse cuisine. The city is a melting pot of different cultures, and as a result, the food scene in Sanya is quite varied.

What Famous Local Food to Eat

Top 1: Coconut Chicken / 椰子鸡

If one dish were to represent Sanya, coconut chicken would be the perfect choice. Made with free-range Wenchang chicken simmered in fresh young coconut water, this dish uses the juice of several coconuts as its soup base. The broth is light and clear with a naturally sweet coconut aroma, while the chicken is tender and juicy—simple, healthy, and uniquely tropical.

Locals usually enjoy coconut chicken in a specific order: first sipping the pure coconut broth, then eating the chicken, and finally adding vegetables or other ingredients to the pot. This way, you can fully appreciate the original sweetness of the coconut water, the tenderness of the chicken, and the gradually deepening flavors of the soup as it cooks—simple, nourishing, and perfectly balanced.

Top 2: Famous Seafood / 海鲜

One thing that you can’t miss in Sanya is its seafood. Fish, shrimps, shells and crabs are definitely worth a shot. The popular seafood cuisines are steamed sea-urchins, steamed seaweeds, small abalones, lobsters (eating them rare), porridge with Hele crabs, deep-fried edible mantis shrimp with spicy salt, steamed sea bass and steamed humphead wrasse.

Top 3: Zāopòcù hot pot / 糟粕醋火锅

Zāopòcù originated from the traditional cuisine of Hainan’s Tanka fishing communities. Fishermen used fermented rice vinegar to cook seafood, which helps remove fishy odors while stimulating the appetite and aiding digestion.

Today, Zāopòcù hot pot features a tangy and mildly spicy broth made from fermented vinegar, chili, garlic, and other seasonings. It pairs especially well with fresh seafood such as baby abalone, seaweed, and eel, creating a bold and refreshing local flavor.

Top 4: Tengqiao Pork Ribs / 藤桥排骨

Tengqiao Pork Ribs have been listed as a municipal-level Intangible Cultural Heritage of Sanya and are known as the “King of Ribs in Sanya.” Made with locally raised black pork ribs, the meat is marinated in a secret blend of honey, fermented red bean curd sauce, and spices, then slow-roasted over charcoal. The result is crispy on the outside and tender and juicy inside, often described as an upgraded version of Cantonese char siu.

Top 5: Coconut Rice / 椰子饭

Coconut Rice is one of Sanya’s classic local dishes. Glutinous rice is stuffed into a whole coconut and steamed, allowing the rice to absorb the natural coconut aroma. When served, the coconut is cut open and the rice is eaten together with the tender coconut flesh. Soft, fragrant, and lightly sweet, it has a unique texture and flavor and is also a traditional dish commonly enjoyed during festivals in Hainan.

Top 6: 港门粉

Gangmen Rice Noodles are a signature street food of Sanya. The soul of the dish lies in its seafood broth, which is slowly simmered for hours with fresh fish cakes and sea snails, resulting in a clear yet deeply savory soup. The smooth, silky rice noodles are topped with fried peanuts, dried shrimp, crispy dough bits, fish cakes, and pickled vegetables. A spoonful of Hainan’s famous yellow lantern chili sauce adds a perfect balance of sour, spicy, and umami flavors.

Top 7: Tropical Fruits Banquet

Tropical fruits are available year-round in Sanya at cheap prices. You can pay 3-5 RMB for a coconut and drink by holding it in your hands. Mangos, papayas, durians, wax apples, mini bananas, dragon fruits, jackfruits, litchis and mangosteens can be found everywhere. In Sanya, you can drink more fruits juice because they are the best drinks for quenching thirst.

Top 8：Sanya Desserts / 三亚甜品

Qingbuliang: is a classic Hainan dessert made with fresh coconut milk as the base, mixed with over a dozen ingredients such as red beans, mung beans, coix seeds, tapioca, taro balls, and seasonal fruits. Served chilled, it is refreshing and cooling, with a rich variety of textures and flavors—perfect for beating the tropical heat.

Jishiteng (Paederia foetida): is a traditional Hainan herbal dessert that reflects generations of local wellness traditions. Despite its unusual name, it is surprisingly delicious. Made from Paederia foetida leaves blended with glutinous rice flour, it forms green dumplings or small rice balls, which are cooked in brown sugar ginger syrup or coconut milk. The dessert has a soft, chewy texture with a light herbal aroma and is believed to have cooling and detoxifying properties.

Top 9： The Delicacies of the Li and Miao Minority Group

Betel Flower Stewed Chicken: is a traditional dish of the Li ethnic group and a representative of their culinary heritage. It is commonly served during festive occasions such as Lunar New Year family meals. The dish requires a careful process, including soaking dried betel flowers, bringing the broth to a boil, and then simmering slowly over low heat. The entire cooking process takes about two hours. The finished soup has a clear amber color with a subtle herbal aroma, while the chicken is tender, fragrant, and gently sweet in flavor.

Bamboo-steamed rice of the Li ethnic minority and five-color steamed rice of the Miao ethnic minority.

There are three flavors of the bamboo-steamed rice: salty steamed rice, steamed rice with black beans and game steamed rice. The game steamed rice is strongly recommended because the meat is preserved in fragrant wine

The Miao people dye the rice corns with the black, red, green and yellow coloring matters that are made from mulberry leaves and steam them together with white rice.

Top 10： The Nanshan Vegetable Dishes

As the special food in the Nanshan Culture Tourist District, the Nanshan vegetable dishes are quite famous. Its famous dishes are deep-fried slices of eels in sesame oil, braising weever and sautéed funguses. The best place for you to enjoy vegetable dishes is Chanyue Yuan. The environment there is comfortable.

Where to Try Typical Food

Food street

First Market: Famous for Qingbuliang (Hainan-style sweet soup), Hainan rice noodles, and a lively cluster of seafood processing restaurants.

Jiefang Road Snack Street: A popular food street gathering many of Sanya’s local snacks and street foods in one place.

Coconut Dream Corridor (Yemeng Promenade): Known for coconut chicken restaurants and Zao Po Vinegar seafood hotpot, with many dining options along the seaside.

Haitang 68 Global Food Street: Offers Wenchang chicken and affordable seafood processing restaurants, along with Thai, Cantonese, and other international dining options.

Haijiao Pavilion, Mandarin Oriental Coral Bay Sanya三亚珊瑚湾文华东方酒店·海角轩

Haijiao Pavilion is built with local volcanic stone and features an open-air design set right beside the beach and the sea, offering breathtaking ocean views. Guests can enjoy exquisite cuisine while taking in the coastal scenery. The menu highlights premium local Hainan ingredients and seasonal fresh seafood, carefully prepared by the chef. With refined presentation, attentive service, and an elegant atmosphere, the restaurant delivers a truly high-end dining experience.

• Recommended: Seafood Platter featuring fresh Hainan prawns, scallops, and grouper, M5 Ribeye Steak and Porcini Mushroom Beef Steak, Grilled Scallops, Lobster with Grouper, Tiramisu, Mango & Coconut Jelly Ice Cream.
• Tel: 0898-88209999
• Address: 1st Floor, Mandarin Oriental Sanya, 12 Yuhai Road

OSSIANO UNDERWATER RESTAURANT & BAR / 三亚亚特兰蒂斯酒店·奥西亚诺海底餐厅

Ossiano’s most striking feature is its floor-to-ceiling windows, offering spectacular views of the Ambassador Lagoon, where countless marine creatures swim gracefully by. Bathed in deep blue light, the restaurant feels like an underwater world, creating a truly magical and immersive dining atmosphere.

Beyond the stunning setting, Ossiano is known for its refined and beautifully presented cuisine, attentive service, and exceptional dining quality. Prices are higher than average, but well justified by the overall experience. It is especially suitable for anniversaries, proposals, and special occasions, and advance reservations are strongly recommended.

• Recommended: Australian M9 Wagyu Sirloin, Oceano Signature Oysters, Dessert Platter, Australian Black Cod, Boston Lobster Pasta, Oceano Seafood Tower, French-style chicken roulade, Black Truffle "Candy" Ravioli.
• Tel: 0898-88986666
• Address: Ambassador Lagoon (next to the large aquarium), Atlantis Sanya Resort, Haitang North Road (G Floor)

Sanya Yazhou Haibao Restaurant / 三亚崖城海宝酒家

Located near Nanshan Temple and the Yazhou Bay Science and Technology City, Sanya Yazhou Haibao Restaurant features a spacious 1,500-square-meter setting with a courtyard, open terrace, and private dining rooms offering 180-degree sea views. The restaurant specializes in authentic Sanya local cuisine, Yazhou-style dishes, and fresh seafood, using locally sourced ingredients and seafood supplied directly from the harbor.

Signature dishes include Shanlaoye Stir-fried Chicken; Sour Bean Fish Soup, slowly simmered with fresh local fish and tangy sour beans; and Dry-fried Dongshan Goat, prepared using traditional Yazhou cooking methods, resulting in tender, flavorful meat without toughness.

• Recommended: stir-fried chicken with mountain laurel leaves, sour bean fresh fish soup, dry-fried Dongshan goat, and a variety of fresh seafood.
• Tel: 15120619471
• Address: Next to Dadongtian Scenic Area, Yazhou District, Sanya City, Hainan Province

Sanya DiaDia Coconut Chicken / 三亚嗲嗲的椰子鸡

Sanya DiaDia Coconut Chicken offers a simple, fresh, and comfortable environment, close to nature. The staff are warm and attentive. Its signature dish, coconut chicken, is made with freshly cut coconuts, whose juice is added to a pot with local Wenchang chicken and cooked to perfection. The dish also uses Evian mineral water for the broth and includes ingredients like bamboo fungus and pumpkin mushrooms, resulting in an incredibly flavorful and aromatic soup.

• Recommended: Daidi coconut chicken, black pork zongzi, mackerel fish paste, hydrangea mushrooms, and handmade coconut jelly.
• Tel: 0898-88758258 / 19989136554
• Address: 1st Floor, Cactus Resort Hotel, No. 12 Longtang Road, Jiyang District, Sanya City

Alang Seafood (Sanya Bay Branch) / 阿浪海鲜（三亚湾店)

A well-established restaurant with 18 years of history, Alang Seafood combines delicious local cuisine with a prime seaside location. Some seats offer stunning views of Sanya Bay and its sunsets, making it a perfect spot for a leisurely meal. The restaurant also provides complimentary pick-up and drop-off service, adding to its appeal for travelers. Signature dishes include garlic-baked lobster and spicy crab, both highly recommended.

• Recommended:
• Tel: 0898-88296970
• Address: 115 Xinmin Street, Sanya City

Taiqiong Fermented Vinegar Seafood Hotpot (Mingzhu Plaza Branch) / 太琼糟粕醋海鲜火锅（明珠广场店）

Taiqiong is famous for its fermented vinegar hotpot, a Hainan specialty made from naturally fermented rice wine lees. Loved by locals for its tangy, spicy flavor, the broth awakens your taste buds instantly. Fresh seafood and Wenchang chicken slices cook in just 15 seconds, offering a delightful and quick dining experience. Conveniently located near Mingzhu Plaza, diners can enjoy a hotpot meal while watching the city sunset.

• Recommended: Wenchang chicken, live black tiger prawns, Zao Po Vinegar sour seafood hotpot, hand-cut marbled beef slices, fresh oysters, and coconut rice.
• Tel: 0898-88294604
• Address: Shop 7-1, 7th Floor, Mingzhu Plaza, No. 668 Jiefang Road, Sanya.

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• Top attractions: well-selected top attractions in Sanya
• Travel itineraries: itineraries for your reference
• Local culture: brief history, folk culture, festivals, etc.
• Top destinations: best places to visit in Sanya
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• Local food: what to eat while traveling in Sanya
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