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Yangzhou, a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, saw 16 of its restaurants make the 2026 Michelin Guide for Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang, released on April 9.
Among Yangzhou's honorees are two one-star restaurants, five Michelin-selected restaurants, and nine Bib Gourmands.
Stewed "lion's head" meatball, a classic Huaiyang dish. [Photo/WeChat account: yzs_lyj]
The guide reflected the growing recognition of Huaiyang cuisine, both in Yangzhou and beyond.
Cuisine at Cheng Yuan, which advanced to the status of a one MICHELIN Star restaurant this year, was introduced as fashionable Chinese cuisine at the unveiling ceremony. The restaurant blends Huaiyang flavors with Cantonese, Zhejiang and even European elements.
The smoked tilefish uroko-yaki from Cheng Yuan. [Photo/WeChat account: yzs_lyj]
New to the Bib Gourmand selections are Lao Hu Mian Guan, a Yangzhou-style noodle shop with over 30 years of history, and Liuyuanchun Tea House, which serves Huaiyang dim sum.
Among the Bib Gourmand winners, Yangzhou Yan · Qu Yuan, operated by a Yangzhou-born owner in Suzhou, made the cut. On the one-star list, Huaiyang Delights (Jing'an) in Shanghai, owned by Zhou Xiaoxiao, a master of Huaiyang cuisine, also made its debut.
Gwendal Poullennec, international director of the Michelin Guide, called the combined release an important milestone for the guide. "For the first time, we bring together Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang in one volume, painting a diverse, harmonious and prosperous picture of Jiangnan cuisine," he said.
Held for the first time in a prefecture-level city, the event allowed cities in the Yangtze River Delta region to showcase their unique flavors. For Yangzhou, the recognition showcases its rich food culture and gives a boost to its tourism and restaurant industries, helping Huaiyang cuisine reach more people around the world.
