绿茶餐厅 Green Tea Restaurant Hangzhou Review: The 3 Best Zhejiang Food
Hi my lovely readers!
Out of all the meals we had in Hangzhou, 绿茶餐厅 (Lǜ Chá Cāntīng / Green Tea Restaurant) was our favourite and that is saying something because we ate really well the entire trip.
It edged out 外婆家 (Wàipójiā / Grandma’s Home) right next door for us and if you are only picking one of the two, this is the one I would send you to. [LINK: 外婆家 Hangzhou In77 Review]
What We Ordered and Ate
Our personal favourite dish of the meal was the 粉丝裹虾 (Fěnsī Guǒ Xiā / Vermicelli Wrapped Prawns, RMB 52 / SGD 10). We loved this so much. The prawns are wrapped in vermicelli and cooked right in front of you, they put it on the table with a timer specifically for this dish, so you get to watch it being prepared while you wait.
It is such a nice touch and honestly made us even more excited for it by the time it arrived. Juicy, well-cooked and drier than the prawn vermicelli dishes you might find elsewhere, think less sauce, more texture. If you love prawns, this is non-negotiable.
The other must-order is the 绿茶烤鸡与绿茶葱香烤肉合拼 (Lǜ Chá Kǎo Jī yǔ Lǜ Chá Cōng Xiāng Kǎo Ròu Hépīn / Green Tea Roast Chicken and Green Tea Spring Onion Roast Pork Combo Platter, RMB 68 / SGD 13). Green tea marinated roast chicken and roast pork on one plate, you can order them separately if you only eat one or the other, but honestly, just get the combo.
The pork was our favourite of the two, beautifully charred and fragrant. The chicken was great too. Both have just a tiny tinge of spice, really just enough to add flavour rather than heat. If you regularly eat mala, this will barely register. Even if you are not big on spice, you should be totally fine here.
The dish that surprised us the most was the 面包诱惑 (Miànbāo Yòuhuò / Bread Temptation, RMB 35 / SGD 7). This is their dessert and it is a must-order, full stop. Imagine the softest, butteriest bread you have ever had, with a satisfying crunchy crust on the outside and it comes with Häagen-Dazs ice cream included. The combination of warm, pillowy bread and cold creamy ice cream is just so good. Do note that the crust can get a little hard as it sits, so dig in while it is fresh.
The 上汤时蔬 (Shàngtāng Shíshu / Supreme Broth Seasonal Vegetables, RMB 32 / SGD 6) was a pleasant surprise. It had some 皮蛋 (Pídàn / century egg) in it, which we were not expecting, but it was not overpowering at all. Actually, a really nice touch in between all the meat dishes and a good way to balance out the meal.
The 石锅西施豆腐 (Shí Guō Xīshī Dòufu / Stone Pot Xishi Tofu, RMB 35 / SGD 7) was the one dish that did not quite deliver, mediocre compared to everything else on the table, so I would skip this one and spend those RMB elsewhere.
We also got 桂花年糕 (Guìhuā Niángāo / Osmanthus Rice Cake), best eaten warm and the osmanthus fragrance is actually quite subtle and nice. But it is quite chewy and not as exciting as the name suggests. If you were hoping for something like 桂花糕 (Guìhuā Gāo / Osmanthus Jelly Cake), this is a completely different thing. You can skip this one too.
We also spotted 御街窝窝头 (Yù Jiē Wōwōtóu / Imperial Street Steamed Corn Buns, RMB 2 each) on the menu and ordered them purely because they were adorable little things. Honestly, you can skip these, plain 馒头 (mántou / steamed buns) with not much going on and the extra carbs are better saved for the 面包诱惑 (Miànbāo Yòuhuò / Bread Temptation) dessert.
Three of us, RMB 210 total. About RMB 70 a head, around SGD 13 per person. Really good value for the quality of food on the table.
Tip: go early, we went on a Saturday at around 11:45am and walked straight in. Any later than that and you will be queuing. And if you are planning to use Meituan (美团, Měituán), sort your deal at least a day in advance, this is the one restaurant where you cannot grab it on the spot.
The Vibe
Fresh, bright and consistently busy, the kind of restaurant that always has full tables, which tells you everything you need to know. The In77 (银泰in77, Yíntài in77) branch is well-located right inside the complex, easy to find and the staff are used to tourists. [LINK: Hangzhou In77 Complete Guide]
If You Are Travelling Solo
I would go for the 粉丝裹虾 (Fěnsī Guǒ Xiā / Vermicelli Wrapped Prawns), the 绿茶葱香烤肉 (Lǜ Chá Cōng Xiāng Kǎo Ròu / Green Tea Spring Onion Roast Pork), you can order just the pork separately if you want to keep it lighter and end with the 面包诱惑 (Miànbāo Yòuhuò / Bread Temptation) dessert.
That is your perfect solo meal here and you are looking at around RMB 100 to 120 (SGD 19 to 23). Skip the extra carbs, the 御街窝窝头 (Yù Jiē Wōwōtóu) and 桂花年糕 (Guìhuā Niángāo) are not worth it when you have that dessert waiting at the end.
Solo Female Tip: Bright mall setting, busy crowd, easy to navigate, one of the most comfortable solo dining spots in Hangzhou. Get there before noon on weekends to walk straight in, scan the WeChat menu, point at what you want and enjoy.
Getting There
📍 255 延安路 (Yán’ān Lù / Yan’an Road), In77 complex, 上城区 (Shàngchéng Qū / Shangcheng District), Hangzhou 🚇 龙翔桥站 (Lóngxiáng Qiáo Zhàn / Longxiangqiao Station), Metro Line 1, Exit D1 🕐 Get there by 11:45am on weekends to walk straight in, any later and you will be queuing 📱 Purchase Meituan (美团, Měituán) deal at least 1 day in advance — or order à la carte for more flexibility 💰 Around RMB 70 per head (SGD 13), solo meal around RMB 100 to 120 (SGD 19 to 23)
Before You Go, Meituan and WeChat
If you want to use Meituan (美团, Měituán) here, you need to purchase the deal at least a day before you go, this is the one restaurant on the trip where you cannot just grab it on the spot. That said, if you would rather skip the Meituan deal altogether, that is completely fine too. We actually found that ordering à la carte gave us more flexibility to get exactly what we wanted without being tied to a set. So weigh up whether the savings are worth it for you or whether you would rather just order freely.
Every table has a WeChat (微信, Wēixìn) QR code to pull up the photo menu and WeChat Pay (微信支付, Wēixìn Zhīfù) works for payment. Full guide on setting up WeChat here [LINK: Essential Apps to Download for China] and everything on payments here [LINK: How to Pay for Things in China].
Handy Mandarin Phrases
- 服务员！(Fúwùyuán!): how you get a waiter’s attention.
- 招牌菜是什么？(Zhāopái cài shì shénme?): What is the must-order dish?
- 我要这个 (Wǒ yào zhège): I want this one.
- 一个／两个／三个 (Yī gè / Liǎng gè / Sān gè): one / two / three.
- 少放盐 (Shǎo fàng yán): less salt please.
- 不要辣 (Bù yào là): no spice. Or if you want it:
- 要辣 (Yào là).
- 买单 (Mǎidān): the bill please.
- 微信支付 (Wēixìn Zhīfù): WeChat Pay.
FAQ — 绿茶餐厅 (Lǜ Chá Cāntīng / Green Tea Restaurant) Hangzhou In77
What is the must-order dish at 绿茶餐厅 Hangzhou? Three must-orders: the 粉丝裹虾 (Fěnsī Guǒ Xiā / Vermicelli Wrapped Prawns), the 绿茶烤鸡与绿茶葱香烤肉合拼 (Green Tea Roast Chicken and Spring Onion Roast Pork Combo Platter) and the 面包诱惑 (Miànbāo Yòuhuò / Bread Temptation) dessert. Do not leave without trying that dessert.
How much does 绿茶餐厅 Hangzhou In77 cost per person? We spent around RMB 70 per head (SGD 13) for three people. For a solo meal with the vermicelli prawns, the roast pork and the bread temptation dessert, expect to pay around RMB 100 to 120 (SGD 19 to 23). Very good value for the quality of food.
Is there a queue at 绿茶餐厅 In77 Hangzhou? Yes, it gets busy. We arrived at 11:45am on a Saturday and walked straight in. Any later than noon on weekends and you will be queuing. On weekdays, you have more flexibility but arriving before peak lunch hours is still the safer bet.
What is the 面包诱惑 (Bread Temptation) at 绿茶餐厅? The 面包诱惑 (Miànbāo Yòuhuò / Bread Temptation, RMB 35 / SGD 7) is the dessert at 绿茶餐厅 (Lǜ Chá Cāntīng / Green Tea Restaurant) and it is one of the best things on the menu. It is an incredibly soft, buttery bread with a crispy outer crust, served with Häagen-Dazs ice cream. The contrast of warm bread and cold ice cream is the kind of combination that makes you want to order a second one. Eat it while it is fresh because the crust hardens as it sits.
Do I need to buy the Meituan deal in advance for 绿茶餐厅? Yes, unlike most restaurants in Hangzhou and Shanghai, 绿茶餐厅 (Lǜ Chá Cāntīng / Green Tea Restaurant) requires you to purchase the Meituan (美团, Měituán) deal at least a day in advance. You cannot grab it on the spot here. If you forget or would rather not deal with it, ordering à la carte gives you full flexibility and is still great value.
Is 绿茶餐厅 good for solo dining? Definitely! Order the vermicelli prawns, the roast pork and the bread temptation dessert for a complete solo meal around RMB 100 to 120 (SGD 19 to 23). Getting there before noon on weekends means you walk straight in.
Where exactly is 绿茶餐厅 in In77 Hangzhou? 绿茶餐厅 (Lǜ Chá Cāntīng / Green Tea Restaurant) is located inside the In77 (银泰in77, Yíntài in77) complex at 255 延安路 (Yán’ān Lù / Yan’an Road). Take Metro Line 1 to 龙翔桥站 (Lóngxiáng Qiáo Zhàn / Longxiangqiao Station) and use Exit D1. Though, they have multiple branches throughout the city.
Is the food at 绿茶餐厅 spicy? Mildly, but nothing alarming. The roast chicken and roast pork combo has a tiny tinge of spice, just enough to add flavour rather than heat. If you regularly eat mala or spicy food, this will barely register. Even if you are sensitive to spice, you should be fine. The rest of the menu is not particularly spicy.
Have you been to 绿茶餐厅 (Lǜ Chá Cāntīng / Green Tea Restaurant) before? Or are you adding it to your Hangzhou list? Drop me a comment below, I love hearing where you all end up eating! And if you are still planning your Hangzhou trip, my full In77 guide has everything you need in one place. [LINK: Hangzhou In77 Complete Guide]
Links
[LINK: 外婆家 Hangzhou In77 Review]
[LINK: Hangzhou In77 Complete Guide]
[LINK: Shanghai & Hangzhou Food Guide]
[LINK: Essential Apps to Download for China]
[LINK: How to Pay for Things in China]
[LINK: The Ultimate Shanghai Guide & Hangzhou Travel Guide]
