Qingdao Meidaer Restaurant Review 2026: Must-Try Fried Eggplant

Qingdao, China, offers an incredible foodie adventure where you can savor delicious beer and amazing cuisine.

Among its many gems, the beloved restaurant Meidaer, especially popular with Korean visitors, is renowned for its incredible fried eggplant.

This restaurant, with several branches across Qingdao, boasts a wide array of menu options, from fried eggplant to fresh seafood, savory *guobaorou* (sweet and sour pork), and fried rice. Plus, the portions are generous for the price!

We opted for a branch near MixC Mall instead of the more tourist-heavy Zhongshan Road location, and we were able to walk right in without any wait, even during dinner time.

Here, I've compiled everything you need to know about Meidaer, the fantastic Qingdao restaurant we personally experienced: its location, Gaode Map links, operating hours, recommended dishes, and our honest review.

Qingdao Must-Try: Meidaer Restaurant – Gaode Map, Menu Recommendations, Our Honest Review, Prices & Location

1️⃣ Location & Gaode Map

2️⃣ Operating Hours

3️⃣ Menu

4️⃣ Our Dining Experience

1. Location & Gaode Map

Meidaer is a renowned eatery with multiple locations across Qingdao.

Convenient branches for travelers are located around Zhongshan Road, RT-Mart, and MixC Mall. Based on tourist reviews, it seems the Zhongshan Road branch is the most frequently visited.

Qingdao Meidaer (MixC Mall Area) Gaode Map Link

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Qingdao Meidaer (Zhongshan Road Branch) Gaode Map Link

We visited the branch located just about a 1-minute walk from MixC Mall, and it was super convenient for dinner, being only about an 8-minute walk from Fuxin Hotel, where we were staying.

We arrived around 7 PM and found no waiting line at all, with plenty of empty tables inside.

It seems the MixC Mall area branch might have closed down, as it's currently hard to find on the map.

#QingdaoEats #QingdaoMeidaer #Meidaer

2. Operating Hours

The branch near MixC Mall that we visited was operating normally at 7 PM.

For Chinese restaurants like Meidaer with multiple branches, operating hours can vary by location, and branches might relocate or close down. It's always a good idea to double-check on Gaode Map before you go.

Since the operating hours for the MixC Mall branch are currently unavailable, I checked the hours for the popular Zhongshan Road branch.

✔️Meidaer Zhongshan Road Branch Operating Hours

10:00 AM - 10:30 PM

3. Menu

As befits a popular, large-scale restaurant, Meidaer boasts an impressively extensive menu.

Most famous among Korean travelers is the fried eggplant, but other popular choices include *guobaorou* (sweet and sour pork), stir-fried clams, egg fried rice, steamed garlic scallops, and grilled squid.

Definitely start by picking the fried eggplant, and since Qingdao is famous for its seafood, I highly recommend adding a seafood dish like stir-fried clams or scallops.

Ordering was super easy — simply scan the QR code at your table.

In China, you'll be constantly using data for everything from restaurant orders and Alipay payments to Didi rides and Gaode Maps, so it's incredibly convenient to have a reliable eSIM with good internet connectivity.

#QingdaoMeidaerMenu #QingdaoRestaurantGaodeMap

4. Dining Experience Review

Menu Ordered at Meidaer, a Must-Visit Restaurant in Qingdao

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Smashed Cucumber Salad 16 CNY

Fried Eggplant 32 CNY

Scallops 28 CNY

Squid Skewer 6 CNY

Tsingtao Beer 12 CNY

Among the four dishes, the absolute must-try at Meidaer, a top restaurant in Qingdao, is undeniably the **Fried Eggplant**.

The exterior was as crispy as a cracker, while the eggplant inside was so moist it felt like cotton candy – a perfect example of crispy outside, juicy inside.

The sweet and slightly spicy sauce complemented it perfectly. I initially planned to only have a few pieces, but even when I was full, I couldn't stop reaching for more.

The **Smashed Cucumber Salad** was another dish I was glad we ordered.

It was around ~$2, and the portion was quite generous. After eating oily dishes like the fried eggplant, the crisp and refreshing cucumber truly cleansed my palate.

For the **Grilled Squid**, we only ordered one skewer as the other dishes seemed like a lot for two people, and the taste was solid.

When the **Steamed Scallops** first arrived, the rich sauce and the savory flavor of the green onions were quite impressive.

However, as it cooled, the saltiness became more pronounced, so it was definitely much better eaten warm.

Right up until the end, the Fried Eggplant was what I kept coming back to most enthusiastically.

Even when it got cold, it largely retained its crispiness and moisture, and it paired wonderfully with beer. It became clear to me why fried eggplant is always on the 'must-try' list when you look up menu recommendations for Qingdao Meidaer.