Weihai's Hanlafang Must-Try: Bantienyao Kaoyu Fish Stew
Discover Weihai's local secret! Bantienyao Kaoyu at Hanlafang Night Market offers an authentic, delicious fish stew experience. A must-visit for foodies in 2026!
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Discover Weihai's local secret! Bantienyao Kaoyu at Hanlafang Night Market offers an authentic, delicious fish stew experience. A must-visit for foodies in 2026!
Weihai Hanlebang: A Local Gem in China
Bantienyao Kaoyu Steamed Fish: Absolutely Amazing!
Weihai's Hanlebang/Hanlerbang Night Market: A Must-Visit Eatery!
Introducing <Bantienyao Kaoyu Hanlebang Branch> – Where Steamed Fish Dreams Come True!
If there's one dish you absolutely must try on your trip to Weihai, China,
it's Kaoyu steamed fish – it's that famous!
It's a franchise with many locations across China,
and even though there are branches in Korea, savoring it in China is much more affordable
and offers an authentic local flavor.
That's why I made my way to the Hanlebang branch in Weihai! ✨
Bantienyao Kaoyu's Hanlebang Night Market branch
operates from 10 AM to 9-10 PM,
so while it's best to visit in the evening when the night market is bustling,
I had a tight schedule, so I stopped by for lunch instead!
Bantienyao Kaoyu, a renowned eatery at Weihai's Hanlebang Night Market,
boasts a spacious and pleasant dining area,
making it a great spot to visit anytime!
In the evenings, many people come to enjoy it with beer as a perfect accompaniment,
and as it's already famous among locals as a must-try restaurant,
it's often fully packed. However, since I visited for lunch,
it was a bit quieter, which was lovely! Haha.
Actually, for my first trip to China, I appreciated that it wasn't too crowded,
and the staff were incredibly helpful, making my visit very comfortable. 😉
Kaoyu literally means 'grilled fish,' but in reality,
it's closer to a Chinese-style fish hotpot, or stew! Haha.
You can order using Alipay and WeChat Pay,
and since the menu features both pictures and names,
ordering was surprisingly easy!
However, choosing the type of fish requires a little thought.
Qingjiang Fish and Catfish are the main options,
and for the seasoning, you can pick from Mala, Garlic, or Qinghuajiao flavors.
The Mala flavor is true to its signature numbing and spicy taste,
while the Garlic flavor is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser for Korean palates, with a 0% chance of failure! It's sweet and soy-sauce based, so you can't go wrong~
Qinghuajiao features Cheongyang peppers and green Sichuan peppercorns,
creating a refreshingly piquant and clean spicy flavor!
Beyond these, there are many delicious toppings you can add to your Kaoyu,
so be sure to explore them! 😊
Fish: Catfish (Channel Catfish / 109 CNY)
Broth Flavor: Golden Garlic (Golden Garlic Grilled Fish / Non-spicy)
Add-ons: Enoki Mushrooms (10 CNY) & Sweet Potato Glass Noodles (10 CNY)
Unlimited Self-Serve Bar (for 2 people / 4 CNY)
I really wanted to try Bantienyao Kaoyu's Mala flavor,
but my friend had indulged in a super spicy meal at KK Malaxiangguo the day before,
and to spare their stomach, we opted for the Golden Garlic flavor instead! 😂
This soy-sauce based flavor is delicious for everyone,
from children to adults,
and it's a taste that Koreans especially will adore!
Since there aren't many side ingredients besides the fish and rice cakes,
we separately ordered additional sweet potato wide glass noodles (Chinese glass noodles) and enoki mushrooms ( •̀ ω •́ )✧
The self-serve bar, offering unlimited rice, drinks, popcorn, and more,
is available for 2 people for ~$1! 👍
Usually, if you want to enjoy Kaoyu, this Chinese steamed fish hotpot, in Korea,
it's a pricey dish, starting at about ~$35 to ~$41.
But here in Weihai, even with extra toppings,
At about ~$17, the value for money is absolutely incredible!😆
The fish was massive, and the additional mushrooms and glass noodles we ordered
also came in such generous portions that two of us could eat until we were completely stuffed!
Since the burner kept the dish warm throughout our meal,
we could continuously simmer the Kaoyu (grilled fish hot pot) and enjoy it until the very last bite!
It's a dish where a large freshwater fish is first grilled crispy over charcoal,
then simmered gently in broth, which made the fish meat incredibly tender and melt-in-your-mouth rich! Haha.
Just a light tap with chopsticks would cause large, succulent pieces of fish to fall away,
and it was wonderfully chewy yet incredibly tender, with absolutely no hint of fishiness! 🤤
Especially these wide sweet potato glass noodles — they truly complement the dish perfectly,
so I highly recommend adding them to your order!
Placing a thick piece of fish on your rice and soaking it in that rich broth makes for
an absolutely incredible rice meal, but it would also be fantastic as a side dish with drinks or even a hangover remedy!
It’s the kind of flavor that makes you understand exactly why even the locals line up to eat at this famous spot in Hanlakbang Night Market! ♪(´▽｀)
Comforting, smooth, and full of incredible umami,
this Kaoyu flavor kept me wanting more and more! 😍
However... for someone like me, who’s quite accustomed to spicy flavors, I started to feel a bit overwhelmed after almost finishing a bowl of rice,
and I seriously craved some young radish kimchi (Chonggak Kimchi)! Haha.
Even drinking a Coke didn't quite cut through it, so I couldn't eat any more...
But if I ever come back, I absolutely want to try ordering the mala (spicy numbing) flavor!
A Local's Favorite at Weihai Hanlafang (Hanlakbang) Night Market, China
<Bantianyao Kaoyu> - Experience Incredible Value for Money
I was incredibly satisfied because I got to enjoy this typically expensive Kaoyu dish in China for almost half the price,
and with such generous portions!
It's perfect for a hearty meal at lunchtime, and in the evening, you can relax and shake off the day's fatigue with a beer,
making it a wonderful Hanlakbang restaurant for visitors of all ages! ❤️
What's more, it's located right in the heart of Hanlakbang Night Market,
so it's absolutely perfect for grabbing some extra snacks and street food after your meal!
There's a Chaji Cafe right in front of the Hanlakbang Night Market, so
after your Kaoyu feast, why not grab a milk tea? Haha.
Bantianyao Kaoyu at Hanlefang Branch operates from 10 AM to 9 PM or 10 PM. While it's recommended to visit during the evening when the night market is lively, you can also visit for lunch.
At Bantianyao Kaoyu Hanlefang Branch in Weihai, you can place orders using Alipay and WeChat Pay. The menu includes pictures and names for each dish, so ordering shouldn't be difficult.
At Bantianyao Kaoyu Hanlefang Branch, you can choose fish such as Qingjiang fish and catfish, along with seasoning flavors like Mala, Garlic, and Qinghuajiao. In the article, catfish (109 CNY) with Golden Garlic flavor was chosen, with enoki mushrooms (10 CNY) and sweet potato wide noodles (10 CNY) added. The unlimited self-service bar for two people was 4 CNY.
While Kaoyu typically costs around ~$35 to ~$41 in Korea, at Bantianyao Kaoyu Hanlefang Branch in Weihai, you can enjoy it for about ~$17, even with extra toppings. This is almost half the price of what it would cost in Korea.
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