Weekend West Lake hiking: Big names and traditional dishes

Finally checked in again at this Hangzhou-style restaurant that had been saved in my favorites for a long time; the last time I ate here was in 2021.

After eating rice cakes for several days in a row, facing this pork knuckle, I truly understood what it means to “drool”; the skin is soft and sweet, and while it’s delicious, eating too much can feel a bit greasy—dipping it in chili powder or sesame powder helps cut the richness.

The stir-fried shredded pork with dried tofu is so good that I’ve already forgotten what it tastes like.

The smoked meat steamed with dried bamboo fungus took the longest to prepare. The smoked meat is fragrant, and the dried bamboo fungus is soft, fully soaked in flavorful broth—so good! If you like dried bamboo fungus, give it a try.

Will come back next time! Because I didn’t get to try the Shaoxing wine–marinated prawns or the carp soup with rice porridge.