Roast squid
Another one of Qingdao's great seafood traditions is the always tender and delicious roast squid (烤鱿鱼). While it can be found at pretty much any makeshift late-night BBQ stand on the side of the street, the safer option is to stick to ordering it from (hopefully) more sanitary restaurants.
Steamed Hongdao oyster
Steamed Hongdao oyster is cooked with oysters from Hongdao Island above a strong fire to keep its original taste and flavour. This snack is fresh, tender and nutritious and tastes good with ginger and vinegar.
Braised pig feet
Even though Qingdao is a seafood city, braised pig's feet (流亭猪蹄) are still quite a popular snack with the locals (and adventurous expats). The original pig's feet recipe was created at the end of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), and has taken over 100 years to become the perfection that it is today. For locals, the authenticity of the dish is determined by the richness of the soup that is used to boil the pig's feet.
Mackerel dumplings
Mackerel is a part of the daily food culture of Qingdao, and there are several ways to prepare it. But the best way to eat mackerel here is in the form of a deliciously tender dumpling (鲅鱼水饺). A mackerel dumpling is very soft and moist, and a little bit of Chinese chive gives it a special kick. If you're still hungry after your first set of dumplings, follow it up with a nice bowl of mackerel dumpling soup. Your belly will thank you.
Seafood noodles
Seafood noodles (海鲜卤面) is a great home-style dish. The tender noodles have a very pronounced seafood flavour. Depending on location, a bowl of seafood noodles can include a variety of fresh local ingredients, such as shrimp, clams, kidney beans, eggs and pork strips.
Qingdao cool vermicelli/agar jelly
Qingdao summers can be really hot, which is not so great for the appetite. Qingdao cool agar jelly noodles (青岛凉粉) is a great dish to order to solve this problem. Usually in the form of gelatinous, thick strands or thin vermicelli, these transparent noodles are slippery and a great medium for sauces. They are chewy and very similar to jellyfish. The noodles are usually covered in a variety of spicy, sweet, sour or salty sauces, so be sure to try several different dishes.
Jingjiu pork rib rice
Jingjiu pork rib rice is very famous in Qingdao. The manager of the popular chain restaurant is Wang Jingjiu, so the name of the restaurant is called Jingjiu. According to different recipes, the pork ribs are braised with different vegetables, such as cabbages, beans, potatoes, wax gourds and kelp. Rice and pickles are also provided. Jingjiu pork rib rice is loved by people not only due to its special recipe but also its unchangeable quality. There are strict standards on boiler size, pork rib portions and seasoning. Thirteen seasonings are bought from the appointed factory in Jiangxi province. The beans are made by hand in the restaurant.
Potstickers (Qingdao guotie)
Potstickers (Qingdao guotie) is a popular cuisine in Qingdao. It has a history of more than 40 years. There are many kinds of stuffing, such as vegetables, pork, mutton, beef, gala and shrimp. Guotie is similar to Chinese dumplings, but are usually longer in size, crisp on the outside and delicious inside.
Qingdao guotie has been recognized as a "Famous Cuisine in China," "One of the 10 Famous Cuisines in Qingdao," and a "Featured Cuisine in Qingdao."