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A little preparation. A much better adventure.Independent travel advice · Made for China
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A taste of Lijiang

Sakura Restaurant

樱花餐厅

One of the oldest and most famous restaurants in Lijiang old town, long a fixture on the Sifang Street canal and the place credited with putting Naxi grilled fish in front of foreign backpackers in the first place. It remains an institution, and its current Ctrip rating of 2.8 is an honest signal: reviewers complain about price and consistency. Worth knowing about, not necessarily worth your one good evening.

¥80–110 per person≈ US$12Ctrip Lijiang Old Town list No. 9Dayan Old Town (大研古城), Lijiang
Plan your meal Open map

Why come here

A place worth making time for

No. 9 on Ctrip's Lijiang Old Town food list but rated only 2.8 — a famous old name whose reviews have slipped, rather than an award-winner.

The house favourites

What to order

Point at the Chinese. Staff will understand it even where the menu has no English at all.

  • Naxi grilled fish (纳西烤鱼)
  • Cured pork rib hotpot (腊排骨火锅)
  • Stir-fried Naxi vegetables (纳西小炒)

What it actually tastes like

Grilled fish comes whole on a hot tray, stuffed with herbs, chilli and sour pickle; the sourness is pronounced. Bones throughout.

Allergens in this kitchen

fishsoygluten/wheatsesame

This is the kitchen, not one dish. Woks, fryers, blanching water and utensils are shared in almost every Chinese restaurant, so for a serious allergy treat the whole premises as the unit rather than ordering around it.

Get to know the menu

Local specialities to try here

Cured Pork Rib Hotpot 腊排骨火锅Deeply savoury and salty-meaty rather than spicy, with a clean soup and meat that falls off the bone; the dipping sauce beside it carries the chilli.