Xiamen savors bites of SE Asia this weekend

By Sun Li in Xiamen | China Daily | Updated: 2014-04-12 07:20

Another meal that you don't want to miss is the Hainan chicken rice. The chicken is tender, and the well-seasoned soup is not oily.

For those who prefer spicy dishes, a Thai buffet now offered at the Marco Polo Xiamen Hotel is a pleasant hot spot.

The celebration of Thai cuisine, which will conclude on April 13, includes Thai signature dishes such as curries, pan-fried spicy whole squid, deep-fried spring rolls and papaya salad. Tom yam kung (spicy seafood soup), one of the most famous and sought-after Thai delicacies, is a wonderful starter, given its spicy fragrance that will lift one's appetite.

Packed with shrimp, lemongrass, galangal, lime juice, onions and mushrooms, the broth is a colorful medley full of nutritious goodies.

Also highly recommended is the pad Thai, a much-loved dish in Thailand. Topped with shrimp, crunchy veggies and crushed roasted peanuts, the fresh, crispy noodles mix agreeably with the sweetness and spiciness of the other ingredients.

The traditional Thai decor and a Thai dance show will make dining there a more delightful experience.

IF YOU GO

Hotel Indigo Xiamen Harbor

16 Lujiang Road, Siming district, Xiamen. 0592-226-1666.

Average cost per head: 120 yuan ($19)

Marco Polo Xiamen Hotel

8 Jianye Road, Hubin Bei, Siming district, Xiamen. 0592-509-1888.

Lunch buffet: 158 yuan; dinner 248 yuan.