Huang Zehe

Huang Zehe traces its start to 1945, just after the end of the war, when its founder carried a shoulder-pole through the streets selling his own slow-simmered peanut soup. Prized for soup that was sweet without being cloying and peanuts cooked soft but never mushy, the name caught on, and a shopfront eventually took root in the old Zhongshan Road quarter.

For many, Huang Zehe is practically a synonym for Xiamen peanut soup. Its counters bring together a spread of Minnan classics—oyster omelette, vermicelli paste, fried sweet dough and chive pockets—making it a touchstone for the taste of old Xiamen.

The peanut soup depends on careful sourcing and patient heat: the peanuts are skinned and simmered low and slow until they melt on the tongue yet the broth stays clear—a craft the house has kept for decades.

Huang Zehe has passed the national review and retains its China Time-honored Brand status.