Foodie Exploration: Which Farmhouse Restaurant in Yangcheng Lake Serves the Most Delicious Dishes?

I believe everyone finds it hard to resist delicious food, but the hustle and bustle of city life speeds up time so quickly that we often leave before we can fully savor the flavors that touch our taste buds. Taking a break from this busy life to quietly enjoy the beauty of a slower pace, sipping tea and eating your favorite dishes, is a real treat. As one of many office workers, I decided to give myself a break this golden autumn season and came to Yangcheng Lake to enjoy some hairy crabs.

Letting go of the various worries of urban life and driving to a favorite spot to enjoy my beloved hairy crabs is truly a stroke of luck. I’ve always loved seafood because it’s the easiest type of food to appreciate its natural umami. In my younger years, I might have craved the thrill of heavy oil and spice, but as I’ve grown older, I’ve come to prefer the authentic taste of lighter dishes — as if that’s where the true soul of the food lies. Hairy crabs, which are flavorful without any added salt, naturally suit my palate perfectly. So for this short holiday, I visited A Si Crab House by Yangcheng Lake, recommended by a friend, to try their signature dish: steamed hairy crab.

Unlike other vendors, who nowadays market all kinds of “crabs” under the guise of “Yangcheng Lake Hairy Crabs” at high prices, A Si Crab House surprised me. Although it’s located right by Yangcheng Lake, when asked about their crabs, they patiently explained that theirs are premium crabs from high-standard pond farming — not lake-grown. “Yangcheng Lake Hairy Crab” is a national geographical indication-protected label, limited to crabs actually cultivated in Yangcheng Lake. Their crabs may drink water from Yangcheng Lake, but since they’re not grown in the lake, they still can’t be called Yangcheng Lake Hairy Crabs. This kind of honesty really impressed us.

The environment at A Si Crab House is excellent — nestled by the lake, with a three-story building and tasteful decor. The first floor is the dining hall, while the second and third floors have private rooms, and the facilities are very complete. A Si Crab House’s steamed hairy crabs are famous far and wide. My friend said that visiting Yangcheng Lake without trying the steamed hairy crabs at A Si Crab House would be a waste of the trip.

A Si’s signature steamed hairy crabs don’t, like stir-fried or spicy crabs, allow oil and salt to seep into the crab meat during intense cooking, thereby stripping the crabs of their natural freshness and leaving only heavy flavors. It could be said that every chef who cooks hairy crabs spends their life figuring out how to lock in the “freshness” of the crab — achieving perfection is no easy feat.

The steamed hairy crabs I had at A Si Crab House this time had golden shells, perfectly rich crab roe and meat, and every bite was simply heavenly. Steamed hairy crabs may seem simple, but they actually place high demands on the chef’s skill. The texture of the crab changes gradually with steaming time and heat, and mastering these changes is essential for any chef specializing in steamed hairy crabs.

Nowadays, many chefs naively believe that the natural flavor of hairy crabs can cover up their subpar cooking skills, but even the highest-quality crabs can be ruined by improper preparation. A flavorless hairy crab is soulless and won’t satisfy diners. Moreover, poor cooking techniques can also damage the nutritional value of the crab, and in serious cases, even pose health risks. But the steamed hairy crabs I had at A Si Crab House were a delightful surprise — the meat was tender and delicious, and you could clearly taste the unique aroma of the crab with just one bite. Furthermore, the crabs at A Si Crab House are selected by diners on the spot, tied up, and then steamed directly, ensuring that every guest gets the freshest possible crab.

At A Si Crab House, besides high-quality hairy crabs, you can also choose from free-range chicken, organic soft-shell turtles, mandarin fish from the lake, black-shell snails, and freshly grown vegetables. Their free-range chicken is also different from what you usually find in markets — the meat is tender, firm, and full of chew, unlike the loose texture of ordinary chicken, and it holds its own against the hairy crabs.

The hairy crabs at A Si Crab House are sold only offline, not online. Although many crab sellers are now targeting the online market for profit, A Si insists on not selling online. Because premium crabs have limited production and their quality is hard to guarantee during transport, A Si focuses solely on excelling on the dining table, ensuring that every guest at A Si Crab House can feel the sincerity in every bite of their delicious dishes and enjoy the freshest flavors. Here’s a big thumbs up for A Si.

I heard that A Si Crab House has been around for over 20 years. Time’s test is the best proof of a dish’s worth, and it’s truly admirable that they’ve provided high-quality food for so many years. Over all these years, A Si has adhered to principles of honesty and integrity, earning the favor of many diners. Their hairy crabs have received unanimous praise, and if you ever get the chance to visit Yangcheng Lake, don’t forget to try them out.