"A time-honoured Tianjin brand since 1892 — try Erduoyan Zhagao's red-bean ear-hole fried cake for a taste of the old city."
About Erduoyan Zhagao
Erduoyan Zhagao is a Tianjin institution. The brand traces to 1892, when the street vendor Liu Wanchun set up a small shop near the narrow Erduoyan — ear-hole — alley by the old North Gate, and the snack took its name from the lane. The trade later passed from family hands to a master-and-apprentice system to keep the technique alive, and the shop was formally renamed the Erduoyan Fried Cake Store. It was designated a China Famous Snack in 1997.
It belongs to the same roll-call of Tianjin classics as the steamed buns at Goubuli. For a sit-down meal in the city, see the French brasserie cooking at FLO Tianjin, or browse our wider Chinese picks.
The Kitchen
The one thing to order is the ear-hole fried cake itself: a small round of fermented glutinous-rice dough wrapped around sweet red-bean paste, then deep-fried so the shell turns crisp and golden while the inside stays soft and chewy. Eaten hot from the counter, it is the whole point of the visit.
This is street-snack cooking done to a century-old standard, not a restaurant menu. Buy one to eat on the spot or a boxed selection to carry, the way locals have done for generations.
The Room
The setting is a snack counter, not a dining room — you queue, you order, you take your cakes hot in a paper wrap or a box. Branches sit around the Hongqiao North Gate area and near Ancient Culture Street, on the well-trodden tourist circuit of the old city.
Expect a brisk, no-frills exchange. The reward is a cake that has tasted the same for well over a hundred years.
Best for a taste of old Tianjin
Erduoyan Zhagao is a stop, not a destination meal — ideal for a solo snack while you walk the old city, or a sweet bite to share on a team lunch outing in Tianjin. Pair it with the buns at Goubuli, or browse the full Tianjin dining guide.
Not for
Not for a sit-down dinner or a date — this is a takeaway snack counter with a queue, not a restaurant with tables, service or a wine list.
Frequently Asked
What is Erduoyan Zhagao known for?
It is a time-honoured Tianjin brand, founded in 1892, known for the ear-hole fried cake — a deep-fried glutinous-rice cake filled with sweet red-bean paste, crisp outside and soft within. It was named a China Famous Snack in 1997.
Why is it called the ear-hole fried cake?
The original shop stood beside a very narrow lane near Tianjin's old North Gate called Erduoyan, meaning ear-hole; the snack took its name from the alley where it was first sold.
How much does Erduoyan Zhagao cost?
It is cheap: a single fried cake runs roughly 3 to 6 yuan, and a boxed selection of assorted cakes is around 30 to 50, paid in cash at the counter.
Where do I find Erduoyan Zhagao in Tianjin?
Branches sit around the old North Gate in Hongqiao district and near Ancient Culture Street, on the tourist circuit of the old city.
Is Erduoyan Zhagao a sit-down restaurant?
No — it is a snack counter for takeaway. Buy a cake hot to eat on the spot or a box to carry; there is no table service.
Reserve a Table
Reserve at Erduoyan Zhagao
No bookings — a walk-up snack counter; see the Tianjin guide for tables nearby.
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Practical Information
AddressNortheast corner of Beimenwai Dajie, Hongqiao District, Tianjin
NeighbourhoodBy the old North Gate in Hongqiao, near Ancient Culture Street
CuisineChinese
PriceCounter snacks; a fried cake runs roughly ¥3–6 each, with a boxed selection of assorted cakes around ¥30–50
Dress CodeCasual
SeatingSnack counter for takeaway; no table service
ReservationNo reservations; walk up and order at the counter, cash; daytime hours
