Beyond the pork hock, Zhouzhuang has a good tradition of freshwater dishes: braised mandarin fish (松鼠鳜鱼 in the Suzhou style), stir-fried river shrimp with tea leaves, and fermented tofu that has been made here for generations. Street vendors near the main gate sell deep-fried taro cakes and glutinous rice balls filled with sesame paste — straightforward snacks that make good walking food.
The best places are the small family-run restaurants away from the main tourist lane, where prices are lower and the cooking is more straightforward. Ask for the daily special — what appears on the table will depend on what was at the market that morning.