The stretch of Laojin Road near the old city wall has developed into one of Jinan's most reliable concentrations of cheap and good local eating, with restaurants serving the full range of Shandong home-cooking styles: braised fish, steamed buns, congee, noodle dishes, and grilled meats. Most of the establishments are small, family-run, and open until late.
The night food street operates from about 6pm through midnight on weekends, with additional street stalls and an outdoor barbecue section that is particularly lively in summer. Prices are very low: a full dinner for two including beer rarely exceeds ¥60. This is where to eat if you want to eat like the locals do rather than as a tourist.