The lanes behind the Laowaitan waterfront contain a cluster of seafood restaurants that represent the more tourist-facing end of Ningbo's seafood culture. These restaurants are more reliable for English-language menus and picture-based ordering than the family restaurants further from the waterfront, and the quality is generally good even if the prices are a step above neighbourhood levels.
The standard approach is to select live seafood from the tanks at the entrance — hairy crabs and mantis shrimp in autumn, razor clams, sea cucumbers, and various fish through the year — and specify the cooking method (steamed, braised, stir-fried with garlic). The adjacent colonial buildings and riverside setting add to the experience. Budget ¥150–200 per person for a full seafood dinner.