The invention relates to a method for preparing 3-phenyl-L-serine or a derivative thereof. The preparation method comprises the following steps of: a, obtaining 3-phenyl-L-serine or a derivative thereof according to a reaction general formula as shown in a formula I, in which R is selected from a hydrogen group, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, an alkyl sulfonyl group, an alkyl sulfinyl group, analkyl sulfenyl group, a sulfonic group, a sulfinyl group, a sulfydryl group, a nitro group and halogen; n is 0, 1, 2 or 3; wherein the transaldolase is L-threonine transaldolase,; and acetaldehyde reductase is added in the step a.