Xi'an is honored as the "Capital of Delicacies". The chefs in the Shaanxi province have accumulated styles and tastes from around the country, and adjusted them to the local flavor. A trip to Xi'an will not be complete without trying out its local food.
Shaanxi Cuisine, also known as Qin Cuisine, is the representative culinary achievement in the northwest China. In comparison to other Chinese cuisines, it is outstanding in three aspects. Firstly, due to Shaanxi's geographical location in the center of China, various kinds of materials deriving from both north and south China are adopted by Shaanxi Cuisine. Second is the special cooking skills of the local chefs, including Tun (deep-fry), Qiang (fry quickly in hot oil, then cook with sauce and water), Chao (stir-fry), Zheng (cook by use of steam), Dun (braise) and so on. Finally is its frequently use of salt, vinegar, capsicum and garlic, making the savory flavor of sour, spicy and fragrant.
The history of Shaanxi Cuisine is said to be as long as the national's civilization, retaining the table characteristics of the Qin, Han and Tang dynasties. At present, the Shaanxi Cuisine is divided into the Guanzhong (central Shaanxi), Shannan (south Shaanxi) and Shanbei (north Shaanxi) cuisines according to their geographical locations. Here, in Xian, the Guanzhong Cuisine plays the vital role in the citizens' daily lives as well as the Shannan and Shanbei dishes supply the gastronomists with another choice
Xi'an has a long history in culinary culture and has developed a unique cuisine with two culinary styles-the traditional and the modern. The traditional is characterized by the Tang Dynasty cuisine while the modern by the Shaanxi cuisine. The traditional recipes include such delicacies as Roast Piglet and Chicken in Bottle Gourd. The local flavour snacks include Steamed Bun Soaked in Mutton Soup and the Fan-Family Cured Meat Broth. Dumpling banquet and Tang Dynasty banquet in Xi'an are two great inventions.
Xi'an cuisine has a good, hearty style that should never let you leave the table hungry. Noodles and dumplings are the staples of the local food and these are almost always filling and warming.
Xi'an Local Snacks:
Fan's Pancake with Stewed Lazhi Meat
Qishan's Saozi Noodles with Minced Meat
Hulutou
Jiasan Guantang Baozi
Liang Pi
Buckwheat noodles
Zeng Gao
Biang Biang Noodles
Xi'an diet culture is rich in the Northwest flavor; it is indeed one of a major enjoyable in tasting Xian local snacks. As noodles and dumplings , which are always filling and warming, are the staples of the local food.
Yangrou Paomo is a tasty Xi'an specialty that consists of a mutton soup served with wheat flour flat bread. The hard bread is broken up and added to the soup. Then the mixture is eaten along with pickled garlic cloves.
Yet another interesting culinary experience to be had in Xi'an is the Xi'an Dumpling Feast. This concept, introduced in 1984 by the Xi'an Dumpling Feast Restaurant on Jiefang Road, offers up to 108 different kinds of Chinese dumpling (Jiaozi). Also worth trying are the Defachang Restaurant and the Baiyunzhang Northwest Style Snack Restaurant.
Some other Xi'an snacks and special dishes include: Sour Soup Dumplings and Guantang Steamed Baozi.
Three famous Xi'an specialties:
Dumpling Banquet
Dumpling or Jiaozi in Chinese is a traditional and popular food in China, especially in the north. At the banquet, nearly 20 varieties of dumplings that are steamed and stuffed with different delicious fillings such as vegetables, meats and seafood are served, these dumplings are not only tasty, but also characteristic with their colors and fragrance, style and culture meanings, all these make the dinner so unique that you should not miss it when traveling in Xi'an.
The most famous venues for the dumpling banquets are Defachang restaurant, also Tang Dynasty Palace and Shaanxi Grand Opera Theatre where dumpling banquets can be combined with Tang Dynasty show.
Tang Dynasty Banquet
Tang Dynasty was one of the most prosperous dynasties and an open era in Chinese history, there were lots of exchanges between China and outside world, as a result, the culinary culture including the imperial cuisine was inevitably enriched.
Shaanxi people have tried to research the imperial cuisine of Tang Dynasty making it possible for you to taste typical dishes of Tang Dynasty in some of the restaurants in Xi'an. These dishes are not only tasty, colorful and fragrant with well-selected materials, but also full of cultures and legends with ancient styles.
Tang Dynasty Banquet is in the style of Tang cuisines, which is one of the most three famous things in eating (the other two are Jiaozi Banquets and Mutton Paomuo respectively) in Xi'an. The dishes in the banquets are diverse and plentiful and with special flavor. To partake of the banquet is something different from the other banquets. The waitresses who serve beside the tables in the Tang Dynasty Banquet have to wear Tang-style garments, and their buns are highly coiled up, they look very beautiful. The dishware and goblets on the tables are all imitated the Tang-styles. When the banquet is getting under way, a eunuch (not a true eunuch) with a horsetail whisk in his one hand proclaims the imperial decree to explain the purpose. Then the royal band plays the tuneful ancient music, and at this moment the toasters begin to drink a toast to each other. When a dish is served, its name is read aloud by a Tang Dynasty officer, and then he explains the cultural attraction of this dish. During the banquet, The Tang-style music and dance are performed, and Tang poems are recited. The wine served in the banquet is Huanggui dense wine, which was ever drunk by Lipo (a very famous poet in Tang Dynasty) and Concubine yang (the most caressant concubine by emperor Li long-ji). The dishes, pastries and soup are cooked by an ancient menu called cooking cauda banquet menu which was written by Wei Ju-yuan, and the dishes on the banquet tables are all the dishes which ever served for one of the Tang Dynasty emperors, Li xian (A.D.656--- 710).
Yangroupaomo (Steamed Bun Soaked in Mutton Soup)
The way of preparing the dish has made you interested already before it is ready to serve: first a bowl and one or two pieces of flat bread will be served, you need to break the bread into tiny chunks all by yourself, and after that, delicious mutton soup will be added in the bowl, now, it is ready for you to enjoy the broth and the break.
People visiting Xi'an must be surprised by the numerous historical sites and interesting places, as well as being left with a deep impression of the food of the city.Xi'an's food, generally speaking, is served in large portions, is inexpensive and each dish has its own story.
Xian Local Restaurants:
Xi'an diet culture is rich in the Northwest flavor; it is indeed one of a major enjoyable in tasting Xian local snacks. As noodles and dumplings , which are always filling and warming, are the staples of the local food, both Xi'an beloved Yang Rou Pao Mo and “Xian dumpling banquet” that famous at home and abroad, all carry a distinctive local characteristics. In addition, Biang Biang Noodles, bean jelly, Guokui, oil pastries and other special snack, all of which as well appeal tourists.there are many other famous restaurants in the town that you might want to try during your visiting in Xi'an.
Xi'an diet culture is rich in the Northwest flavor; it is indeed one of a major enjoyable in tasting Xian local snacks. As noodles and dumplings , which are always filling and warming, are the staples of the local food, both Xi'an beloved Yang Rou Pao Mo and Xian dumpling banquet?? that famous at home and abroad, all carry a distinctive local characteristics. In addition, Biang Biang Noodles, bean jelly, Guokui, oil pastries and other special snack, all of which as well appeal tourists.
Large Portions
On a downtown street, everywhere one can see signs, including "Old Sun Family's Paomo (steamed bun soaking in mutton soup), "Old Ma Family's Mutton" and "Old Liu Family's Hulutou (a local snack)". At the food street, food stands one after another stretch several hundreds meters. At night, temporary food stands fully line both sides of the street. Everywhere, there is a smell of delicous snacks.
Inexpensive
On the street, small restaurants and temporary food stands serve very cheap snacks. A bowl of hulutou costs only three yuan. Many temporary stands sell Chengdu's hot specialty, 20 cents per cube. With so many rich snacks, a lot of local people do not prepare meals at home and are willing to eat at food stands.
First, western fast food joints in China aren't cheap. In America, when you eat the crap that fast food places serve up you at least don't have to spend much money. That can't be said for China.
There are literally thousands of restaurants all over Xi'an serving noodles, dumplings, fried rice, and other Chinese staples for between five and ten RMB a plate.
To enjoy the kabobs, you can go to the Huis (nationality) Street or the street near the Drum Tower where the night market are very busy, many people often gather there to eat these tasty foods.
If one wants to taste all the special local food at one time, the Xian Restaurant, Xian Fan Zhuang in Chinese, would be the wonderful choice where more than 100 different kinds of delicacies are offered by the self-service restaurant on the first-floor. As well as indoor enjoyment, evening market of the Moslem Street of the east lightly in the south, can also go snack street right behind the drum-tower, that with archaic-styled constructions on both sides. On the 500-meter street, there are many restaurants of different cuisines along with unique snack shops. While enjoying true Muslim cuisine, tourists can learn customs of the Hui people. In a word, local-featured food are permeated here everywhere.
As a popular saying that Xian is a legendary as the "capital of table delicacies" where provides a wide range selections in front of the people at home and abroad.more>>>Xi'an Restaurant
Western food inXi'an
Paying a visit of Xi'an you may look for western food. Don't worry about that you can not find a good western restaurant. In Xi'an there are dozens of western restaurants offer western foods besides the hotels we recommend on our website. In your free time when visiting this city you can hang around on Dongdajie (East Street) where there are many western restaurants, also on the northwestern outskirts of the city near the Flats.
In Xi'an, most of western restaurants offer both veg and non-veg menus in a spotless and non-smoking ambience. You can find restaurants of all the major countries of the world offering ethnic foods. The restaurants specialize in Indian, North American, South American, French, Japanese and Italian gastronomy.
As the center of northwest China, Xian provides a wide range of table delicacies in addition to local and traditional cuisine.
Canton Cuisine
Guangdong cuisine is probably the most familiar in the west. Egg rools, are among the most famous in China. The dishes are prepared carefully and exquisitely. Quick-fried or stewed, they turn out to be fresh, crisp, tender, slippery and not salty with all flavours and tastes. They vary with, the change of seasons, conforming to modern dietetics. The cooking skill pays priority to light, fresh, clear, slippery, tender and nutrition, which also change with the seasons. From morning till night, there are the morning tea, lunch, night snack of different taste. The "morning tea", which becomes popular all of China, has delicate and tasty dim sum. Guangzhou flavor snack has large variety and diversity, such as the inexpensive and tasty radish cake, rice noodle, steamed zongzi (rice wrapped in leaves), fried river snail, cattle entrails, Shahe rice noodle, wonton with noodle, skinned milk, stewed stuff, boat porridge, jidi porridge and pot rice.
Xi'an Seafood
The northwestern city of Xian has historically been a melting pot for the multitude of cuisines which China can produce. But now, with the western region opening up to investment, restaurateurs have decided to freshen up their reputation for serving a superior quality of Cantonese seafood.
Everywhere you go in China, even in the smallest town you can find, there will always be an Sichuan restaurant nearby. The flavor mostly depends on the price rates. Though 'the more expensive, the better' is not always true.
To western standards, the food is very inexpensive. Typically, cold dishes cost around $5 to $15 yuan, and hot dishes cost around $10 to $20 yuan. This is just generalizing on average food cost - a full meal for 8 to 10 people will cost around $150 to $200 yuan, which converts to about $25 USD
Sichuan hotpot is also very popular in xian
With the "theme" hotpots, you must go to specialty hotpot restaurants that serve that theme. For example, a frog hotpot restaurant, a lamb hot pot restaurant, or a rabbit or duck hotpot restaurant. With this style, you get the main theme meat in the hot pot you order. A large pot costs around $50 yuan (more or less), and if you need additional meat, it will cost you by pound - ie. fish head hot pot usually cost around $15-$18 yuan per pound of fish head. Besides the main course in the hot pot, you can still order all types of other items as mentioned above in the same price range. A typical hot pot meal for 8 to 10 people will cost around $150 to $200 yuan. So it's very inexpensive.
Jiangsu-Zhejiang Style
Jiangsu-Zhejiang cuisine is popular in the middle and lower reaches of the Changjiang River and is chara, cterized by its sweet flavor. It is based on four cooking
Halal Food (Muslim Restaurants) in Xian
Xi'an cuisine is simple and hearty; you won't leave the table hungry. Noodles and dumplings are predominan. Due to the large Hui community, Muslim food is common. The Muslim Snack
Street is absolutely on the top of our highly recommended list for nice place to eat in Xi'an.However, there are many other famous restaurants in the town that you might want to try during your visiting in Xi'an.
vegetarian food restaurant in xian
With the fashionable dining style, vegetarian dishes also spring up in Xian and are popular with Xian people. But the cost is more than meat dishes presently.
People visiting Xi'an must be surprised by the numerous historical sites and interesting places, as well as being left with a deep impression of the food of the city.
Famous restaurants:
Xian Laosun Jia Restaurant
Add: Dongguan Main St, Xian
Tel: 82482993
Description: This is the most famous Muslim restaurant in Xian. It features the Yangrou Paomo (pancake in mutton or beef soup).
Type of Cuisine: Local Cuisine
Opening Hours: 11:30am-2:00pm, 5:00pm-9:00pm
Average Spending: $$
Credit Cards: Not Accepted
Menu: Chinese
Language Spoken: Mandarin
Xiangyue Lou Restaurant
Add: Youyi E. Rd, Xian
Tel: 82233259
Description: It serves all kinds of delicious porridge.
Type of Cuisine: Local Cuisine
Opening Hours: 11:30am-2:00pm, 5:00pm-10pm
Average Spending: $-$$
Credit Cards: Not Accepted
Menu: Chinese, English
Language Spoken: Mandarin, English
Shaanxi Local Food Restaurant
Add: Dongda Jie, Xian
Tel: 87251166
Description: It provides the most authentic local specialties.
Type of Cuisine: Local Cuisine
Opening Hours: 11:30am-2:00pm, 5:00pm-9:00pm
Average Spending: $-$$
Credit Cards: Not Accepted
Menu: Chinese
Language Spoken: Mandarin
Guangdong Xuehua Restaurant
Add: #14 Hanguang Rd, Xian
Tel: 88224449
Description: It features Cantonese seafood. The fresh and rare materials are airlifted from Guangdong twice a day.
Type of Cuisine: Cantonese Cuisine
Opening Hours: 11 am-9 pm
Average Spending: $$-$$$
Credit Cards: Not Accepted
Menu: Chinese, English
Language Spoken: Mandarin, English
Jiefang Lu Chinese Dumpling Restaurant
Add: Jiefang Rd, Xian
Tel: 87288305
Description: The most famous Xian Dumpling Banquet is served.
Type of Cuisine: Dumpling
Opening Hours: 11 am-9 pm
Average Spending: $$
Credit Cards: Not Accepted
Menu: Chinese, English
Language Spoken: Mandarin, English
Xiang Palace
Add: Shangri-la Hotel, No. 8 Changle Rd. Xian
Tel: 83232981
Description: The most luxury restaurant featuring Cantonese Cuisine in Xian.
Type of Cuisine: Cantonese Cuisine
Opening Hours: 11am-2: 30pm, 5:30pm-10pm
Average Spending: $$-$$$
Credit Cards: Not Accepted
Menu: Chinese
Language Spoken: Mandarin
City Hotel Restaurant
Add: 2nd Floor of Xian City Hotel, 70 Nanda Jie, Xian
Tel: 87219988
Description: It features Chinese Hot-pot.
Type of Cuisine: Local Cuisine
Opening Hours: 11:30am-2: 30pm, 5:30pm-9:00pm
Average Spending: $$$
Credit Cards: Major credit cards
Menu: Chinese, English
Language Spoken: Mandarin, English
Xiaobei Ke Restaurant
Add: Zhuque Rd, Xian
Tel: 85230017
Description: It provides genuine Sichuan hot and spicy food.
Type of Cuisine: Sichuan Cuisine
Opening Hours: 11:30am-2:00pm, 5:00pm-9:00pm.
Average Spending: $$-$$$
Credit Cards: Not Accepted
Menu: Chinese
Language Spoken: Mandarin
Oyster Restaurant
Add: #2 Fenxiang Lane, Xian
Tel: 87275658
Description: As one of the best western restaurants in Xian, it serves buffet both for lunch and dinner. Nice atmosphere and good food.
Type of Cuisine: Western Cuisine
Opening Hours: 11am-10pm
Average Spending: $$
Credit Cards: Not Accepted
Menu: Chinese, English
Language Spoken: Mandarin, English
Huili Restaurant
Add: #1 Changan N. Rd, Xian
Tel: 87285625
Description: It provides Japanese food.
Type of Cuisine: Japanese Cuisine
Opening Hours: 10:00am-10:00pm
Average Spending: $$-$$$
Credit Cards: Not Accepted
Menu: Chinese
Language Spoken: Mandarin
Bob and Bettys
Add: Dongda Jie, Xian
Tel: 87221255
Description: Selling pizza and apple pie.
Type of Cuisine: Western Cuisine
Opening Hours: 9:00am-9:00pm
Average Spending: $-$$
Credit Cards: Not Accepted
Menu: Chinese, English
Language Spoken: Mandarin, English
A good night-food street is DongxinJie between Jiefang Lu and Zhongshan Gate. Much of the local street food is of Islamic origin, and some common dishes are: fenzhengrou, made by frying chopped mutton in a work with fine-ground wheat; dark brown sorghum or buck wheat noodles called heluotiao; and migao, deep-fried rice cakes with s sweet rose-water filling.
For western foods, you can select Small World Restaurant at the outside of Jianguo Gate 300m eastern of Heping Gate. Kentucky Fried Chicken Chains can be noticed in all main streets in downtown area. Coffee Language is a world chain coffee, lies in Gaoxin Rd.
The cheap downstairs restaurant in the May First Hotel is good for staple northern-China food like pork dumpling and hearty bowls of noodles. Its popular with locals and always busy. Upstairs is a more up market restaurant with an English menu listing barbecued gourd in honey and other delicacies.
The East Asia Restaurant was founded in 1916 in Shanghai, but moved to Xian in 1956. The restaurants better sections on the 2nd and 3rd floors have arguably the citys best Chinese cuisine. The East Asia is southeast of Bell tower at 46 Luoma Shi, a lane running off Dong Dajie.
The Xian Restaurant is at 298 Dong Dajie. In the cheap section downstairs, the house specialty is a salty fried dumpling called guotie. Upstairs is geared mainly to banquets, but they also have a section for general guests with a shorter menu in English. The food ranges from mediocre to outstanding.
If you believe their blurb, the Qujiangchun Restaurant at 192 Jiefang Lu specializes in Tang Dynasty cuisine and has waiters in costume.
