Written by Catherine |
For Chinese, one of the main reasons to visit Changsha is its delicious food.Ā The Xiang Cuisine is one of the top 8 cuisines in ChinaĀ and is also the soul of this city, which has formed since the Han Dynasty. That is why Changsha is considered one of the best cities for food in China.
Spiciness and bold flavors are the main features for Changsha food. Though the searing spice of most dishes might be a challenge for tourists, the addictive flavors make people canāt stop eating. What will be a food discovery like in Changsha? It is a 24-hour flavor marathon from morning to night. You will start with a bowl of rice noodles in the early morning, enjoy a bumper Xiang cuisine at noon, and end your day with various snacks on the bustling night markets.
This guide will offer information on must-try Changsha foods and famous food streets. It will be helpful if you plan to include Changsha in your China food tour.
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- What Are the Must-try Dishes in Changsha?
- Changsha Food Recommendations for Special Dietary Needs
- Where to Find the Best Food in Changsha?
- Essential Tips for a Food Discovery Tour in Changsha
- Explore Changsha with China Xian Tour
What Are the Must-try Dishes in Changsha?
Changsha-style Stir-fried Pork with Chili Peppers (č¾£ę¤ēč)
Stir-fried Pork with Chili Peppers is one of the most representative home-style dishes in Changsha. So its food materials are simple, including fresh pork (streaky pork or foreleg meat is preferred) and the local green chili peppers or screw peppers. They will be stir-fried with garlic, fermented soya beans and soy sauce. Though the cooking process is simple, this dish is widely regarded as the best pairing with the rice. Its taste is salty, fragrant, and spicy. It may look oily, but not greasy at all. Pour a spoonful of salty and spicy soup onto the rice and mix well, you will canāt stop eating it.
Recommended restaurants:
Chef Fei’s Lajiaochaorou Restaurant (č“¹å¤§åØč¾£ę¤ēč)
Yizhandeng Restaurant (壹ēēÆ)
Benluobo Liuyang Cuisine Restaurant (ē¬Øčåęµé³čé¦)
Stir-fried Yellow Beef (å°ēé»ēč)
As a signature dish in Changsha, the Stir-fried Yellow BeefĀ is famous for its distinctive wok hei. Fresh and tender yellow beef, like tenderloin or shoulder meat is typically chosen for this dish. To maintain the smoothness and tenderness of meat, the chef needs to stir-fry the meat quickly over high heat. Other main ingredients include a large amount of coriander and local small chili peppers or long peppers. The unique flavor of coriander and the spiciness of pepper perfectly highlight the original flavor of beef. When it is served on the table, a fragrant smell will greet your nose. It has been one of the most ordered dishes in local restaurants. During yourĀ Changsha tour, do not forget to order it andĀ pair it with a bowl of rice.
Recommended restaurants:Ā
Chuiyan Xiaochaohuangniurou Restaurant (ēēå°ēé»ēč)
Luge Restaurant (é²å„é„åŗ)
Hunan Rice NoodlesĀ (ę¹åē±³ē²)
It is said that all the kids who grow up in Changsha have started their day with a bowl of rice noodles since they were young. They always say that eating rice noodles is their motivation to get up. So if you want to taste the authentic local breakfast, the rice noodles is the must-tryĀ food in Changsha.
What does it consist of? Soup, rice noodles and toppings. To ensure the soup is fresh and delicious, the merchants usually simmer pork bones, beef bones or chicken bones for a long time. The noodles are freshly made on the same day. The choices of toppings are very abundant, the common ones include shredded meat, braised beef, spareribs, etc. Just choose as you like.
Recommended Restaurants:
Gongjia Xincun Rice Noodle Shop (å ¬äŗ¤ę°ęē²åŗ)
Sijie Noodle Restaurant (čå§é¢ē²é¦)
Liu Baiwei Noodle Restaurant (åē¾å³ē²é¦)
Stinky Tofu (Bean Curd with Odor čč±č )
When talking about stinky tofu, the first place that comes to mind is Changsha, which is the birthplace of stinky tofu. This iconic street food in Changsha has been popular all over China. So you may see the stalls selling it in many other cities in China. But I have to acknowledge that after tasting the authentic stinky tofu in Changsha, I am completely amazed. The tofu has been fermented in a specially made brine, creating its unique stinky smell. After frying, the outer skin is crispy, and the inside is soft and porous. Finally, when serving, the vendor will pour the secret soup into the tofu and add the chopped chill and coriander on top; these are the sources of its core flavor. Take a bite, a rich taste will be experienced. It is highly recommended to eat immediately after buying.
Recommended Restaurants:
Heise Jingdian (é»č²ē»å ø)
Luojia Stinky Tofu (ē½å®¶čč±č )
Wuaijie Stinky TofuĀ (äŗåØęÆčč±č )
SesameĀ KernelĀ Crispy Duck (éŗ»ä»é¦é „éø)
SesameĀ KernelĀ Crispy DuckĀ or Maren Crispy DuckĀ is always served as a big dish at banquets. Compared with other cuisines, this dish is often provided in the middle-to-high-end restaurants. What makes it famous is the exquisite cooking skills and rich flavor. A high-quality whole duck is selected and cooked by several processes, including marinating, steaming, frying, etc. Usually, the white sesame seeds will be coated all over the duck before frying, which add the fragrance and enrich the taste. The duck tastes crispy outside and tender inside with a salty and layered flavor. You can either eat it directly or roll it in the thin pancakes together with shredded scallions and sweet bean sauce.
Recommended Restaurants:
Yuloudong RestaurantĀ (ēę„¼äø)
Xiangxiu Hunan Restaurant in InterContinental Changsha (éæę²åč¾°ę“²é é åŗĀ·ę¹ē§ę¹åé¤å )
Xiangjiang 36 Restaurant in Grand Hyatt (åę¦é åŗĀ·ę¹ę±36)
Spicy Crayfish (å£å³č¾)
Among all the Changsha food, Spicy Crayfish is the undisputed king of night snacks on summer nights. Besides the common chili peppers, garlic, ginger and spices, purple perilla and beer are also added when cooking the fresh crayfish. The strong flavor of ingredients and the unique fresh aroma of purple perilla seep into the meat, so the crayfish is spicy but not irritating, leaving a lingering aftertaste. The crayfish itself is also fresh and chewy.
The fun of eating spicy crayfish lies in its social attribute. What does it mean? The locals usually order it when they go out with their friends for free chat. When eating it, eaters need to peel the shells by themselves, so they can put down the phones and immerse in the chatting. They also prefer ordering cold beer or drinks to pair with it.
Recommended Restaurants:
Super Wen He YouĀ (ęåå)
Tianbao BrothersĀ (天å®å å¼)
Quji Spicy CrayfishĀ (ēæč®°ā¢å£å³č¾)
Steamed Fish Head with Chopped Chili (åę¤é±¼å¤“)
This dish offers both visual and taste shock. The fresh and plump silver carp head is covered with the chopped chili that is made from the local red peppers and then steamed over high heat. During the steaming, the sour, spicy and salty flavors of the chopped chili fully penetrate the fish meat, making it appetizing. The classic eating method is to eat the fish first, then mix the noodles or rice into the soup.Ā We encourage you to taste the cheek meat and brain of fish, the essence of the dish, which is extremely fresh and tender.
Recommended Restaurants:
Tanzong Steamed Fish Head with Chopped Chili (åå®åę¤é±¼å¤“)
Yizhandeng RestaurantĀ (壹ēēÆ)
Sister Rice BallsĀ (å§å¦¹å¢å)
It got the name because it is composed of two glutinous rice balls, with one sweet and the other salty, just like a pair of sisters. The sweet rice ball is made from osmanthus, sesame, lard, etc, and the salty rice ball is filled with fresh meat, mushrooms, etc. Usually, the sweet one offers an acceptable sweetness with a hint of osmanthus fragrance, and the salty one is relatively oily but complements the glutinous rice well. When eating together, you will enjoy a rich taste. Till now, it is a popular breakfastĀ in Changsha. If you are afraid of greasiness, it will be a nice choice to order a cup of light tea.
Recommended Restaurants:
Huogongdian RestaurantĀ (ē«å®«ę®æ)
Shuangyanlou RestaurantĀ (åēę„¼)
Glutinous Rice CakeĀ with Brown Sugar (ē³ę²¹ē²ē²)
This dessert can be seen everywhere on the streets in Changsha. It is made only of glutinous rice flour and brown sugar. After kneading the glutinous rice flour dough into shape, fry it over low heat in a mixture of oil and melted sugar.Ā When tasting, you will find its outer skin is golden and crispy and the inside is soft and glutinous. And theĀ sweet flavor instantly spreads in your mouth, making you feel a sense of happiness. But do not be hurry, the freshly made rice cakes are very hot.
Recommended Restaurants:
Jinji Brown Sugar Rice Ball Shop (éč®°ē³ę²¹åØåØåŗ)
Ligongmiao Brown Sugar Rice CakeĀ (ęå ¬åŗē³ę²¹ē²ē²)
Spicy and Numbing ChickĀ (éŗ»č¾£åéø”)
This is also a classic Changsha food that is featured by spicy taste and bright red color. The diced chicken with bones is the main food material. When stir-fried, a large amount of dried red peppersĀ and Sichuan peppers are added. Under theĀ stimulationĀ of hot oil, the fragrance of both ingredients fully seeps into the chick, forming a complex spicy and fragrant taste finally. And the meat is tender with a crispy crust. Rice is also its best companion.
Recommended restaurants:
Yuloudong RestaurantĀ (ēę„¼äø)
Luge Restaurant (é²å„é„åŗ)
Recommended tour
Changsha Food Recommendations for Special Dietary Needs
It is a fact about ChangshaĀ that most food is spicy, but for tourists who can not eat spicy food, there are also many other non-spicy traditional cuisines and snacks. For vegetarians, There are also various vegetarian restaurants wait for you.
Non-spicy Food Options:
- cuisine: Steamed Cured Meat, Mao’s Braised Pork with Brown Sauce, Steamed Pork Ribs with Taro;
- Snacks: rice noodles with original soup, Sister Rice Balls, Glutinous Rice Cake with Brown Sugar, etc.
- Tips: To avoid spicy food, it is better to clearly state “no chili peppers” when ordering.
Vegetarian Dishes: both creative vegetarian food and a vegetarian buffet can be found in Changsha. Hewei Sushi Restaurant and Yimusu Buffet Restaurant are the representatives, respectively. In the area around Kaifu Temple, there are also some vegetarian restaurants.
Other Characteristic Food in Changsha:Ā the milk tea of Chayanyuese Tea Shop has been famous all over China. Its subbranches can be easily found in the city. Besides, Changsha also offers the cuisine from other cities in Hunan Province, such as Changde Cuisine, etc.
Where to Find the Best Food in Changsha?
Wuyi Square
Wuyi Square is not only the center of Changsha, but also gathers the densest food options, so it is an ideal first stop for most food lovers. From the must-try Chayanyuese Tea and Heisejingdian Stinky Tofu to the authentic Xiang cuisine restaurants and popular restaurants, all can be found here. When night falls, it turns into a bustling night market.
- Address: No. 88, Huangxing Middle Road, Furong District
- Recommended Food: Stir-fried Pork with Chili Peppers, Stir-fried Yellow Beef, Steamed Fish Head with Chopped Chili
- How to Get to: metro lines 1 or 2: Wuyi Square Station
Huangxing Road Pedestrian Street
This street is the most visually striking food landmark in Changsha, where the huge neon signs on both sides and crowded tourists interweave. In the air, the fragrance of stinky tofu, grilled skewers and milk tea spread widely. It can be said as a 24-hour open-airĀ Changsha food museum. Both street stalls and popular restaurants are densely distributed, enabling tourists to taste the local flavor in a short time.
- Address: next to Wuyi Square, TianxinDistrict
- Recommended Food: Stinky Tofu, milk tea of Changyanyuese Tea Shop, Glutinous Rice Cake with Brown Sugar, Spicy Crayfish
- How to Get to: metro line1: Wuyi Square Station; metro line 2: Huangxi Square Station
Nanmenkou Snack Street
Compared with other food streets, this street is preferred by the locals. Here, you will not see the dazzling neon lights, but only the crisscrossing alleys with many old stores. These stores usually have been open for dozens of years and always have people queuing up at their entrances. So it is the best place to taste the delicious food beloved by the common people. ItsĀ ultimate cost performance and lively market atmosphere will leave a deep impression on you.
- Address: About 200 meters south of Tianxin Pavilion, Tianxin District
- Recommended Food: Glutinous Rice Cake with Brown Sugar, fried skewers, cold dishes, sweet wine, beef patty
- How to Get to: metro line 1:NanmenkouĀ Station
Pozi Street
There is a saying, “food is best in Changsha, and taste is best in Pozi Street.āĀ Why does it earn such a high reputation among the locals?Ā It is the ultimate gathering place of Changshaās most time-honored restaurants. For the locals, it represents the authentic and classical flavors of old Changsha, which has stood the test of time. So this Street is more like a living “century-old museum of Hunan flavors”.
- Address: near Huangxing Road Pedestrian Street, Tianxin District
- Recommended Food: various snacks in Huogong Palace, fried dumplings, wonton, traditional stinky tofu
- How to Get to:Ā Metro Line 2: Huangxi Square Station
Taiping Street
The difference of this street is that it retains the old street layout of the Ming and Qing Dynasties with granite roads, blue brick walls, and wooden houses. However, inside the historic buildings are creative snacks, popular desserts, and local fashion brands. So the Changsha food here also combines tradition and innovation. Young tourists may prefer it.
- Address: No. 449, Jiefang West Road, Tianxin District
- Recommended Food: fried skewers, large beef kebabs, pancake with pork and preserved vegetables, fried large sausages
- How to Get to: metro line 1: Wuyi Square Station; metro line 2: Xiangjiang Middle Road Station
Essential Tips for a Food Discovery Tour in Changsha
The following travel tips for ChangshaĀ food may offer help when you plan a food tour.
- Typical restaurants hours in Changsha: the rice noodles shops usually only open during 6:30 – 11:00 in the morning. Most restaurants will open from 11:00 – 21:00. The opening hours of the night markets are basically from 18:00 – 03:00 the next day.
- Is street food safe to eat in Changsha? Yes, it is relatively safe. If you worry about it, observe which stall has the longest queue and go for it. Usually, it is the most useful method. Besides, observe the operation and hygienic conditions. If you do not know what to taste, choose the classic snacks.
Explore Changsha with China Xian Tour
As the birthplace of Xiang Cuisine, Changsha has a great appeal to food lovers. After reading the article, you may canāt wait to fill your belly with the varieties of delicious dishes and snacks. China Xian TourĀ is glad to customize a Changsha foodĀ tour for you. We will include the authentic and must-try local cuisines and the dishes or snacks you prefer. Besides, we can also add the famous attractions, like Yuelu Mountain or Orange Isle, to the tour if you want a rich travel experience. Whatās more, we will help you book the hotels and tickets. Just contact us to start your carefree tour.
