Written by Clementine |
The rice cultural relics and tons of delicious snacks are the top two attractions to travelers. When you travel to Xian, please do not just learn about the city with your eye and ear, let your taste buds also join in your Xian tour!
In the tourist restaurants, you will meet the dishes specially cooked for strangers and international friends who usually prefer light meals. They can meet most people’s meal requirement, but they are not real Xian food! If you want to try most authentic Xian food like local people, you need to walk to local eateries, though these eateries may have very simple or even shabby decoration, they are the best place to enjoy local food. Let’s see where you can go for authentic food in Xian city area?
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- Da Pi Yuan
- Yong Xing Fang
- Xi Yang Shi
- Muslim Street
- Da Che Jia Xiang
- Shun Cheng Xiang
- FAQs about Where Locals Really Eat in Xi’an
- Travel with China Xian Tour for an Memorable Food Adventure
Da Pi Yuan – Strong Marketplace Atmosphere
Da Pi Yuan is a 398m long alley that lies in Muslim Quarter. Compared with main street, this short alley is not crowded with tourists, but is preferred by the locals. You will experience a stronger marketplace atmosphere and you can also find various delicious local food and snacks, such as crispy fried pork, beef and lamb paomo, plum syrup. Try to find out the time-honored brands and famous snack bars in the street.
Recommended Restaurants:
- Yizhenlou Restaurant: No. 18, Da Pi Yuan
- Dingjia Crispy FriedPork: No. 223, West Entrance of Da Pi Yuan
- Huanainai Plum Syrup: No. 218, North Guangji Street
Yong Xing Fang – The Cultural Food Hub
Yong Xing Fang used to be one of the 108 residential blocks in Chang’an city in the Tang Dynasty. It is located at the foot of Xian City Wall on the inside of Xiao Dongmen. In the Ming and Qing Dynasties, here was called Ghost City because it became a well-known market for old articles and antique trade. But now it is a food quarter where people can try lots of Shaanxi Food that is honored as non-material cultural heritage. The block is divided into Central Shaanxi Lane, Southern Shaanxi Lane and Northern Shaanxi Lane, so that you can taste the flavors in all regions of the province. Besides, there are also intangible cultural heritage performances like shadow puppet and Qinqiang Opera.
Recommended Restaurants:
- Guanzhong Tower Restaurant: in the northwest corner of Yong Xing Fang
- Zichang Pancake: in the northeast corner of Yong Xing Fang
- Qinzhen Rice Noodles: in the northeast corner of Yong Xing Fang
Xi Yang Shi – Popular Among Both Locals and Tourists
Xi Yang Shi is located north of Bell Tower with a length of 419m. It is part of the famous Muslim Street. It is not only famous among local people, many stranger visitors also go there to look for authentic Xian food. Before the 1950s, here was a normal residential block. Since the 1970s, with business and trading development, and due to it’s advanced location, here appears many eateries and restaurants. Nowadays, Xi Yang Shi is a business card of Xian food. Here gather many time-honored brands, whose reputation has undergone tests for decades of years. You will find that many stores sell only one or two goods, but they are the top in Xian. You can taste both staple foods, like paomo and dumplings, and snacks, like cold noodles and persimmon cake.
Recommended Restaurants:
- Lao Mi Family’s Dayu Paomo: 127, Xi Yang Shi
- LaoAn Family’s Traditional Pastries: 136, North Guangji Street
- Liu Jixiao Cured Beef and Mutton: No. 187, North Guangji Street
Muslim Street – Most Famous Food Street in Xian
Muslim Street is beyond any doubt the best-known food street in Xian. As a food street, it has a history of 1000+ years. Here is also the must-go place for lots of people’s Xian tour. It is located in the northwest of Bell Tower and consists of several streets, including the above Da Pi Yuan, Xi Yang Shi and North Guangji Street and Bei Yuan Men, etc. Bei Yuan Men is the main street known to all tourists. So there are more stores and it is usually full of people all the time. It is suitable for first-timers to experience the lively and unique atmosphere here. As the residential quarter of the Muslims, you will feel a profound Muslim cultural atmosphere and taste various kinds of Muslim food here.
Recommended Restaurants:
- Jia SanHalal Steamed Buns with Soup: No. 93, Bei Yuan Men
- Lao SunFamily’s Paomo: No. 68, Bei Yuan Men
- Yiguzhai Osmanthus Persimmon Cake: No. 119, Bei Yuan Men
Da Che Jia Xiang – Best Place to Taste Noodles
Da Che Jia Xiang is an 800m long street that is best known for various noodles. You can find almost all kinds of special Shaanxi noodles here, including the famous Biangbiang Noodles and Oil-sprayed Noodles. Noodles is the favorite main food among Xian people, so you will find the street is full of eaters in both day and night. If you want to learn about noodles, here is the best place to go. During a visit to the street, the tailor’s stall, the locksmith store and the hardware store will also make you feel like experiencing the local life of old Xian.
Recommended Restaurants:
- Liu Ji Braised Pork Noodles: No. 33, Da Che Jia Xiang
- Yiwanlao Noodles:Beside the west gate of No. 9 Courtyard, Da Che Jia Xiang
- Halal Kunkun Spinach Noodles: No. 84, Da Che Jia Xiang
Shun Cheng Xiang – A Ring Road Popular among the Youth
Shun Cheng Xiang is a ring road around the city which lies inside the foot of Xian City Wall. It is an amazing place for young people. Here is a great destination to walk along foot of Xian city wall. You will not only feel the thick cultural atmosphere of the city, but also you will be delighted by the various eateries, bars, and romantic souvenir shops. In different sections and time, you will have quite different experiences. The highlights along the road include Small South Gate Morning Market, Academy Gate Cultural Street, Old Market Cultural and Creative Street, etc. With a length of 13.7 km, it is not recommended to complete the tour at once, just choose the section you prefer to explore leisurely.
Recommended Restaurants:
- Chang An Zao Shaanxi Cuisine Restaurant: on the 2ndfloor of Yongningli Shopping Mall
- Ma Le Roast Meat: 300 meters west of the Yongning Gate
- Zhu Xiuying Bangbang Meat: No. 6, Xiamaling, Baishulin Street
FAQs about Where Locals Really Eat in Xi’an
Which food street is considered the most authentic local favorite, distinct from the main tourist area?
Da Pi Yuan and Xi Yang Shi are favorites among locals because of their authentic flavors.
What is the difference between the main Muslim Quarter street (Beiyuanmen) and the side alleys like Sajin Qiao or Dapiyuan?
The main street is more like a tourist street with a strong business atmosphere, while Sajin Qiao and Da Pi Yuan have fewer tourists and are preferred by locals.
Does Yongxing Fang primarily offer Hui Muslim cuisine, or does it feature food from all over Shaanxi Province?
Yongxing Fang is featured by foods from all over Shaanxi Province.
How late do the local food streets typically stay open in the evening?
The stores inside the food streets usually open from 10:00 – 22:00.
Travel with China Xian Tour for an Memorable Food Adventure
Xian food is famous all over China because of various kinds of noodles and local snacks. For tourists who do not know much about the local food and restaurants, China Xian Tour can recommend some famous ones according to your interests and customize a food tour based on your demands. Of course, we can also combine the food adventure with must-visit scenic spots to ensure you can experience the charm of Xian completely. Just contact us right now to start your Xian tour.
