Top 10 Best Restaurants in Xian – Where to Eat in Xian

Written by Clementine | Updated March 07,2026

The fame of Xian food is as great as Xian tourist attractions, not to be missed. Xian gourmets has occupied an important place in Chinese food, which attracts a large number of people from all the country every year. There are some good restaurants for reference to people who are planning a Xian tour according to the feedback of our previous customers and vast survey of market. If one does a Best Xian Day Tour which lunch is left to our clients’ own interest, telling our guide your requirement the guide will lead you to any one restaurant bellow or other popular restaurant according to your interest. Though the lunch is covered in other Xian tours we offer, we could also arrange your lunch in following restaurants if you like. Or if the restaurants bellow still can not meet your requirement on food, our Xian food tour may be the thing you are looking for.

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• 1. Xian Restaurant (Main Branch) – A Timeless Banquet of Shaanxi Classics
• 2. China Folk’s Restaurant – Where Local Opera Meets Home-Style Cuisine
• 3. First Noodle under the Sun – Bold Biangbiang Noodles Beneath Xi’an Skies
• 4. The Seasonal Taste Restaurant – A Lavish Buffet in a Tranquil Setting
• 5. De Fa Chang (德发长) – Dumpling Banquet Artistry
• 6. Tongshengxiang (同盛祥) – Where Paomo Becomes Cultural Heritage
• 7. Chun Fa Sheng (春发生, est. 1920) – Intestines in Broth, Bold in Flavor
• 8. Jia San Halal Soup Dumplings (贾三清真灌汤包子馆, 1980s) – Halal Soup Dumplings with a Loyal Following
• 9. Fan Ji Lajizhi Roujiamo (樊记腊汁肉夹馍, since 1925) – Where the Meat Meets the Bread Just Right
• 10. Chang’an Da Paidang (长安大牌档, Saige Branch) – Theatrical Bites from the Tang Dynasty
• FAQs about Food and Restaurants in Xian
• Eat Through Xian with China Xian Tour

1. Xian Restaurant (Main Branch) – A Timeless Banquet of Shaanxi Classics

• Chinese Name in Pinyin: Xian Fan Zhuang
• Cuisine Features: typical Xian cuisine
• Opening Time: 11:00-21:00
• Add: No. 110, West Avenue, Beilin District, Xian (inside of Bell Tower Hotel, southwest corner of Bell Tower)
• Tel: 029-87600115

Bearing 87-year’s history, Xian Restaurant has been opened from 1929. It is always thought as the first name card of Shaanxi gourmets due to its endless pursuing for innovation and inheritance for the historical cuisine culture. Based on the traditional Shaanxi cuisine, Xian Restaurant has been absorbing all available elements from cuisines of other cuisines to improve itself. If you want to taste the authority Shaanxi food, you will never miss it!

2. China Folk’s Restaurant – Where Local Opera Meets Home-Style Cuisine

• Chinese Name in Pinyin: Bai Xing Chu Fang Jiu Fang Dian
• Cuisine Features: typical Xian cuisine
• Opening Time: 10:00-22:00

China Folk’s Restaurant is a famous Xian local brand which endlessly injects cultural elements into Shaanxi traditional gourmets, and gradually developed many branch restaurants with distinct features, such as Shaanxi local opera, pottery, clay sculpture and wine. Winery Branch of China Folk’s Restaurant locates at the central downtown, nearby the famous Great Tang All Day Mall, offers local folk daintiness to customers.

Add: 1 F, Xian Art Gallery of Great Tang All Day Mall District, South Yanta Road, Yanta District, Xian

Tel: 02989129778

Add: No. 110, West Avenue, Beilin District, Xian (inside of Bell Tower Hotel, southwest corner of Bell Tower)

Tel: 029-87600115

3. First Noodle under the Sun – Bold Biangbiang Noodles Beneath Xi’an Skies

• Chinese Name in Pinyin: Tian Xia Di Yi Mian(Ji Xiang Cun Dian)
• Cuisine Features: Chinese northwest dishes, Shaanxi dishes
• Opening Time: 11:00-21:00

Old brand of Chinese northwest dishes in Xian with good taste, good environment and location. If you are planning a tour to explore deeply Xian city, then except those famous tour attractions, True Love Restaurant is a good place for you to taste Chinese northwest dishes. Many toursits who are Chinese in origin like this restaurant very much. Click here to see tours we have for these tourists.

Add: inside of West Park around the City, north of outside of West Gate, Lianhu District, Xian

Tel: 029-87951234

4. The Seasonal Taste Restaurant – A Lavish Buffet in a Tranquil Setting

• Chinese Name in Pinyin: Zhi Wei Ka Fei Ting (in Westin Xian)
• Cuisine Features: buffet food
• Opening Time: 6:00-22:00

A luxury restaurant in the 5-stars hotel the Westin Xian offer the various fine delicacy for customers. The highlights of this restaurant is its amazing environment and considerate service, which treats all of you, no matter kids or old people, with good foods, good atmosphere and good mood.

Add: inside of The Westin Xian Hotel, No.66 Cien Road, Qujing New District, Xian

Tel: 029- 6568 6568

5. De Fa Chang (德发长) – Dumpling Banquet Artistry

• Signature Dish: Dumpling Feast 
• Opening Hour: 10:00–14:00, 17:00–21:00
• Address: 2nd Floor, No. 3 Xida Street, Bell & Drum Tower Plaza, Xi’an

Famous for the “dumpling banquet” , which features dozens of shapes and flavors of dumplings— “one dumpling, one form, one flavor” (the banquet needs early booking) Indeed, they’ll product is more than food; it’s edible art. Culinary experts at De Fa Chang also craft playful dumpling designs that look like flowers, animals, and even Chinese characters—each bite is a blend of craftsmanship and flavor.

6. Tongshengxiang (同盛祥) – Where Paomo Becomes Cultural Heritage

• Signature Dish: Mutton or Beef Paomo (bread soaked in meat soup)
• Opening Hour: Mon-Fri: 10:20—14:30 , 17:00—21:00; Sat-Sun: 10:20——21:00
• Address: No. 5 Xidajie Street, near Bell Tower

This is a century-old Muslim-established restaurant that successfully makes Paomo a national intangible cultural heritage dish. Their broth is rich and immersive; the flatbread is delectably chewy, best enjoyed with pickled garlic and spicy sauce. This classic eatery preserves traditional paomo-making techniques which have been passed down through generations, giving diners a warm and hearty taste of Xi’an heritage.

7. Chun Fa Sheng (春发生, est. 1920) – Intestines in Broth, Bold in Flavor

• Signature Dish: Hulu Tou Paomo
• Opening Hour: 10:00–22:00
• Address: No. 25 Nanyuanmen Street, Beilin District

This restaurant specializes in richly flavored, aromatic soups made from pork intestines. Tearing the bread into small bites and soaking them the hearty soup, it’s time to enjoy a bold, rustic flavor. A must-visit for adventurous eaters eager to explore Xi’an’s more intense and distinctive flavors.

8. Jia San Halal Soup Dumplings (贾三清真灌汤包子馆, 1980s) – Halal Soup Dumplings with a Loyal Following

• Signature Dish: Soup-filled Dumplings
• Opening Hour: 8:00-21:00
• Address: No. 93, Beiyuanmen, Huimin Street, near Drum Tower

Two of the most important things of dumplings made here are the delicate skins and savory soup that bursts on your first bite. Fillings include beef, lamb, or three-flavor combinations—perfectly paired with a warm bowl of eight-treasure porridge. A delicious halal alternative to the typical xiaolongbao, cherished by locals and visitors alike.

9. Fan Ji Lajizhi Roujiamo (樊记腊汁肉夹馍, since 1925) – Where the Meat Meets the Bread Just Right

• Signature Dish: Roujiamo (braised meat sandwiches)
• Opening hour: 8:30 – 20:30
• Address: No. 53 Zhubashi Street, Beilin District

A legendary Xi’an staple, often dubbed the “original” roujiamo. Their flatbread is crispy and lightly toasted and their richly seasoned braised meat is always tender yet not greasy. If you have time for only one street snack, this is widely considered an unbeatable choice.

10. Chang’an Da Paidang (长安大牌档, Saige Branch) – Theatrical Bites from the Tang Dynasty

• Signature Dish: Creative Shaanxi fusion dishes 
• Opening hour: 10:00-22:00
• Address: 6th floor, Saige International Shopping Center, Xiaozhai East Road, Yanta District

Dishes here can be seen as a blend of traditional culture with modern presentation, for example, impressive dishes like brush-shaped “Mao Bi Su” pastry and “Feizi Xiao” prawn balls disguised as lychees. Evening shadow-puppet performances will add theatrical flair to your meal. Expect to pay around ¥80 per person for a theatrical dining experience—book ahead to get a stage-side seat.

FAQs about Food and Restaurants in Xian

Do You Have Some Tips for Dining in Xian’s Popular Restaurants?

• When eating paomo, especially in the century-old restaurants, experience breaking the buns yourself and then hand them over to the chef for cooking.
• The roujiamo, cold noodles, and Ice Peak soda make the most popular set among the Xian locals.
• The Xi’an food is relatively greasy, high in salt, and a bit If you prefer to be lighter, inform the waiter when ordering that you want “less spicy” or “less salt”.
• Avoid the peak dining hours in popular restaurants: 11:30 – 13:00, 17:30 – 19:30. Otherwise, you will probably have to wait in a long queue. And your dining experience may be compromised.

What are the most famous local dishes in Xi’an?

Hailed as “The Premier Delicacy in Chang’an”, Hulu Chicken is the must-try local dish. Other traditional famous dishes are Wen Ban Yao Si (warm pork kidney strips mixed), San Pi Si (a cold dish made of chicken skin, pork skin, and jellyfish skin), etc. About classic snacks, roujiamo, lamb paomo and biangbiang noodles are the most representative.

Where can I find the best Roujiamo (Chinese hamburger) in Xi’an?

The restaurant beloved by the locals is Ziwulu Zhangji Roujiamo. There are plenty of subbranches in the city, so it is easy to find. Fan Ji Lajizhi Roujiamo has been opened for about 100 years, making it the first choice for many travelers. Other famous ones include Qinyu Roujiamo and Duanlvmen Roujiamo.

What are the best restaurants near the Bell Tower and Drum Tower?

Xian Restaurant, De Fa Chang and Tongshengxiang are the best and most popular restaurants.

Are there upscale or fine dining restaurants in Xi’an?

Of course. If you ask for one upscale restaurant, most local will recommend Xian Restaurant, the most famous high-end restaurant in Xian. There are also Michelin-starred restaurants waiting for you to explore, which cover Shandong cuisine, Cantonese cuisine and so on. Among them, Lushanglu Restaurant obtains two Michelin stars.

Savor the “Michelin-starred” Shaanxi cuisine at Chang’an Club • Original Shaanxi Cuisine (长安荟·原味陕菜). It has been recommended by the Michelin Guide, as it offers the “Silk Road Set Menu“. The set menu includes Dunhuang Li Guang apricots paired with Qin Chuan beef, Hami melon dipped in Tongguan sauce, shelled bamboo shoots, and Zhangye millet steamed rolls filled with Yulin lamb.

Can I find international cuisine (Western, Japanese, Korean) in Xi’an?

Definitely. Xian is an international tourism city, and the options of international cuisine is very abundant. Especially in the business circles like Bell tower and Xiaozhai, the international restaurants are densely distributed, covering Western, Japanese, Korean cuisines. Some are in the shopping mall like SEGA in Xiaozhai, and some are in alley like Zhongliu Lane near Bell Tower. You can combine your tour with the restaurant.

Is tipping customary in Xi’an’s restaurants?

No, there is no tipping customary in Xian. All the services are included in the meal fee, so you only need to pay the bill.

How much does a typical meal cost in Xi’an?

In general, the cost depends on your food options. The street snacks are popular and affordable. A bowl of cold noodle is about CNY 8 – 12 and one roujiamo takes about CNY 10 – 12. So about CNY 20 is enough for a dinner or lunch. Of course, you may want to try some local cuisines, like Hulu Chicken. Then it is recommended to choose some hot local restaurants, whose expense is usually about CNY 50 – 100 per person.

Which foods make the best souvenirs to take home from Xi’an?

Cured beef and mutton is the most representative specialty in the Muslim Quarter. If you want to take home, the seller will use vacuum package to seal, so it is very convenient to carry. Another popular choice is the crystal cake sold by Demaogong Pastry store. Many locals send it as a gift during the festival. A bag of sour plum powder is also a nice choice. It is easy to preserve and brew. Just add water into the powder, it becomes plum syrup. If your friend loves spicy food, how about buy a bottle of chili oil sauce, a famous local sauce which is fragrant but not very spicy.

Eat Through Xian with China Xian Tour

Xian is not only an ancient capital, but also a food paradise. We can customize an Xian tour to combine the famous local restaurants and scenic spots. If you want to try to make Chinese food, we also have a dumpling-making class. You can learn to make and eat the dumplings made by yourself. This will be an unforgettable experience. So do not hesitate to contact China Xian Tour.