Xian Famous Foods: A List of Must-Try Delicacies in Xian
Xian not only has a rich historical and cultural heritage, but its cuisine is also famous throughout the country. After visiting the Terracotta Warriors, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, City Wall and other scenic spots during Xian tours, don’t forget to taste food in the well-known Muslim Quarter, Yongxingfang, Sajin Bridge and local restaurants to enjoy a unique gourmet feast.
Let’s check out some famous Xian foods, which are delicious and inexpensive. From meat burgers and pita bread soaked in lamb soup to a wide selection of noodles, there is bound to be one that fits your taste.
Chinese Hamburger with Meat (Rougamo)
Roujiamo (Shaanxi Sandwich) is a famous Xian food/snack, originating in the Warring States period and known as the “Chinese Hamburger”. In 2016, it was included in the fifth batch of intangible cultural heritage list of Shaanxi Province.
Roujiamo is mainly composed of stewed pork with moderate fat and lean meat, and Baiji bread or Old Tongguan puff pastry with half-leavened dough. Its characteristic is that the hot bread sandwiches are brightly colored, soft and mellow chopped pork meat. When eaten together, the meat aroma and bread crispiness have an endless aftertaste.
As a famous Xian food, Roujiamo was once selected for the documentary “A Bite of China”. Laofanjia, Qinyu, and Ziwulu Zhangji Roujiamo are all highly-respected old restaurants in Xian with an average consumption of about RMB 20 per person.
Pita Bread Soaked in Beef/Lamb Soup
Pita Bread Soaked in Beef/Lamb Soup (牛羊肉泡馍) has a long standing reputation and is undoubtedly one of the most representative delicacies in Xian. Due to its stomach warming and hunger tolerance effect, it is always loved by people in Xian and northwest China. Pita Bread Soaked in Beef/Lamb Soup originated in the Western Zhou Dynasty, which is not only a unique Xian cuisine, but also an important part of Xian food culture.
During your Xian travel, choose a time-honored restaurant, such as Laosunjia, Laomijia, or Tongshengxiang, pick up a white flour flatbread and slowly break the bread into the size of a fingernail. The chef will add some cooked beef or mutton, pour the soup stock over it, and pair it with fungus, vermicelli, scallions, etc. When eating, add some spicy sauce, sweet garlic, and occasionally inhale a sip of drink “Ice Peak”. It’s really unique and delicious!
There is another type of paomo called Hulutou – Pita Bread with gourd-shaped chitterlings. It is also a traditional Xian food and has been named one of the “Top 10 Famous Snacks in Shaanxi”. Its characteristics are tender meat and fresh soup, fat but not greasy, suitable for people of all ages.
Cold Noodles (Liangpi)
Steamed Cold Noodles (Liangpi) is a traditional famous food in Xian, which is mainly made of wheat flour, or rice noodles or other starches. Liangpi has a wide range of varieties, different production methods, and different mixing features and tastes. Common types include Secret Liangpi, Majiang Liangpi, Qinzhen Rice Liangpi, Hanzhong Hot Mianpi, Qishan Rolling Mianpi, Gluten Liangpi, etc. Majiang Liangpi takes sesame paste as the main seasoning, with strong aroma; Qinzhen Rice Liangpi has a smooth and refreshing taste, while the chili oil is fragrant but not spicy; Hanzhong Hot Mianpi is hot food.
As a famous Xian street food, Liangpi is made of excellent materials, rigorous technology and exquisite seasoning. It is famous throughout the country for its “white, thin, smooth, soft, gluten and fragrance”. Cold Noodles taste sour, hot and delicious, and are very appetizing. Especially in the hot summer, Liangpi attracts many diners with its unique taste.
Recommended Restaurant: Weijia Liangpi
Biangbiang Noodles
Biangbiang noodles is a famous Xian food, named after the “biáng” sound produced during its production process. There is an old saying: “Chilli Oil Sauce Biangbiang Noodles”. Noodles are like waist belts, and chili is the main dish. With just a few words, it showcases the eating habits of the people in Guanzhong, Shaanxi who love to eat noodles. When you travel to Xian, you should try authentic Biangbiang noodles.
This type of noodles is as wide and long as waist belts, and a few noodles make up a bowl of noodles, and the bowl looks like a basin. Before consumption, soy sauce, vinegar, monosodium and other seasonings are added as sauce. Hot oil is poured over chili powder, chopped scallions, and minced garlic; and with a sizzling sound, it immediately boils. After stirring, the bowl is filled with redness, making the noodles strong and spicy, with a perfect flavor of northwest China. Some Xian restaurants also offer noodle soup. After finishing the noodles, you can drink a bowl of noodle soup, which is very enjoyable.
Meatball Hulatang
Meatball Hulatang (肉丸胡辣汤) is a special breakfast in Xian. The soup is made with beef and mutton bones, which is rich and delicious. Add freshly-made round and bouncy beef balls, and there are also potato chunks, cabbage, carrot chunks, beans, fungus, peanuts and other ingredients, seasoned with a large amount of pepper, and then thicken. When you come to Xian, don’t miss a bowl of steaming hot and spicy Meatball Hulatang in the morning, accompanied by pancakes or roujiamo. This is the favorite of Xian people, full of energy, to drive away all fatigue and start a new day!
Another elegant name of Meatball Hulatang is Eight-Treasure Soup, meaning it has a great many “contents”. Recommended Restaurants: Xing Laosan, Liu Laohu and Ma Kui Meatball Hulatang are all good choices.
Hulu Chicken
Hulu Chicken (Gourd-shaped Chicken) is a traditional famous Xian food of the Han Chinese. It originated in the Tang Dynasty and is known as the “First Flavor of Chang’an”. The characteristics of this dish are golden color, crispy skin, tender meat, fragrant and mellow taste, and the bones can be shed with just poking a chopstick. Its production process includes three steps: boiling, steaming, and frying. When served, a small plate of pepper salt will be included as a side dish.
Legend has it that from early on, Hulu Chicken was famous throughout Xian, and its unique production process left people amazed. In 2018, Hulu Chicken was named one of the top 10 classic dishes in Shaanxi Province, among “Chinese Cuisine”.
Hulu Chicken can be tasted in authentic Shaanxi restaurants such as Zui Chang’an (South Gate), Chang’an Large Food Stall, Xian Restaurant, Chef’s Restaurant, etc.
Soup Dumplings
Soup dumplings (灌汤包) are a famous snack in China. In addition to its beautiful and glossy surface, its content is also exquisite and unique. With a gentle bite, the hot soup overflows into your mouth, and the fragrance lingers on the tip of your tongue.
On the Xian food street, Jiasan Soup Dumplings enjoys a high reputation. It is a traditional Xian famous food, praised as the true Xian snack. This cuisine is usually filled with beef and mutton. Now Jiasan Soup Dumplings also offers three fresh fillings and vegetarian fillings to meet the tastes of more people. When eating soup dumplings, don’t rush to swallow them, but savor the deliciousness of the dumplings and the soup.
Jiasan Soup Dumplings is a time-honored Chinese brand and there are no empty seats at noon every day.
Hot and Sour Soup Dumplings
Dumplings can be found all over China, but hot and sour soup dumplings (酸汤水饺) is a famous Xian food. Pork filling, lamb filling, and seafood filling are all available, with lamb filling being the most popular. Generally handmade, freshly prepared as ordered. It features a large filling, thin skin, and more meat. When making, close both hands and squeeze the two thumbs inside to make the dumplings into a lace-like lump shape.
The hot and sour soup dumplings at the Xian night market have a unique taste. The soup in the bowl is red, and taking a sip, it is sour, spicy, steaming hot, and has a strong aroma. Recommended Restaurant: Ma’er Hot and Sour Soup Dumplings at the north entrance of Sajin Bridge
In addition, the Xian Dumpling Banquet has a variety of ingredients, different flavors, and beautiful shapes, which has been highly appreciated by Chinese and foreign guests. Recommended Restaurant: Defachang (德发长)
Minced Noodles
Minced noodles (臊子面) are a traditional famous Xian food, unique to the Guanzhong region of Shaanxi. It originated in the Zhou Dynasty and has a history of over three thousand years. This type of noodles not only follows the custom of “longevity noodles” in the Tang Dynasty, but also plays a role in entertaining guests in various important occasions such as weddings, funerals, and festivals. Especially Qishan Noodles with Ground Pork is known for its long and thin noodles, uniform thickness, fresh and fragrant flavor, and sour and spicy soup taste.
Minced noodles is one of the most famous noodle types in Shaanxi Province. Saozi is made by stir-frying pork, eggs, fungus, tofu, carrots and other ingredients, with rich colors and balanced nutrition. The soup is rich and mellow, good-looking and tasty.
Desserts
After tasting the delicious food in Xian, what to eat when it comes to desserts?
Persimmon Cake
Crystal Persimmon Cake (黄桂柿饼) is a “Chinese Famous Snack”. It uses persimmons and flour as the skin, and is filled with different fillings such as five kernels, walnut, osmanthus, rose, etc. The surface is golden and the taste is sweet and fragrant. Remember to eat while it’s hot for the best flavor. Reminder: A little high in calories~
Cake Caldron (Zeng Gao)
Cake Caldron (甑糕) is a traditional famous Xian food/snack, made by steaming glutinous rice, red dates or honey dates, and red beans on an iron steamer. Zeng Gao has a long history, with excellent shape and color, moderate softness and hardness, sweetness and stickiness, and a rich and mellow taste. As a breakfast or dessert, especially in the cold winter, a serving of Cake Caldron can bring warmth to you.
Recommended Dessert Restaurant: Shaanxi Shisan, known as the “Häagen-Dazs of Shaanxi”
Apart from the above famous Xian food, there are also Jello Stew with Rice Noodles, Steamed Pork with Rice Flour, Buckwheat Noodles (Qiaomian Heluo), Basin Mutton, Mille Feuille, Lamb Kebab, Guokui, Crispy Fried Noodles, Youcha Mahua, Honey Glutinous Rice, etc.
In Xian, the air is filled with the strong aroma of various delicious foods, and every bite is a taste of history and cultural heritage, making you feel the authentic flavor of Xian. Welcome to start a Xian food tour to explore this food paradise!
