Xian Restaurants and Dining

(Xian, Shaanxi, China)

The cuisine served at restaurants in Xian is often somewhat Islamic in style and dining out comes highly recommended. Restaurants and similar eateries serve a variety of Chinese delicacies in Xian, with 'yangrou paomo' being something of a signature dish of the city and is a tasty lamb soup, poured over small pieces of bread.

Other dining specialities in Xian include stir-fried mutton and wheat (fenrerou), buckwheat noodles (heletiao), and spicy noodles with various toppings (biang biang mian). However, if you are not particularly adventurous with your food, then a number of familiar American fast-food restaurants grace the city with their golden arches, pizzas and buckets of fried chicken.

Where to Eat

In order to find the city's most prized restaurants, you will need to take a stroll around the Bell Tower square and head in an easterly direction, along the Dong Dajie and all around the Muslim Quarter.

Dining establishments in this part of Xian are often to be found spilling out onto the pavement, especially on warm summer evenings.

If you are in a hurry and simply looking for a snack, rather than a full-blown dining experience, then the street food of Xian is likely to be the answer. Considerably cheaper than restaurants, street vendors start selling their hot food from early evening onwards, with highlights including tasty dumplings, rich stews and regional noodle soups.

Those with a hankering for a burger with a difference, will likely find the 'roujiamo' an appealing alternative. which consists of fried slices of pork, served in pita bread.