“You’ll be in a good mood through eating.” It is a golden saying to gourmets. It is even more vividly embodied with Shaanxi cuisine that enjoys unique dishes and a treasury of a long diet culture. Not only is Xi’an home to some world-famous old-brand restaurants, but it also boasts quite large snack fairs. To try those delicacies on the local food fairs is the best way of getting to know the local diet customs of Xi’an.
Beiyuanmen Muslim Culture Street
A famous local food street in Xi’an, Beiyuanmen Muslim Culture Street is a living area for mixed nationalities including mostly Han and Hui. This multi-cultural environment offers a unique historic and cultural value. It is an exhibition of local flavors in Xi’an where you can find every conceivable dish you expect to find: steamed pork with rice flour, Guantang Bao, fried dumplings, instant-boiled beef tripe and spicy soup with meatballs, to name just a few. It would be a real regret not to visit this street.
Opening hours: Everyday till 12 a.m.
Location: West Xihuamen; Beiyuanmen Street
Damaishi Muslim Food Street
A well-known street in Xi’an for Muslim food, Damaishi Street is also the one and only specialty food market for the tastes of the Hui nationality. It mainly deals in beef or lamb Paomo, cured beef or lamb and barbecued beef, lamb or fish. All kinds of snacks and roasted seeds and nuts are also on offer. The whole street is busy all day with the hustle and bustle of the people.
Opening hours: Everyday till 12 a.m.
Location: North Qiaozikou West Street; South Damaishi Street
Muslim Food Street at North Guangji Street
One of the concentrated areas in Xi’an for Muslim foods, north part of Guangji Street is well-known for its glutinous rice cake, roast chicken, persimmon cakes and lamb guts, etc.. At daytime this street is crowded with diners who can get a real glimpse of the Muslim customs from the diet culture as well as enjoying the true Muslim tastes.
Opening hours: Everyday till 12 a.m.
Location: North Guangji Street
Night Food Quarters on Beixin Street
A relatively large night food market in the city of Xi’an, Beixin Street owns more than 50 food stands with a rich variety of local foods that mainly feature Shaanxi flavors besides foods from other parts of China. It satisfies the dietary needs of different diners with various fried dishes, rice noodles in casseroles, Ma Shi—a thumb-kneaded diced noodle, hot and spicy soup and all kinds of cooked wheaten food.
Opening hours: Six p.m. till 12 a.m.
Location: West of Geming Park on Beixin Street
Nanyuanmen Night Food Market
Brightly lit at night, Nanyuanmen Street is bustling with diners in front of every stand. Soup with pork and beef noodles here are the most famous. Others including “cross bridge” rice noodles, hot and spicy soup, barbecued meat or fish, the Wang’s shabu-shabu, smoked meat pie and Qishan Shaozi Noodles (noodles in minced pork soup) all find favor in diners’ eyes.
Opening hours: from 6 p.m. till 12 a.m.
Location: Fenxiang Street
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