Xi'an - Dining

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Xi'an

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Asia China Xi'an Dining

Overview

Dining The guide was updated: 2022-12-09

The cuisine in Xian is greatly influenced by the flavors of Northwestern China. Home to more than 600,000 Muslims, the food here is markedly different from the food that is served in traditional Chinese restaurants.

One defining characteristic is the use of lamb in its dishes since Muslims are not allowed to eat pork which is most commonly used in Chinese cooking. Another one is the substitute of rice by flat bread and the Pita Bread soaked in Lamb Soup. Both represent the food culture of this ancient city. Of course, being an international city means other cuisines like Western, Japanese, Korean and South Asian are also represented here.

First Noodle Under The Sun / 天下第一面

First Noodle Under The Sun / 天下第一面

Xi'an is known to be the kingdom of noodles. As a historical wheat production area, the city has a thousand-year-long history of making noodles. Today you can find hundreds of variations throughout the province, with or without soup, boiled or sautéd, thick or thin, round or flat, sweet or spicy, noodles have become the very fundamental part of locals' life, and you can always find one that you adore.

Five Zen5es / 中国元素

Five Zen5es / 中国元素

Five Zen5es offers you extensive options of Chinese and Japanese dishes so you can enjoy a wide variety of food including Liangpi, steamed flounder fish and dim sum. You may also try the traditional hot soup with BBQ eel and chicken: the flavour and portion size will never let you down.

Redfort Indian Restaurant / 红堡

Redfort Indian Restaurant / 红堡

Redfort Indien Restaurant serves you a wide range of authentic dishes of the Indian cuisine in a magnificent ambience of live Indian dance performances in a historic fort decor. It is a great place to spend some time with family and friends, as the range of beverages and popular Asian dishes can always satisfy different cravings.

Ganges Indian Restaurant / 恒河印度餐厅

Ganges Indian Restaurant / 恒河印度餐厅

After serving Beijing city for over 9 years, Ganges Indian Restaurant comes to Xi'an and is now based very close to the city's iconic landmark: the Wild Goose Pagoda. You will be served a range of traditional dishes of Indian cuisine, including vegetable karahi and aloo matar. Voted the best Indian Restaurant in Beijing for over 6 years, it entices with affordable prices and delicious food.

Cyclist Restaurant / 骑行者

Cyclist Restaurant / 骑行者

Would you love to have some Italian and European food after staying in Xi'an for a while? Cyclist Restaurant offers a range of Italian and European dining choices from salad to steak, as well as great beer and wine selections, including fruit beer. You will be served by English speaking staff with a warm and welcoming attitude.

Fan Ji Rou Jia Mo / 樊记腊汁肉夹馍

Fan Ji Rou Jia Mo / 樊记腊汁肉夹馍

Rou Jia Mo can be likened to a Chinese take on a burger. The meat is stewed for hours in a secret broth seasoned with more than 20 spices, then finely chopped and served in freshly baked bread. Don't forget that you have other options including ramen, cold rice, fermented glutinous rice and other traditional snacks.

Chang'an Diner / 长安大牌档

Chang'an Diner / 长安大牌档

There are many kinds of delicious traditional street foods in Xi'an. However, they are scattered around the city and often hide in the alleyways, which can make them hard to find. Chang'an Diner is the restaurant that brings all these traditional dishes together. They even took it one step further and came up with some creative dishes such as sweet fermented rice ice cream and Mahjong-shaped sesame dessert.

Lao Sun Jia / 老孙家饭庄

Lao Sun Jia / 老孙家饭庄

This restaurant started in 1898 and is renowned domestically and abroad. It is one of the best places to try Xi’an's famous dish yang rou pao mo, which is bread soaked in traditional mutton soup. The restaurant also serves beef and mutton steamed bread, local snacks, as well as Western halal cuisine. The honorary chairman of the Chinese Kuomintang, Lien Chan once inscribed it as "hundred years delicious".

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