The most popular and classic snacks. Follow this list and walk through the streets and alleys of Xi’an to slowly find their flavors!
When traveling to the city of Xi’an, the least worrying problem is “what to eat”. The delicacies here have been passed down through generations and are rich in variety. The time-honored brands and snack stalls on the street are one after another, attracting an endless stream of diners from morning to night. There is also a famous food district “Muslim Quarter” in the city center, where all kinds of Northwest delicacies can be found in one place, making Xi’an a real “foodie paradise”.
The most representative delicacies in Xi’an are snacks. There are hundreds of kinds, mainly halal flavors and noodles. Most of them are salty and spicy, and there are also various characteristic pastries, which leave people with endless aftertastes.
These snacks are timeless. Some of them have been innovated and accepted by diners from all over the country. They have also been on food programs such as “A Bite of China”. Although they are called snacks, they are actually not “small”. Many snacks are very filling and can be used as a full meal without any problem, and they are also inexpensive. The following 10 kinds of snacks are all must-tastes when coming to Xi’an. You might as well walk through the streets and alleys to slowly find their flavors.
Chinese hamburger with marinated meat.
Chinese hamburger with marinated meat is a widely spread Xi’an snack at home and abroad. In fact, it is “meat sandwiched in a bun”. Usually, streaky pork (mostly pork. In the Muslim Quarter, the Chinese hamburger with marinated meat is all beef) is stewed and minced with more than 20 kinds of spices, and then sandwiched with an authentic Baiji bun to eat.
Chinese hamburger with marinated meat is generally divided into two types: “premium” and “ordinary”. The difference lies in the amount of meat and the proportion of fat and lean. The premium one is made of pure lean meat, while the ordinary one is half fat and half lean. Some stores also divide it into three categories according to: “ordinary”, “lean meat”, and “premium quality”, with the amount of lean meat increasing in turn. In terms of price, taking the Chinese hamburger with marinated meat at Qinyu as an example, the premium one is 11 yuan, and the ordinary one is 8 yuan. Be sure to eat it while it’s hot. The outer skin of the bun is crispy, and the inner layer is soaked by the marinade. It is mellow and delicious. The meat is fat but not greasy, and the taste is rich in layers.
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In addition to the aforementioned pork/beef Chinese hamburger with marinated meat, the egg and vegetable Chinese hamburger at Laojin’s family in Xi’an is also very unique. The bun is filled full with eggs and duck egg yolks. Add a few spoonfuls of peanuts, pickles and the exclusive secret sauce. It has salty, spicy and sweet flavors.
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Cold noodles.
The cold noodles in Xi’an appeared as early as the Qin Dynasty. Its smooth taste and various eating methods are loved by the public.
Qinzhen cold noodles are the most famous among them and have a history of more than 2,000 years. The well-mixed cold noodles are red. They are fully mixed with side dishes such as shredded cucumbers with sauce and vinegar, then sprinkle some coriander and mashed garlic, and pour on chili oil. They are chewy and springy when eaten.
In addition, there are cold noodles with sesame paste. The local Hui people prefer the taste of sesame paste. When making cold noodles, they always add a large spoonful of sesame paste, hence the name. The taste of sesame paste in cold noodles occupies most of it, making the taste of cold noodles more intense and mellow.
Hanzhong rice noodles made of rice pulp are also a Shaanxi specialty. Compared with the above two, they are less seen in other places. The taste of rice noodles is softer and glutinous than that of flour noodles, and it can also be made hot. In some stores, cold noodles and rice noodles can be served together, so you can taste two textures at once.
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Steamed bun series.
Steamed buns have the reputation of “the best bowl in the world” and are also a must-try snack when coming to Xi’an. The most famous Pita Bread Soaked in Lamb Soup is made by slicing lamb hind leg meat and stewing it in soup. Then vermicelli is cooked in the soup. After being served, the meat is tender and the soup is thick. Sprinkled with chopped green onions and coriander, the aroma is indescribable.
The bun for steamed buns is called “tuótuó bun”. Some stores will let guests break the bun by themselves. Break it to the size of soybeans. Locals regard it as a kind of fun. When drinking soup, use the way of “nibbling” and drink it little by little along the edge of the bowl. In this way, the taste can be consistent. When you feel greasy when drinking soup, eat sweet garlic to refresh your mouth. The snack of Pita Bread Soaked in Lamb Soup combines dishes, staple food and soup in one bowl, and gives a strong sense of fullness after eating.
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In addition to Pita Bread Soaked in Lamb Soup, there are also various types of local steamed buns such as Pita Bread Soaked in Beef Soup, Pita Bread Soaked in Pork Intestine Soup, and Pita Bread Soaked in Three Delicacies Soup.
Pita Bread Soaked in Beef Soup is generally sold together with Pita Bread Soaked in Lamb Soup. Pita Bread Soaked in Pork Intestine Soup and Pita Bread Soaked in Three Delicacies Soup are both eaten by Han people. Pork intestine is called “hulu head” because its shape is similar to a hulu head. The taste is relatively strong. The main ingredients of Pita Bread Soaked in Three Delicacies Soup are meatballs and white meat, and then matched with vegetables such as garlic moss. Relatively speaking, it is the most plain kind of steamed buns.
There are also differences in the ways of eating steamed buns. In addition to being “soaked”, they can also be stir-fried. If you are interested, you can try them all. You don’t have to go to the Muslim Quarter to eat steamed buns. The roadside restaurants in the streets and alleys are the places that old Xi’an people like to eat.
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BiángBiáng noodles.
BiángBiáng noodles are a traditional noodle dish in Shaanxi and are listed as one of the eight wonders of Shaanxi. “Biáng” is an intricate and labyrinthine onomatopoeic character (as shown in the picture above), referring to the sound of “Biáng” that is made during the processes of rolling, patting, and eating noodles.
Different from traditional noodles, BiángBiáng noodles are as wide as a belt. After the noodles are cooked, add side dishes such as stir-fried potatoes, carrots, and diced tofu. Adding a large spoonful of spicy oil makes it very flavorful. Hold a bowl and eat it while it’s hot. “Eat noodles from a large bowl” like an old Shaanxi native and feel the chewy texture. Generally, there are small and large bowls. A small bowl costs 12 – 16 yuan, and a large bowl costs 15 – 19 yuan.
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Spicy soup.
Spicy soup is a standard for breakfast in Xi’an. A bowl of hot and spicy soup in the early morning makes people sweat slightly and feel comfortable all over. Compared with the equally famous spicy soup from Henan, the Xi’an version of spicy soup emphasizes more on the “numbing” feeling. The soup base is made by boiling beef bones with scallions, ginger, and cooking wine. Potato starch is used for thickening. Under the thick soup are beef meatballs one by one, as well as vegetables such as potatoes, cauliflower, and zucchini. In the morning in Xi’an, you might as well have a bowl of spicy soup like the locals and eat it slowly with a tuótuó bun. You can have a good breakfast for less than 15 yuan.
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Steamed soup dumplings
Steamed soup dumplings, a kind of snack, are found all over the country, but the methods of making them vary from place to place. The steamed soup dumplings in Xi’an are slightly salty and fragrant, mostly filled with beef and mutton, and are sold freshly steamed. When a steamer of steaming hot steamed soup dumplings is served on the table, take a light bite of the thin skin. After sucking up the fresh and rich soup, then chew the filling inside carefully. It is oily but not greasy. Adding spicy oil in the dipping sauce is even more authentic! A steamer of beef steamed soup dumplings costs 16 yuan, and a steamer of mutton steamed soup dumplings costs 17 yuan.
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Small crispy meat.
Small crispy meat is a very delicious meat dish. It has a smooth and tender taste. After coating beef tenderloin with batter and frying it, add secret beef soup and steam it in a pot. When the beef is soaked in the soup, pour on spicy oil and it can be eaten with rice. Different from the fried small crispy meat in other regions, this method is unique to Dingjia Small Crispy Meat in the Muslim Quarter. This store has a history of more than 20 years and has a steady stream of repeat customers. A bowl of small crispy meat costs 23 yuan, which is enough for one person to eat to their fill.
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Persimmon cake with osmanthus.
Persimmon cake with osmanthus is a Shaanxi pastry. The outer skin is mainly made of Huojing persimmons, a specialty of Tongxian County. Broken walnuts and osmanthus sauce are used as fillings. After wrapping, it is fried in a special pot. When both sides of the persimmon cake are golden yellow, it can be taken out and tasted. It should be eaten while it is hot. The persimmon cake is glutinous and very suitable as a small dessert after a meal. The classic osmanthus flavor is generally 3 yuan, and other fillings range from 3 to 5 yuan.
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Osmanthus cake.
There are many kinds of osmanthus cakes. This kind of golden one all over can only be seen in Shaanxi and is one of the most beloved street snacks for locals. Stir sugar-preserved osmanthus, glutinous rice flour, sugar, etc. and steam them. Usually, the store will make the osmanthus cake into a very large round cake. When customers buy it, they cut out a small strip with a special knife and eat it on a bamboo stick. Reference price: 3 yuan per strip.
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Rose mirror cake.
Mirror cake is a childhood memory of local people in Xi’an. With glutinous rice flour as the main ingredient, take out a palm-sized white cake from a small steamer, spread sauce on it, then wrap it with black sesame seeds, crushed peanuts, etc., insert two bamboo sticks and eat it by biting. There are many flavors of sauces, such as blueberry, hawthorn, chocolate, etc. The rose flavor is the most signature and popular one. It is sweet, glutinous and appetizing. The price of mirror cake in the Muslim Quarter is around 5 yuan.
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Conclusion
As a paradise for foodies, there are numerous snacks in Xi’an that are hard to describe in a few words. In addition to the above relatively classic snacks, local mutton soup in a pot, sour soup dumplings, and oily tea are also worth a try. There are also fresh snacks on the streets waiting for you to discover.
Generally speaking, in Xi’an, 20 to 30 yuan per person is enough for a full meal. Most of the classic snacks introduced above are concentrated in the Muslim Quarter. In addition, near famous landmarks such as the Bell Tower and the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, there are also many delicious restaurants. You can check the addresses in advance before traveling and properly arrange the day’s plan of playing and eating.
