Shaanxi is a landlocked province in north-central China that served as the cradle of Chinese civilization and the eastern terminus of the ancient Silk Road. Home to the world-famous Terracotta Army, the Ming-dynasty Xi'an City Wall, and the sacred cliffs of Mount Hua, Shaanxi pairs 3,000 years of imperial history with the hearty noodle-and-lamb cuisine of the Loess Plateau.
Xi'an cuisine centers on wheat rather than rice, reflecting Shaanxi's dry northern climate: hand-pulled biangbiang noodles, roujiamo flatbread sandwiches, and yangrou paomo (lamb soup with torn flatbread) anchor the local diet. The city's centuries-old Hui Muslim community, concentrated in the Muslim Quarter, contributes a halal culinary tradition of slow-braised lamb and beef, cumin-spiced skewers, and soup dumplings that has become inseparable from Xi'an's food identity. Sour, garlicky, and chili-forward flavors dominate, and eating is highly street- and stall-driven even for dishes with centuries of pedigree.
Top restaurants
Handpicked picks for the best dining experiences.
Restaurants by cuisine
Browse picks grouped by cuisine type.
Chinese
Shaanxi Noodles
Shaanxi Sweets
Tang
Food tours & tastings in Shaanxi
Eat your way through Shaanxi with a guide.
Browse food experiences in ShaanxiWe may earn a commission from bookings made through these links.
Street food
Local flavours at affordable prices.
Roujiamo (Chinese Hamburger)
Shredded or chopped braised pork or cumin lamb stuffed into a crisp-baked flatbread bun, sold from countless stalls throughout the Muslim Quarter.
Price: ¥12-14 (~$1.70-1.90)
Liangpi (Cold Skin Noodles)
Chewy wheat- or rice-starch noodles served cold with chili oil, garlic, vinegar, and bean sprouts, a summer staple across the city.
Price: ¥12 (~$1.70)
Yangrou Chuan (Cumin Lamb Skewers)
Skewered lamb grilled over charcoal and dusted with cumin and chili flakes, sold by street vendors especially around the South Gate night market.
Price: ¥2-3 (~$0.30-0.40) per skewer
Guantang Baozi (Soup Dumplings)
Steamed dumplings filled with a gelatin-rich beef or lamb broth that liquefies during steaming, traditionally eaten with a straw.
Price: ¥15-18 (~$2.10-2.50) for 6
Shibing (Fried Persimmon Cake)
Deep-fried cakes made from local Lintong persimmons, sweet and chewy inside with a lightly crisped shell.
Price: ¥5 (~$0.70)
Food markets
Where locals shop and graze.
Muslim Quarter Food Street (Beiyuanmen)
The city's most concentrated street-food corridor, packed nightly with stalls selling roujiamo, skewers, dumplings, and sweets alongside souvenir vendors.
Hours: 10:00 AM–11:00 PM, busiest after 6:00 PM
Yongxingfang Food Street
A Tang-dynasty-themed food street with restaurant stalls and a nightly wine-throwing performance, geared toward a more curated, sit-down street-food experience.
Hours: 11:00 AM–10:30 PM
South Gate Night Market
Open-air grill carts clustered near the illuminated City Wall's South Gate, best visited after dark for skewers and grilled snacks.
Hours: 6:00 PM–1:00 AM
Dining etiquette & tips
Navigate the local food scene confidently.
Most Muslim Quarter stalls and casual noodle shops do not take reservations and expect cash or WeChat Pay/Alipay; card payment is rare outside hotel restaurants.
Halal restaurants in the Muslim Quarter do not serve pork or alcohol; look for the green halal signage if avoiding pork is important.
Lunch rushes at famous paomo houses like Laosunjia can mean a 20-30 minute wait; arriving before noon or after 1:30 PM avoids the worst of it.
Tipping is not expected or practiced at Xi'an restaurants of any tier.
For fine-dining banquet restaurants such as Hongbin Building, calling ahead or booking through the hotel concierge is recommended for groups of four or more.
Food budget guide
What to expect at different price points.
| Level | Price | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | ¥30-60 (~$4-8) per day eating mainly street food and noodle shops | Street food, local eateries, and simple restaurants. |
| Mid-range | $15-40/meal | Sit-down restaurants with good service and varied menus. |
| Upscale | $40+/meal | Fine dining, international cuisine, and premium experiences. |