Xi'an Food Guide

Xi'an's food centers on wheat and lamb, with bold, tangy, and often spicy flavors that stop well short of the numbing heat found in Sichuan or Chongqing. Meals are filling and strongly seasoned, a noticeable contrast to the lighter, more delicate cooking of China's coastal cities.

Must-Try Xi'an Dishes

Yangrou Paomo

Yangrou paomo is a lamb soup with torn flatbread soaked into it — the bread starts dense and chewy, then absorbs the slow-cooked broth until the bowl becomes closer to a stew than a soup.

Recommended Restaurants:

Tong Sheng Xiang: A polished old-school option near the Bell Tower.
Lao Mi Jia Da Yu Paomo: A Muslim Quarter-area shop known for hearty paomo.
Liu Lanying Niuyangrou Paomo: A local favorite with strong word-of-mouth

Roujiamo

Roujiamo is a baked flatbread filled with chopped braised meat.The bread absorbs the meat's sauce without going soggy, so each bite is savory and filling without being heavy.

Recommended Restaurants:

Qinyu Roujiamo: A no-frills local favorite for classic pork roujiamo.
Ziwulu Zhangji Roujiamo: A popular Xi’an snack shop for roujiamo and liangpi.
Fanji Lazhi Rou: A long-running name for traditional pork roujiamo

Biangbiang Noodles

Biangbiang noodles are thick, wide hand-pulled wheat noodles with a chewy, substantial bite. Hot oil is poured over the seasonings before everything is tossed together, giving the bowl a spicy, tangy, and savory flavor.

Recommended Restaurants:

Lao Lijia Biangbiang Mian: A local-style shop known for large bowls and chewy noodles
Guo Laosan Mianzhuang: A long-running local favorite near the Big Wild Goose Pagoda.
Chang’an Qing Biangbiang Mian: A good-value pick for signature biangbiang noodles.

Liangpi

Liangpi are cold starch noodles made from steamed wheat or rice starch, usually tossed with chili oil, vinegar, garlic, and cucumber. Slippery, springy, and tangy, they are often eaten with roujiamo and offer a lighter contrast to Xi’an’s heavier lamb and flatbread dishes.

Recommended Restaurants:

Wei Jia Liangpi: A local snack chain best known for liangpi
Sheng Zhi Wang Majiang Niangpi: A long-running shop for liangpi with sesame paste
Xue Changli Dami Mianpi: Known for rice-based liangpi with fragrant chili oil.

Lamb Kebabs

Lamb kebabs in Xi’an are grilled over charcoal and dusted heavily with cumin and chili. The meat is smoky, juicy, and strongly seasoned, with the kind of open-fire flavor that makes them one of the most recognizable snacks around the Muslim Quarter.

Recommended Restaurants: