Following Locals to the Best Food Stalls in Xi’an
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- Source：The Silk Road Echo
If you're hunting for the most mouthwatering, soul-satisfying street eats in Xi’an, skip the tourist traps and follow the locals. This ancient city isn’t just about warriors made of clay — it’s a culinary battleground where flavors from the Silk Road collide in sizzling woks and smoky grills.
Locals don’t queue up for hours at sanitized food courts. They’re elbow-to-elbow at night markets like Donglaishun Night Market or tucked into alleys near the Muslim Quarter, chasing down steaming bowls of biangbiang noodles and skewers of cumin-laced lamb.
Take Hao Chi Jie (literally “Delicious Street”) off Huimin Street — a narrow lane buzzing after dark. Here, Auntie Li flips hand-pulled noodles with theatrical flair, while old men sip baijiu beside bubbling pots of spicy tripe soup. Her biangbiang noodles? Thick, chewy ribbons slathered in chili oil, fermented vinegar, and crushed garlic. Locals say one bite feels like a flavor earthquake.
Don’t miss roujiamo — China’s original hamburger. At Lao Sun Roujiamo, fifth-generation vendors slow-braise pork belly in star anise and rock sugar before stuffing it into crisp, flaky flatbreads. A single sandwich packs 450 calories of pure bliss — and costs just ¥12 (~$1.70).
Top 5 Must-Try Street Foods in Xi’an
| Dish | Price (RMB) | Calories (per serving) | Where to Find |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biangbiang Noodles | 18 | 620 | Hao Chi Jie, Muslim Quarter |
| Roujiamo | 12 | 450 | Lao Sun Stall, Bell Tower Area |
| Yangrou Paomo | 25 | 780 | Laomianqiao Restaurant |
| Cumin Lamb Skewers | 3 per skewer | 90 | Donglaishun Night Market |
| Jianbing Guozi | 8 | 320 | Street carts near Nanmen |
Pro tip: Go between 6–8 PM when stalls hit peak flavor and energy. And bring cash — many vendors still side-eye QR codes.
The real secret? Watch where the taxi drivers eat. These guys know every hidden stall serving yangrou paomo — mutton stew with crumbled flatbread. At Laomianqiao, workers tear bread by hand into soups simmering for 12 hours. One bowl delivers deep umami, tender meat, and a warmth that fights off winter fog.
For late-night cravings, head to Daxuexiang alley. By midnight, it's packed with students and night-shift workers devouring jianbing — crispy crepes stuffed with egg, cilantro, and crispy wonton skins. It’s the ultimate drunk food with a 3 AM cult following.
In Xi’an, street food isn’t fast food — it’s heritage on a plate. So ditch the guidebook, find the longest local line, and taste history, one fiery bite at a time.