Best Street Food in China: A City-by-City Guide

China's Street Food Adventure

Chinese cuisine is one of the world's most diverse — and street food and small local eateries are a great way to taste it.

Beijing

• Jianbing (煎饼): Savoury crepe with egg, a crispy cracker and sauce — a classic northern Chinese breakfast, easy to find in Beijing
• Lamb Skewers (羊肉串): Cumin-spiced grilled lamb in the Xinjiang style, sold at street stalls and barbecue restaurants
• Zhajiangmian (炸酱面): Thick noodles with fermented soybean paste — comfort food at its best

Chengdu (Sichuan)

• Mapo Tofu: Soft tofu in a spicy, numbing sauce of chili bean paste and Sichuan pepper
• Dan Dan Noodles: Spicy sesame noodles that will make you sweat
• Hotpot: A bubbling pot of chili broth for cooking meat and vegetables at the table — best shared with a group

Shanghai

• Xiaolongbao (小笼包): Soup dumplings — be careful, they're hot inside!
• Scallion Oil Noodles: Simple but incredibly satisfying
• Shengjianbao: Pan-fried pork buns with a crispy bottom

Xi'an

• Roujiamo (肉夹馍): The Chinese "burger" — braised meat in flatbread
• Biang Biang Noodles: Wide, hand-pulled noodles with chili oil
• Yangrou Paomo: Bread soaked in lamb soup — a specialty of the Muslim Quarter

Tips for Street Food Adventures

1. Follow the locals — long queues usually mean great food
2. Most stalls take mobile payment (Alipay or WeChat Pay, which visitors can link to a foreign card); carry a little cash as a backup
3. Start mild if you're not used to spicy food
4. On a tour with free time, ask your guide where the nearest food street is

Eating your way through China is one of the great pleasures of traveling there. Don't be afraid to try something new!