What to Eat in Xian

Pita Bread Soaked in Lamb Soup

Pita Bread Soaked in Lamb Soup is a famous local dish in Xi'an as well as the northwest region of China. In this dish, mutton is boiled with a variety of seasonings and baked pita is torn into bite size pieces. Then pita bread is soaked with the thick lamb soup, flavored by garlic, parsley, hot pepper sauce, and sesame oil.

Cold Noodles

The hot summers of Xi'an are the perfect time to cool down with a bowl of refreshing cold noodle. These translucent noodles are cut thick and tossed with spices, hot sauce, and vegetables. They are chewy and delicious. Cold noodle street stalls range in size and flavors, and are packed with men and women.

Pork Sandwiched Between Pita Bread

This “Chinese hamburger”is the most popular local snack in Xi'an and is now widely consumed all over China. The meat is commonly pork, stewed for hours in a soup consisting of over 20 kinds of spices and seasonings, to maximize flavor. The pita bread in this snack is made in a frying pan baked over low heat for a long period of time. This handheld snack is highly favored by people in China and abroad.

Biang Biang Noodles

Northern China is well known for its noodle dishes, the popularity of which has spread to other areas. This one in particular is hand-made into long broad noodles, and is topped with lots of red hot peppers for the cold winter in Xi'an. Locals are fond of this dish for its comfort as well as its funny name “biang biang”.

Jia San Soup Dumpling
Jia San soup dumplings are stuffed with juicy beef or mutton soup and steamed. It is one of the best known snacks in Xi'an, with a thin skin, tons of flavor, and a unique seasoning. Be sure to try this snack at one of three locations in Xi'an that specialize in Jia San soup dumplings.