Food Notes
Tales of Xi'an’s culinary delights, from spicy Biang Biang noodles in hidden eateries to the vibrant Muslim Quarter’s street food scene.
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Persimmon Cakes (Shi Bing): The Sweet Autumn Snack of Xi’an
I met shi bing on a Friday afternoon in mid-October, my first trip to Xi’an. Autumn had turned the city golden – ginkgo leaves drifting along the city walls, a clean bite in the air – and I was wandering the Muslim Quarter when a smell stopped me mid-step. It was caramel, hot oil, and something quietly fruity, coming from a small griddle at a street stall. The vendor was flipping little orange discs with a pair of long chopsticks, and every turn sent up a puff of that same scent. The people around me were not browsing; they were buying, two or three at a time, walking off with…
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Liangpi (Cold-Skin Noodles) in Xi’an: A First-Timer’s Guide to the City’s Coolest Street Food
I still remember the afternoon I fell for liangpi. It was late July in Xi’an, the kind of heat that presses down on you the moment you step outside the city walls. I had spent the morning at the Terracotta Army and rolled back into the Muslim Quarter dehydrated and slightly grumpy. A tiny stall near the street entrance, steam curling from a cauldron behind the counter, waved me over. Five minutes later I was holding a bowl of cool, trembling rice noodles slicked with chili oil and vinegar – and the whole city suddenly made sense. What Exactly Is Liangpi? Liangpi (凉皮) translates roughly as “cold skin”, which tells…
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Xi’an Roujiamo Savoring the Chinese Hamburger
Written by Sarah Chen, Licensed Xi’an Tour Guide (License #XA2019-0847) | 8 years guiding experience | Updated August 2025 In the early morning streets of Xi’an, this thousand-year-old ancient capital, nothing awakens your taste buds quite like a piping hot roujiamo. As Xi’an’s most iconic street food, roujiamo isn’t just locals’ favorite breakfast choice—it’s hailed as the “Chinese hamburger” and draws food enthusiasts from around the globe. What is Roujiamo? Roujiamo is a traditional specialty snack from Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, made with crispy baijimo bread and tender braised pork. This simple yet extraordinary dish captures ancient culinary wisdom in a small flatbread, with each bite packed with rich Northwestern Chinese…
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Best Biangbiang Noodles in Xi’an: What Every Traveler Needs to Eat
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Best Biangbiang Noodles in Xi’an: What Every Traveler Needs to Eat
Last weekend, I set out with friends for a leisurely stroll through Xi’an, the ancient capital of China, known for its rich history and vibrant food scene. The weather was pleasantly cooler than recent days, making it the perfect opportunity to explore local cuisine. After a quick search, we stumbled upon a highly recommended spot for one of Xi’an’s must-try dishes: Biangbiang noodles. The restaurant, 长安情 biangbiang 面 (Changanqing Biangbiang(𰻞𰻞麵) Noodles) at its Anyuan branch, promised an authentic taste of Shaanxi’s beloved dish. If you’re planning a visit, simply copy and paste “长安情 biangbiang 面 安远门店” into your map app to find it. Here’s my experience diving into this culinary gem,…
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Xi’an Roujiamo Savoring the Chinese Hamburger