As the food capital of Qinghai, Xining combines the flavors of many ethnic groups and plateau characteristics. It has both bold meat and delicate snacks.
1. Must-try classic food
1. Hand-pulled mutton
Features: Use Qinghai grass-fed sheep, boil in water and tear directly by hand, dip in salt or garlic paste to eat, the meat is tender and has no smell.
Recommended stores: Yixin Hand-pulled (Baiyu Lane), Yajun Lamb (Xiguan Street).
Tips: When ordering, you can choose "breast stubble" or "ribs", which are the most tender parts of mutton.
2. Niangpi
Features: Qinghai version of cold noodles, thick-cut Niangpi with gluten, topped with spicy oil, mustard, vinegar and other condiments, with a chewy texture, sour and spicy appetizer.
Recommended stores: Liu Niangpi (Mojia Street Hezuo Lane), Baijia Niangpi (Xinghai Road).
Hidden way to eat: Add a spoonful of potato flour or gluten to upgrade the feeling of fullness.
3. Qinghai Earthen Hot Pot
Features: Slow-cooked in a copper pot over charcoal fire, with mutton soup + pickled cabbage at the bottom, and fried potatoes, meatballs, sliced meat, fungus, etc. on top, with a mellow taste.
Recommended restaurant: Qinghai Earthen Hot Pot (No. 31 Yinma Street).
Tip: Suitable for sharing with 34 people, the first choice for warming the stomach in winter.
4. Mutton offal soup (offal)
Features: With cow and sheep heads, hooves, and internal organs as the main ingredients, stewed over low heat until soft, the soup is thick and fresh, and it is more fragrant when eaten with cakes.
Recommended restaurants: Quan'ertou offal (Delingha Road), Cunshou beef offal (Huayuan South Street).
Time suggestion: Eat for breakfast, warm the body and resist hunger.
5. Yogurt and sweet mash
Yak yogurt has a thick texture, rich sweet and sour taste, and can be added with sugar or dried fruit.
Sweet mash: A dessert fermented from highland barley, with a slightly tipsy aroma, and it is more refreshing after being chilled.
Recommended places: Xia Nanguan Market, Shuijing Lane.
2. Recommended noodles and snacks
1. Lamb intestine noodles
Features: Noodles with lamb intestines, spicy soup, chewy casings, the provincial intangible cultural heritage "Ma Xing Lamb Intestine Noodles" is the most authentic.
Recommended store: Ma Xing Lamb Intestine Noodles (No. 101, Shipo Street).
2. Ga noodles
Features: Hand-pulled noodles, can be fried or soup, recommended "Yinghua noodles" (municipal intangible cultural heritage), beef bone soup base + fried.
Recommended store: Yinghua noodles (No. 181, Huayuan South Street).
3. Dog urine
Features: Rapeseed oil pancakes, as thin as paper, sprinkled with fragrant bean powder, pepper and salt, interesting name but crispy taste.
Recommended place: Shuijing Lane or Xia Nanguan Market.
4. Wheat kernel porridge
Features: Traditional Hui porridge, beef, mutton and wheat kernels cooked together, dense and salty, festival-limited food.
Recommended store: Yiranxuan Qinghai Specialty Food (Dazhong Street).
3. Food Streets and Routes
1. Mojia Street & Shuijing Lane
Positioning: A concentration of old-fashioned snacks, suitable for one-stop check-in.
Recommended: Nianpi, yogurt, fried Sanzi, yak jerky.
Transportation: The airport bus is within walking distance from the central square.
2. Xinqian International Plaza
Positioning: A modern food city that brings together flavors from all over Qinghai.
Recommended: Nile Food City on the 5th floor (halal snacks), night market on the first floor (grilled skewers, desserts).
Transportation: Near Xining Station, within walking distance.
3. Xia Nanguan Market
Positioning: An old street with Hui style, high cost performance.
Recommended: Sheep rafts, zongzi, and sweet fermented mash.
Transportation: Take a Didi taxi to the vicinity of Dongguan Mosque.
4. Guide to Avoiding Pitfalls
1. Taste and Plateau Reactions:
Qinghai cuisine is salty and spicy, so you can note "less salt" when ordering; avoid overeating when you first arrive at the plateau, and eat less greasy mutton.
2. Freshness of ingredients:
Give priority to time-honored restaurants or restaurants frequented by locals, and be cautious about buying "cheap yak meat" around the scenic area.
3. Purchase of specialty products:
Yak jerky, barley wine, and wolfberry are recommended to be purchased in regular supermarkets (such as Wangfujing in Xining) to avoid high-priced fakes in scenic spots.
5. Surrounding linkage gameplay
Ta'er Temple: Taste the nearby "Ta'er Temple Butter Flower" dessert, or experience Tibetan cuisine.
Qinghai Lake: You can try "Huangyu Stewed Tofu" on the way (note that seasonal fishing is prohibited).
Lanzhou: Check in beef noodles (such as Anboer) and drink eight-treasure tea by the Yellow River.
The food world of Xining has both a heroic grassland atmosphere and a delicate market flavor. Master the above tips, avoid the peak of crowds, and easily unlock the authentic flavor!
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