These 7 Xi'an Restaurants: My Local Must-Haves List (Not Popular) - I Visited Them Three Times Before I Dared to Share It

I made three trips before daring to write down this list of Xi'an's hidden gems: the first time I followed the guide to eat at the Muslim Quarter, queuing for an hour and finding the taste to be standardized; the second time I followed the old men at the Textile City morning market and explored the alleys; the third time I went back twice, once in the height of summer and once in early winter, to confirm that these restaurants weren't just coincidentally delicious.

1. East Suburb Textile City: Lamb blood soup with mutton stew – the two must be eaten together.

Tangjia Fen Tang Yang Xue (Tang Family's Rice Noodle Soup with Sheep's Blood) has been open in the Textile City for over twenty years, serving only breakfast and lunch. It's common to see locals squatting by the roadside with their bowls in hand. It's worth a visit because the soup base is made with a rich, aged broth, and the blood slices are tender without being fishy. It's more "wild" and richer than the version in the tourist areas, and you can taste the difference from the first sip.

When ordering, remember to ask for "plenty of soup, lots of chili, and extra braised pork intestines," and then soak the hand-torn flatbread in it. After you finish eating, don't rush to leave. Buy two fried sugar cakes from the mobile tricycle next door. They're most fragrant when they're fresh out of the fryer, but if you go too late, there will only be empty pans left.

Zhang's Bangbang Meat stall is located at the same street corner, and it only opens in the afternoon. The smoky flavor is stronger than regular braised meat; a plate of pork intestines and pork belly is sandwiched inside a freshly made sesame flatbread, and the oil and smoky aroma burst into your mouth together. Grab a bag of pebble-baked flatbread from the street corner as well; it won't get soggy even after two days.

2. Jixiang Village in the South Suburbs: Three-in-one oil-splashed noodles open for only four hours.

This old Lantian oil-splashed noodle shop is hidden on the first floor of Jixiang Village Community. It has no signboard, and you have to arrive before noon, as it closes down after 2 PM. The owner makes the noodles, pours the oil, and mixes the vinegar entirely by feel. The aroma of the chili oil can waft through half the alley. This was the only shop I ate at for two consecutive days during my second visit.

The signature dish isn't just simple oil-splashed sauce, but a "three-in-one": oil-splashed sauce, tomato and egg sauce, and fried sauce all layered together. Remember to add a fried egg, and don't peel the garlic cloves, just bite into them. After you finish eating, head south to a braised chicken feet stall. The braised chicken feet have a slightly sweet aftertaste, perfect for taking to the hotel with Bingfeng soda.

3. Longshou Village in the northern suburbs: A bowl of spicy meat soup at 6 AM, even more delicious than the tourist attractions of Xi'an.

Lao Liu's Spicy Beef Soup is located at the entrance of the Longshou Village morning market, and it only sells until 10 a.m. The soup contains real beef cubes, not starch blocks, and has a strong peppery aroma. Many locals stand by the roadside with their bowls and eat it. In the winter mornings, a bowl of hot soup is more comforting than wearing an extra layer of clothing.

The proper way to eat it is with a bowl of spicy soup and half a scallion pancake. Don't add too much chili, otherwise it will mask the pepper flavor. Buy two freshly fried dough cakes from the side, but don't go too early, as the dough cake stalls usually don't set up until after 7 a.m.

IV. Tumen in the western suburbs: Fish in fermented vegetable broth and vinegar noodles, available only in summer.

There's a small table set up by Aunt Lantian at the entrance of the Tumen Family Compound. She only sets up her stall in the hot summer months, selling fermented cornmeal fish and vinegar noodles. The fish is made fresh from cornmeal, and the fermented cornmeal is slightly sour. In the summer, a bowl of it is more refreshing than a cold drink. When I went back in early autumn, she had already closed up shop.

When ordering, ask for cornmeal noodles with extra pickled vegetables and chili oil; add plenty of minced garlic to the vinegar noodles for a tangy and spicy flavor that whets the appetite. Right next door is a stall selling honey-glazed cold rice dumplings, cut into pieces and drizzled with jujube blossom honey—a perfect sweet ending to your meal.

V. At the foot of the city wall and outside the Muslim Quarter: Late-night cumin-flavored stir-fried pork sandwich and offal soup

There's a mobile food cart near the city wall that only opens late at night, specializing in cumin-flavored stir-fried pork sandwiches. Shredded beef is stir-fried quickly over high heat, then coated in cumin and chili powder, all infused with the meat's juices, and sandwiched inside a toasted, crispy bun. The first time I took a friend there, he said it was even better than many proper restaurants. Order the "Beef and Cumin Stir-fried Pork Sandwich" and a bottle of Bingfeng soda (a local soft drink); if the cart selling fried vegetable pancakes is still there, grab one too.

The offal soup stalls in the alleys outside the Muslim Quarter are a popular breakfast option. It's half lamb offal and half lamb, with plenty of garlic sprouts and cilantro. You break off a flatbread and soak it in the soup until it softens. The broth is clear but has a rich aftertaste. You can also buy a small packet of five-nut oil tea nearby to take back to the hotel and enjoy a delicious Xi'an meal the next morning.

Blogger's Summary and Practical Tips for Avoiding Pitfalls

None of these seven shops require queuing or taking a number, but they all have fixed opening hours; if you miss one, you'll have to wait for the next one. Here are three key points: First, avoid peak meal times, as the shops have limited seating and the owners are busy. It's best to go after 1 PM or half an hour after they open. Second, don't just order the signature dishes; the lamb blood soup should be served with braised pork belly, and the oil-splashed noodles should be served with a fried egg. Eating them alone will ruin half the experience. Third, remember to bring cash; several tricycles and alleyway stalls only accept cash, and mobile payments often don't work.

This list does not include the main street of the Muslim Quarter or any of the must-eat restaurants, and is suitable for those who don't want to wait in long lines and want to experience the everyday atmosphere of Xi'an. Before you take it, remember: many shops only cater to locals, and the flavors tend to be strong and pungent, so don't easily say "modified".