China Destination Guides

This guide to Must-Try Foods in Xi’an explores the dishes locals actually love, from famous noodles to some of the best street food in Xi’an. Along the way, you’ll discover how the city’s Silk Road history shaped flavors that still define Xi’an’s food culture today.

By the time evening settles over Huaqing Palace, the atmosphere shifts in a way you can feel. Lights begin to reflect on the water, and the crowd quiets as The Song of Everlasting Sorrow (长恨歌) prepares to begin. In Xi’an, where history is everywhere, this performance feels different—more intimate, almost cinematic.