Xi'an food tour: where and what
The food streets of Xi'an sit in the Muslim Quarter (Huimin Jie, ๅๆฐ่ก). Its busiest axis is Beiyuanmen, which starts right behind the Drum Tower. Other food lanes include Dapiyuan and the area around Sajinqiao. The quarter is a group of streets and not one closed site, so you can walk in at several points.
You can eat here on your own, but a guided tasting saves time and explains what is on the plate. Compare the tours below by the points in this guide. To see the towers and the rest of the old city as well, read our Xi'an city tour guide.
Our picks: Xi'an food tours
Our take: the private evening tour works as a full dinner. The morning tour of the Muslim Quarter is the better pick if you want the market at its busiest.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Private evening food tour
- Private English-speaking guide
- Tastings at 3 to 4 stops
- Local drinks
Three to four stops that add up to dinner, with a private guide.
Check availability โMorning food tour of the Muslim Quarter
- At least five food stops
- Morning market
- Tuk-tuk ride
Breakfast across the Muslim Quarter with a morning market and a short tuk-tuk ride.
Check availability โXi'an food tours
Guided tastings and evening walks through the Muslim Quarter, with live prices and availability.
The dishes to try
Name what you want. It is easier than pointing at a menu.
| Dish | What it is | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Roujiamo | Baked bread, filled with meat | In the Hui quarter the filling is usually beef. Elsewhere in Xi'an, pork is common. Not every roujiamo is halal |
| Yangrou paomo | Lamb or mutton soup with crumbled flatbread | A full meal in one bowl |
| Biangbiang noodles | Wide, hand-pulled wheat noodles | Share a portion if you want to try several dishes |
| Lamb skewers | Grilled meat on skewers | A street food for the evening walk |
| Persimmon cakes | A sweet snack | A sweet end to the walk |
| Pomegranate juice | A pressed drink | A cold drink for the walk |
For most first-time visitors, start with a roujiamo and a bowl of noodles, then add yangrou paomo if you are hungry for a full meal.
Dishes in detail
Roujiamo
A filled, baked bread. Ask what the filling is before you order. In the Hui quarter, the beef version is the usual one, while a pork version is widespread outside the Muslim context. Do not assume that every roujiamo in Xi'an is halal.
Yangrou paomo
A lamb or mutton soup with crumbled flatbread. It is a full meal, so treat it as dinner and not a snack.
Biangbiang noodles
Wide wheat noodles pulled by hand. Share a portion if you want to try other dishes too.
Skewers, persimmon cakes and juice
These are the street snacks of the quarter: lamb skewers, persimmon cakes and pomegranate juice. They suit a walk through the lanes in the evening.
What to check before you book a food tour
Food tours differ more in detail than in the dishes.
Tastings and drinks
Check how many tastings are included and how big they are. See whether drinks are part of the price. Ask whether you pay for extra rounds on the spot.
The route
Look at where the tour starts and whether it stays in the Muslim Quarter or adds other streets. A tour that starts near the Drum Tower is easy to reach on foot from the old city.
Vegetarian meals and allergies
Ask before you book, and tell the guide again on the day. No tour can promise a halal, allergen-free or food-safety guarantee for every stall. If you have a serious allergy, discuss it with the operator in writing.
Group size and language
Small groups move faster in narrow lanes. Check the guide language, because it is not the same for every departure.
Eating on your own in the quarter
The shops and stalls keep their own hours, so there is no single opening time for the quarter. Arrive in the late afternoon, when the lanes fill up, and stay into the evening. Check the price at the stand before you order.
Choose busy stands where you can watch food being made. If you want a quieter meal, walk one street away from Beiyuanmen. Combine your visit with the nearby Drum Tower, and read about the other stops in things to do in Xi'an.
A sample evening
One way to order the stops.
Start at the Drum Tower
Meet at the Drum Tower and walk into Beiyuanmen. Take a first look at the stalls before you buy anything.
Eat in two rounds
Begin with a roujiamo or skewers, then move to noodles or yangrou paomo. Keep the juice and the persimmon cakes for the end.
Finish with a view
The Bell Tower is close by. Our Xi'an city tour guide shows how to add it and the pagoda on another day.
Plan the rest of your trip
Food is one half day of a Xi'an stay.
Xi'an food tour: frequently asked questions
Where is the best place for a food tour in Xi'an?
The Muslim Quarter (Huimin Jie), right behind the Drum Tower. Its main axis is Beiyuanmen. Further food lanes include Dapiyuan and the Sajinqiao area.
What should I eat in the Muslim Quarter?
Try roujiamo, yangrou paomo and biangbiang noodles first. Lamb skewers, persimmon cakes and pomegranate juice round it out.
Is all roujiamo halal?
No. In the Hui quarter, roujiamo is usually made with beef, but a pork version is common elsewhere in the city. Ask at the stall.
Are food tours suitable for vegetarians?
Tell the operator before you book, so they can adapt the route and tastings. Do not expect a guarantee for every stall.
Is this the official Xi'an food site?
No. This is an independent visitor guide. Tour prices and availability are shown live in the tour cards above.