Top 15 Chinese Snacks You Must Try(One)
The Rich and Diverse World of Chinese Culinary Culture: Top 15 Must-Try Snacks Across China
Chinese culinary culture is vast and profound, with unique snacks found in every corner of the country. A recent ranking of the top 15 Chinese snacks has been compiled—does your hometown make the list?
Known as the gastronomic capital of China, Chengdu offers a wealth of famous snacks including Shuangliu Old Mom’s Rabbit Head, Fuqi Feipian (Couple’s Sliced Beef), Dan Dan Noodles, Long Chao Shou (Long Dumplings), Zhong Shui Jiao (Clock Dumplings), Han Baozi (Han’s Buns), San Da Pao (Three Big Cannons), Lai Tang Yuan (Lai’s Glutinous Rice Balls), Jun Tun Guo Kui (Military Camp Flatbread), and Jiu Chi Ban Ya (Nine Inch Board Duck).
“Chengdu street food is often named after the surnames of local vendors and the streets where their shops are located. The signs are colorful and reflect the unique characteristics of the food and the local scenery.”
“Famous Chengdu street foods include Lai Tangyuan on Zongfu Street, Zhong Shuijiao on Lychee Lane, Xiao Long Steamed Beef at Zhidehao on Changshun Street, Zhang Duck at Haizi Cave, Zhang Laowu Cold Noodles at Dongzikou, and Tongjing Lane Vegetarian Noodles. Today, while some of these renowned eateries have relocated, they continue to use their original names.”
Taiwanese Cuisine
In a narrow sense, it refers to street food originating from Taiwan, such as bubble tea. However, because street food is highly versatile and easily evolves with time and region, in a broader sense, Taiwanese cuisine also includes popular and innovative dishes that have flourished in Taiwan and can be found everywhere. These include items like pan-fried buns, oyster omelette, braised pork rice, zongzi (sticky rice dumplings), danzai noodles, cheesy baked potatoes, braised pork rice, charcoal-grilled chicken cutlets, honey-glazed BBQ, and more.
Taiwan Night Market Street
In its broadest sense, it includes all popular street foods commonly found in Taiwan, such as scallion pancakes, stinky tofu, and pig’s blood cake. Some of the most famous night markets are Fengjia Night Market, Shilin Night Market, and 888 Night Market. In recent years, many cities in mainland China have built Taiwanese food streets, allowing people to enjoy authentic Taiwanese flavors without traveling to Taiwan.
Xi’an is famous for its unique local snacks, including lamb paomo (pita bread soaked in lamb soup), hulu tou (pig’s large intestines soup), roujiamo (Chinese burger), and liangpi (cold skin noodles). To try the best of these dishes, go to Lao Sunjia or Tongshengxiang for paomo, Chunfasheng for hulu tou, Fanji for roujiamo, and most places for liangpi offer similar quality.
Xi’an Cuisine
Next to the Bell Tower, in the alleys west of the Drum Tower, lies Xi’an’s Muslim Street, a 24-hour food haven. The most famous snacks here include Jia San’s Soup Dumplings, Hong Hong’s Stir-Fried Rice with Pickled Cabbage and Shredded Pork, and Ma Yongxin’s Sweet Osmanthus Persimmon Cakes. You’ll also find a variety of grilled meats and other local Muslim snacks. A stroll through this street offers a memorable experience with a wide variety of flavors.
Chongqing Street Food
Chongqing offers a wide variety of street food, with some of the most famous dishes including Huaxi Wangji Beef Noodles, Fuling Old Ma Dumplings, Xiao Naoke’s Signature BBQ, Dan Dan Noodles, Tangmian Yougao (boiled pastry), Layered Lotus Paste Pastry, Bread with Sandwich Cake, Fish Roe Winter Melon Ribs, Vegetable Pancakes, Sticky Rice Lotus Root, Salt and Pepper Peanuts, Caramelized Bananas, Fried Mahua Fish, Bang Bang Chicken, Red Oil Dumplings, Shizhu Green Bean Noodles, Hot and Sour Soup, Yuanyang Hotpot, Spicy and Sour Tofu Pudding, Mapo Tofu, Konjac Braised Duck, Pearl Meatballs, Skewered Delicacies, Fuling Oil-Fermented Rice, Xiangshan Honey Cake, Youyang Spicy Beef Slices, Chongqing Cold Ciba, and Magic Duck Hotpot, among others.
Stanley: Located on Hong Kong Island, Stanley feels like a world of its own with a quaint, small-town charm. Along Stanley Main Street by the bay, you’ll find an array of international restaurants and lively bars, mostly catering to expats. Menus, signboards, and wine lists are often written in English. The area, located in the southern part of Hong Kong Island, is famous for its romantic seaside restaurants in historic Murray House, snack shops, and Chinese eateries in Stanley Market. The bay is lined with European-style bars and outdoor cafés, making it the perfect spot for dining in a scenic setting. Shopping and dining in Stanley is an exciting and unique experience.
Stanley Market
Causeway Bay: Causeway Bay is a food lover’s paradise with a wide variety of restaurants. From traditional Hong Kong-style open-air eateries and local restaurants to bars, sushi bars, and high-end dining spots near Times Square, Lee Theatre Plaza, and Percival Street, there’s something for every taste and budget. Additionally, there is a famous food street near Paterson Street, which has now been transformed into a fashion boutique area. However, the central corridor still hosts bars, Western-style pubs, and Spanish restaurants. Nearby, Jardine’s Street is filled with various eateries, mostly specializing in Chinese cuisine.
Causeway Bay: The heart of Causeway Bay is the perfect place to savor authentic Hong Kong cuisine. This bustling district offers a wide array of dining options that showcase traditional flavors and local delicacies.
Lan Kwai Fong: Lan Kwai Fong is the trendiest and most vibrant nightlife destination, a must-visit for tourists. Stepping into Lan Kwai Fong feels like entering the bustling bar and restaurant districts of Manhattan. Despite its small size, the area is home to over a hundred international restaurants and bars, offering an incredible variety of dining experiences. From casual street food to world-class dining, there’s something to suit every palate, no matter where you’re from.
SoHo Dining District: Located west of Lan Kwai Fong, the SoHo area is adjacent to the world’s longest outdoor escalator, built in 1993, connecting the Mid-Levels to Central. Along the sloping streets of SoHo, you’ll find an array of charming, boutique restaurants offering diverse cuisines such as Nepalese, Portuguese, Indian, and Vietnamese. Each restaurant stands out with its unique decor and flavors. On the eve of holidays, the bars and restaurants are packed with patrons, creating a lively atmosphere both inside and out.
Quarry Bay: Sugar Factory Street, located next to Quarry Bay Park, is home to numerous upscale Western restaurants, many offering outdoor seating. On Friday evenings, these venues attract a crowd of office workers gathering to relax and socialize, creating a scene similar to Central’s Lan Kwai Fong. In addition to high-end dining, there are also more affordable snack shops available. The area is peaceful and scenic, making for a relaxed atmosphere. After a meal, you can take a stroll through the park, where locals often walk their dogs, or visit the shopping mall at Tai Koo Shing.
Guangzhou Specialty Street Food – Rice Noodle Rolls (Cheung Fun)
Cantonese cuisine, with Guangzhou cuisine as its representative, is a blend of local culinary traditions from across Guangdong province, enriched by the essence of other major Chinese cuisines and Western influences. Guangzhou cuisine is known for its wide variety of ingredients, meticulous selection, and skilled techniques, offering a vast array of dishes. At the 1956 “Guangzhou Famous Dishes and Delicacies Exhibition,” 5,447 dishes were presented, along with 815 types of dim sum and hundreds of street foods. Guangzhou cuisine is the core of Cantonese cuisine and features over 21 cooking methods, excelling in stir-frying, pan-frying, braising, deep-frying, stewing, and steaming, all with a focus on color, aroma, taste, and presentation.
Cantonese cuisine, known for its emphasis on freshness, tenderness, and a light touch in flavor, is characterized by a clear, fresh, tender, and crispy taste. It focuses on being clear but not bland, fresh but not common, tender but not raw, and oily but not greasy. The seasonal aspect is strong, with lighter flavors preferred in summer and autumn, while richer flavors are sought in winter and spring. Some common Guangzhou dishes include White Cut Chicken, Boiled Sea Shrimp, Roasted Suckling Pig, Roast Duck, Snake Soup, Stir-fried Shrimp, Braised Shark’s Fin in Red Sauce, Steamed Seafood, and Braised Sea Cucumber with Shrimp Roe.
primarily consisting of breakfast items, are an integral part of the local culture, with locals referring to the morning meal as “guò zǎo”. Wuhan’s traditional breakfast, or “guò zǎo”, features a variety of delicacies, with Hot Dry Noodles being a standout favorite.
Wuhan Hot Dry Noodles
Among the breakfast foods, there are hot dry noodles,面窝 (bowl-shaped noodles), 米耙粑 (glutinous rice cakes), fish broth powder, 烧梅 (shao mai), 欢喜坨 (happy balls), steamed sponge cakes, and potsticker dumplings. “Breakfast culture everywhere is disappearing due to a well-off life, but it’s still being sold on the streets and alleys of Wuhan. I call it the ‘Capital of Breakfast,’” wrote food god Cai Lan on Weibo. On his first “early morning” in Wuhan, Cai Lan “greedily” tried a variety of foods including hot dry noodles, egg wine, fermented rice wine, pan-fried buns, tofu skin, chicken crown dumplings, steamed dumplings, bowl-shaped noodles, and greasy shaomai…
Changsha Specialty Snack – Changsha Stinky Tofu
Hunan cuisine, one of China’s eight major culinary traditions, is known for its heavy use of oil, rich colors, and bold flavors, particularly excelling in spiciness, cured meats, aroma, freshness, and acidity.
In Changsha, you can savor authentic Hunan dishes such as “Bai Niao Chao Feng” (Hundred Birds Worship the Phoenix), “Zuan An Yu Chi” (Abalone with Fish Maw), “Zi Long Tuo Pao” (General Zilong’s Robe), “San Ceng Tao Ji” (Three-Layered Chicken), and “Changsha Ma Ren Xiang Su Ya” (Changsha Spicy Crispy Duck). Changsha’s local snacks, much like its cuisine, have a unique charm and are countless in variety.