Where to Eat in Xi’an Muslim Quarter: 8 Local Food Stops for First-Time Visitors

Xi’an is one of those cities I keep returning to, and somehow I always end up spending at least half a day in the Muslim Quarter.

On my first visit, I did what most tourists do: I walked down Beiyuanmen near the Drum Tower, took photos under the red lanterns, tried random snacks, and enjoyed the lively evening atmosphere. It is fun, especially the first time.

But on later trips, I started spending less time on the main street and more time turning into the side alleys — Beiguangji Street, Dapiyuan, and Miaohou Street. That was where the food began to feel more traditional, more focused, and less made for passing tourists.

Over the years, I’ve eaten at quite a few restaurants around the Muslim Quarter. Some were worth revisiting, while others were more famous than memorable. For this guide, I narrowed everything down to eight places that I think are especially good for first-time visitors who want to try some of the most classic flavors of Xi’an’s Muslim Quarter.

If you only have one food-focused afternoon in the area, these are the places I would start with.

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Overview of the Muslim Quarter (with Map)

Many visitors mistakenly think the Muslim Quarter is just the main street near the Drum Tower, but the whole area, known locally as Huifang, is actually a network of narrow streets and alleys where the Hui community has lived for centuries.

The eight food stops I recommend in this guide are mainly concentrated around Miaohou Street, Beiguangji Street, and Dapiyuan. Before you start eating your way through the area, it helps to understand the main sections:

Beiyuanmen: This is the main street right in front of the Drum Tower, and it is the part most tourists see first. It is great for red lantern photos and the lively evening atmosphere, but many food stalls here feel more tourist-oriented, and prices can be a little higher.

Beiguangji Street: This is one of the main north-south streets in Huifang, connecting Xiyangshi and the Dapiyuan intersection. Several classic old restaurants are located around this area, so it makes a good starting point for a Muslim Quarter food route.

Dapiyuan: This is a smaller east-west alley branching off from Beiguangji Street. Several old-school sit-down restaurants and snack shops are clustered here, so it is one of the easiest places to try multiple stops within a short walk.

Miaohou Street: This old street runs roughly parallel to the southern part of Beiguangji Street. Zhiliang Soup-Filled Dumplings and Honghong Pickled Cabbage Fried Rice are close to each other here, just a short walk from Beiguangji Street, making it easy to combine them on the same route.

If you want to get a broader sense of Xi’an food beyond the Muslim Quarter, check out my full guide on where to eat in Xi’an and what to eat in Xi’an for citywide recommendations.

Quick View: Which Xi’an Food Tour Should You Choose?

• For a fun first-night food experience: Xi’an Evening Food Tour by TukTuk
• For morning market culture and local breakfast-style exploration: Xi’an Morning Food & Market Tour by TukTuk
• For the biggest variety of tastings: Authentic Old Xi’an Back Alley Food Tour
• For a Muslim Quarter-focused experience: 3-Hour Xi’an Muslim Street Food Walking Tour

If you plan to visit the Terracotta Warriors on the same day, my Terracotta Warriors travel guide explains how to combine sightseeing with a local food route around Xi’an efficiently.

Best Places to Eat in Xi’an Muslim Quarter

1. Guoyuan Zhai Mijia Paomo – 果渊斋米家泡馍

Guoyuan Zhai Mijia Paomo is located at No. 277 Beiguangji Street, a little farther north in the Muslim Quarter and not far from Sajinqiao Metro Station. When you look it up on the map, make sure to check the exact address carefully. There are many restaurants in this area with “Lao Mijia Paomo” in the name, but this is the main branch I would recommend.

Yangrou paomo, or lamb paomo, is one of the most famous Shaanxi dishes in China. Personally, though, I usually order the beef version. Beef paomo is a little easier for most first-time visitors to enjoy, and the flavor is less gamey. Unless you already love lamb, I would suggest starting with beef paomo for your first bowl.

Traditionally, eating paomo is not just about the soup itself. The restaurant gives you a large bowl and two pieces of flatbread, and you break the bread into small pieces by hand before it is cooked with the broth. Locals who take paomo seriously do not just tear the bread into random chunks. They slowly pinch it into tiny pieces, roughly the size of soybeans, so the bread can soak up the soup better.

Paomo is best eaten while it is still hot. The local way is to eat it slowly from the top layer, almost scraping it down little by little. Since paomo can be quite rich and oily, the pickled garlic is important. After a few bites, have a piece of sweet pickled garlic. The sweet-and-sour flavor cuts through the richness really well.

If you are visiting with more than one person, you can also order a mixed cold dish plate. Cold dishes in the Muslim Quarter are usually refreshing, with fragrant chili oil that is flavorful but not too spicy.

For drinks, I would avoid anything too heavy or overly sweet. Something fresh, like kumquat lemon tea or green plum tea, works much better with paomo.

Address: No. 277 Beiguangji Street

While exploring the Muslim Quarter, you can also check out other Xi’an attractions listed in my things to do in Xi’an guide to plan your itinerary efficiently.

2. Zhiliang Soup-Filled Steamed Dumplings – 志亮灌汤蒸饺

You can find paomo, grilled meat, roujiamo, and hulatang in many parts of Xi’an, but Zhiliang’s large soup-filled steamed dumplings are one of the reasons I still come back to the Muslim Quarter. There is often a line in the evening, but tables turn over fairly quickly, and I think it is worth waiting a little.

The dumplings here are much bigger than regular dumplings. Each one feels like it has a whole beef meatball inside, so the portion is very generous. During busy hours, they usually only serve the beef and scallion filling. At quieter times, you may also see beef with yellow chives, but beef and scallion is the most common and safest choice.

The best way to eat them is to pick up the dumpling with your chopsticks, gently bite a small opening, pour the soup into your spoon, and then eat the dumpling. If you like stronger flavors, you can dip it into the sauce, but honestly, it is already good on its own.

For me, the most memorable part is taking one bite of the dumpling, then drinking the beefy soup from the spoon. That is the moment that makes Zhiliang stand out.

Personally, I would choose Zhiliang over Jia San Soup Dumplings (贾三灌汤包), which is more familiar to many tourists. It is not that Jia San is bad, but if I could only pick one, Zhiliang feels more memorable to me and more representative of the flavor of this neighborhood.

Besides the steamed dumplings, you can also order a bowl of sesame paste liangpi. The Muslim Quarter version tastes different from the regular liangpi you may find elsewhere in Shaanxi. It is more fragrant, slightly sweet, a little spicy, and a bit of an acquired taste — but I personally really like it.

Their eight-treasure sweet porridge is also worth trying. It has sunflower seeds and other ingredients mixed in, giving it a rich, thick, and sweet texture. If you do not like sweet food, though, you may find it a little too much.

Address: No. 200 Miaohou Street

3. Honghong Pickled Cabbage Fried Rice – 红红酸菜炒米

Honghong Pickled Cabbage Fried Rice is another old name in the Muslim Quarter. It used to be near Beiyuanmen, but now it has moved to Miaohou Street. The good thing is that it is not far from Zhiliang Soup-Filled Steamed Dumplings, so you can easily put these two places on the same food route.

The signature dish here is pickled cabbage fried rice. The rice is oily and fragrant, but not greasy in a heavy way. The pickled cabbage adds a bright sour flavor, and the rice grains have a nice chewy bite. This is not a light, delicate fried rice. It is the kind of dish that works especially well with grilled meat and hot beef tripe.

The restaurant also serves grilled meat, mostly beef. The boiled beef tripe and tofu skin are also good with the fried rice. If you come with a few people, I think it is better to order several dishes and share. That feels much closer to the real Muslim Quarter experience than just eating one bowl of fried rice on your own.

If you are open to trying something different, you can also order a bowl of milk laozao, a sweet fermented rice drink cooked with milk. It can be quite divisive. Some people find it sweet and comforting, while others cannot get used to the taste at all. But it is definitely one of the representative drinks in this area, so first-time visitors can try a small bowl.

Address: No. 202 Miaohou Street

4. Dingjia Crispy Beef – 定家小酥肉

Dingjia Crispy Beef is one of the places in the Muslim Quarter that I think is really worth trying.

When I first came to Xi’an, my friends took me to the Muslim Quarter and insisted that I had to try Dingjia. The restaurant was crowded, and the line felt a little chaotic, but they still thought this dish was something I should not miss.

The crispy beef here is not the dry-fried version that many people may imagine. Instead, small pieces of beef are coated in batter and served in an old-style enamel bowl with a rich, oily broth. The black pepper flavor is quite noticeable. At first glance, it looks simple, even a little too oily, but once you try it, you understand why it has stayed popular for so many years.

The best way to eat it is with a bowl of plain white rice and a little pickled vegetable on the side. Eating the beef on its own may feel too salty, but with rice, it makes much more sense. The sour plum drink here is also a good pairing because it helps balance the richness.

That said, the pepper flavor is strong, so it may not be for everyone. But if you enjoy that kind of bold, peppery flavor, I think this is one of the dishes I find hardest to skip in the Muslim Quarter.

Dingjia Crispy Beef is right next to Shengzhiwang Sesame Paste Niangpi, so I usually recommend eating these two places together. One is hot, rich, and savory; the other is cool, fragrant, and slightly sweet. They balance each other well.

Address: No. 223 West Entrance of Dapiyuan

5. Shengzhiwang Sesame Paste Niangpi – 盛志望麻酱酿皮

Shengzhiwang Sesame Paste Niangpi is very close to Dingjia Crispy Beef, so I usually put these two stops together.

The sesame paste niangpi in the Muslim Quarter tastes quite different from the liangpi you may find elsewhere in Shaanxi. Muslim-style niangpi is slightly yellow in color, with a thicker and chewier texture. The seasoning is generous with sesame paste, so the flavor is rich, nutty, and very fragrant.

This is not the light, sour-spicy style of liangpi that many visitors may expect. The sesame paste is much more pronounced here. You get a little sweetness at first, followed by a mild spicy kick.

The toppings are also quite interesting. Besides the usual cucumber, they add purple cabbage, corn, and even broccoli. It sounds a little unusual, but the textures actually work well together, almost like a cold sesame noodle salad.

The sour plum drink and milk egg laozao are also popular here. Personally, I think the sour plum drink is the easier choice for most first-time visitors.

Address: No. 225 West Entrance of Dapiyuan

If you love Xi’an noodles, you might also want to see my best Xi’an noodles restaurants guide, which covers hand-pulled noodles, biangbiang, and other local favorites.

6. Dongnanya Zenggao – 东南亚甑糕

Dongnanya Zenggao is not far from Dingjia Crispy Beef, near the intersection of Guangji Street and Xiyangshi. Usually, if you see a small crowd waiting in line, you are probably in the right place.

There are many zenggao stalls in the Muslim Quarter, but Dongnanya and Pangzi are two of the best-known ones. To be honest, I cannot always taste the very subtle differences between every zenggao shop. For me, it usually comes down to how soft the sticky rice is, how sweet the jujube paste tastes, and how dense the overall texture feels.

Zenggao is made by steaming layers of glutinous rice, candied dates, and red beans. The date paste is thick and rich, while the sticky rice is soft, sweet, and fragrant. I think it tastes best when it is warm, but it also has its own charm after it cools down. The sweetness feels layered rather than flat.

Although the name “Dongnanya” literally means Southeast Asia, the flavor is very much a traditional Muslim Quarter-style Northwestern Chinese dessert.

One of my friends finds it a little too sweet, but I like sweet food, so I personally enjoy it. My suggestion is to buy a small portion for your first try instead of getting too much at once.

Address: No. 129 Beiguangji Street

7. Shijia Halal Baozi – 清真石家包子

I had Shijia Halal Baozi for breakfast, and honestly, baozi is the kind of food that is hard to get too wrong. This shop has been around for more than 20 years, and it is a solid breakfast stop in the Muslim Quarter.

I would recommend the cumin meat baozi, scallion meat baozi, and earth mushroom vegetarian baozi.

The cumin meat baozi is very fragrant, with a clear cumin aroma and a little red chili oil. It almost gives you a hint of grilled meat. The scallion meat baozi uses a beef and lamb filling, so the aroma is stronger than a regular meat bun.

The earth mushroom vegetarian baozi is the most special one. The filling looks a little like wood ear mushroom, with a dark greenish color that is somewhat similar to seaweed. It takes time to clean and prepare, so you do not see it used in baozi very often. The flavor is fresh and earthy, somewhere between mushrooms and seaweed, which makes it quite different from ordinary vegetarian buns.

If you are already too full from eating around the area, you can also take a few baozi back to your hotel for a late-night snack or breakfast the next morning.

Address: No. 217 Beiguangji Street

8. Grandma Hua Sour Plum Drink – 花奶奶酸梅汤

There are many shops selling sour plum drink in the Muslim Quarter, but quite a few of them use sour plum powder. If you want something closer to the traditional boiled version, Grandma Hua Sour Plum Drink is a good place to try.

The sour plum drink here is usually made with smoked plum, hawthorn, licorice, and other ingredients. The sourness tastes deeper and more rounded, with a slight smoky note from the plum and a mild herbal aftertaste. If you are lucky, you may even get a little plum pulp or small pieces of hawthorn in the drink.

The shop also sells “liangchan,” a mix of sour plum drink and fermented rice wine. This combination is quite special, but it can become a bit sweet toward the bottom of the cup. For a first visit, I would suggest starting with the regular sour plum drink. It is the safer choice.

Address: Middle section of Dapiyuan

Where to Stay Near the Muslim Quarter

I stayed at Novotel Xi’an Bell Tower Hotel, right beside Bell Tower Metro Station. The location is very convenient — it is only a short walk to the Drum Tower, the Muslim Quarter, and local food alleys like Dapiyuan.

The rooms are modern and comfortable, with smart room controls, separate wet and dry bathroom areas, and good-quality toiletries. If you are sensitive to noise, I would suggest asking for a higher room facing the inner side of the hotel, as the Bell Tower area can be busy.

There is also a 24-hour gym, self-service laundry, and a free kids’ area on site, which makes it practical for both longer stays and family trips. The daily buffet breakfast is a nice bonus, with classic Xi’an-style snacks alongside Western baked goods and fresh fruit.

The location is the biggest reason I would recommend it. You can walk to the Drum Tower, Muslim Quarter, and parts of the city wall, while the subway makes it easy to reach places like the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda. If your Xi’an itinerary is focused on old town sights and food streets, this is a very easy base.

Book your stay at Novotel Xi’an Bell Tower Hotel

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