As the capital of Qinghai Province, Xining almost boasts all varieties of local flavors. Xining's cuisine is distinct from other varieties of Chinese cities using mainly food products native to the area. Only in Xining can you sample the tasty local flavors and snacks. Food here is substantial, but happily quite inexpensive.

Local Snacks

A unique feature of snacks in Xining is that they are given names after the surname of their initiator. Some of the famous ones will be introduced in next context.

Liangfen (bean jelly) is made from pea powder and cut into short strips. Liangfen is served with vinegar, chili and mashed garlic, mustard and salt to enhance the taste the dish.

Niangpi is a popular snack made of flour and baking soda. It can be found anywhere in Xining for four-yuan. The most famous version of this snack is called Mazhong Niangpi and can be found in the Mojia Jie.

Zasui Tang is a soup cooked with lamb and oxen entrails. Locals often eat this snack for breakfast. The hot soup helps warm people during the winter.

Muslim Yoghurt is a must while in Xining – this breakfast is a kind of yoghurt made by local Muslim families and is served in small bowls for one-yuan.

Terrine is a popular and inexpensive snack in Xining. It is a small hot pot which contains beef, mutton, been curd and vermicelli.

Mutton Eaten with Fingers is the most famous snack in Qinghai Province. It is made of fresh mutton and served with a little salt. This snack is the favorite food of the herdsmen of Qinghai Province.

Dishes of Plateau Flavor

In Xining, some fancier restaurants serve varieties of 'plateau flavor', such as Feng'er Liji (a round lamb tenderloin), Danbai Chongcao Ji (a medicine cuisine made of chicken, Chinese caterpillar fungus and eggs), Jinyu Facai (pork wrapped in flabelliform nostoc and shaped as a goldfish) among others. These dishes are often cooked by the locals at home. Below are a variety of recommendations:

Muslim Da Ximen Restaurant
Specialties: Moslem cuisines
Address: No.120, Changjiang Lu, Middle District of Xining
Bus Route: 18, 19, 21, 27
Opening Hours: 10:00-22:00

Zhongfayuan Restaurant
Address: No.1, Shulin Xiang, Dongguan Dajie, Eastern District of Xining
Bus Route: 1, 2, 22

Xiao Yuanmen Restaurant
Address: No.190, Donguan Dajie, Xining
Bus Route: 1, 2, 23, 25
Opening Hours: 9:30-23:00

Western Food Restaurants

Some of the hotels in Xining have western food services. The 28th Floor Rotary Western Restaurant sits atop the city and allows diners to enjoy the view as well as the food.
Address: No.55, Xi Dajie

Fast Food

There are three branches of KFC in Xining.
Address: N0.53, Dong Dajie
No.40, Xi Dajie
The first floor of Wantong Center, Wusi Dajie