A Street to Eat

Most people travel to Xian China to visit the Terra Cotta Soldiers, City Wall and Drum Tower. Few realize just a couple blocks away from the Drum Tower and City Wall lies a couple streets where you can sample the best street foods in Xian.

Grilled Meat Skewers

Xian was the starting point of the ancient silk road over a thousand years ago. Merchants from Arabic countries made their way to Xian and put their touch on the foods in Xian.

The first item i tried was grilled mutton in Uighur Nan Bread

Uigur Nan is a bit thicker than your ordinary Naan bread and seasoned with salt and cumin. Prior to cooking in a tandoor oven, the bread is pricked all over with a durtlik. The durtlik prevents the bread from puffing up while also adding a decorative element.

right from the oven

Still warm Uighur Nan

The grilled mutton with fresh nan was definately the way to start. We did not eat all day knowing we would eat plenty tonight for the whole day.

Wok fired noodles

Steamer baskets filled with Buns

A new type of steam bath

Grilled quail eggs with your choice of sauces

There are foods that everyone can identify for the less adventerous. Risk takers there are plenty of options to try something unique.

Cold Noodles

Although called cold noodles, they are served at room temperature. Served with a chili oil and soy vinegar you can garnish with a variety of items and turn up the heat with lots of chili.

Sticky glutinous rice

Types of a sticky glutinous rice with different coatings and a chili based sauce.

One of the more popular sweets

Individual Eight Treasure steamed rice

Mixing caramelized sugar and peanuts

There are numerous peanut crisp stalls that are scattered through out food street. They are easily identified by the pounding and shouting as the candy is made.

Pounding the candy out flat

Cutting the candy once pounded flat

There are various types of this sweet snack including sesame and rose scented peanut crisp.

Leaving with a full belly and two more days in Xian we knew we would be back at least one more time!