Top Local Dishes & Where to Try Them in Zunyi, Guizhou, China
1. Baige Maotai
A famous Chinese liquor made from sorghum, known for its strong aroma and smooth taste. Visit the Maotai Distillery in Kunming Road for a tasting experience.
- Local Specialty: Baige Maotai is unique to Zunyi and is considered one of the best Chinese liquors.
- Distillery Tour: The distillery offers guided tours, providing insights into the production process.
- Tasting Experience: Visitors can sample different flavors and strengths of Maotai liquor.
2. Zunyi Xiaodoufu
Soft tofu made fresh daily, served in a spicy sauce with pickled vegetables. Try it at local street food stalls around Zhongshan Road.
- Freshly Made: Unlike store-bought tofu, this soft tofu is made fresh every day.
- Spicy Sauce: The spicy sauce gives the dish a unique flavor profile that sets it apart.
- Street Food Experience: Trying Zunyi Xiaodoufu at street food stalls offers an authentic local experience.
3. Zunyi Laoban Tang
A hearty soup made with pork bones and various vegetables. It's served at many restaurants in the city center.
- Hearty Meal: Laoban Tang is a warming, filling meal that's perfect for chilly Zunyi evenings.
- Traditional Recipe: The recipe has been passed down for generations, making it a true local specialty.
- Restaurant Atmosphere: Enjoying Laoban Tang in a bustling restaurant adds to the overall experience.
4. Zunyi Sour and Spicy Fish
Freshwater fish cooked in a sour and spicy sauce. Visit Zhongshan Road for restaurants serving this dish.
- Fresh Ingredients: The fish used is always freshly caught from local waters.
- Unique Flavor Profile: The sour and spicy sauce creates a unique flavor that's hard to find elsewhere.
- Street Food Experience: Trying this dish at street food stalls offers an authentic local experience.
5. Zunyi Barbecued Meat Skewers
Marinated meat skewered and grilled over charcoal. Find them at night markets like Xinglong Night Market.
- Fresh Ingredients: The meat used is always fresh and of high quality.
- Grilled to Perfection: The grilling process ensures the meat is cooked to perfection, with a delicious char.
- Night Market Experience: Trying the skewers at night markets offers a vibrant and lively atmosphere.
6. Zunyi Wild Boar Hot Pot
A hot pot dish made with wild boar meat, mushrooms, and vegetables. Try it at Xinglong Hot Pot Restaurant.
- Wild Game Meat: The use of wild boar meat makes this hot pot dish unique.
- Hot Pot Experience: Cooking and eating the meal at your table adds to the overall experience.
- Authentic Ingredients: The ingredients used are sourced locally, ensuring authenticity.
7. Zunyi Mushroom Delicacy
A variety of local mushrooms cooked in a simple yet flavorful broth. Try it at restaurants along Zhongshan Road.
- Local Mushrooms: The use of various local mushroom varieties makes this dish unique.
- Simple yet Flavorful: The dish's simplicity allows the natural flavors of the mushrooms to shine.
- Restaurant Atmosphere: Enjoying this dish in a traditional Chinese restaurant adds to the overall experience.
8. Zunyi Sweet Rice Ball Soup
Sticky rice balls served in a sweet soup with red beans and various nuts. Try it at restaurants along Zhongshan Road.
- Traditional Dessert: This dessert is a traditional favorite in Zunyi and can't be found elsewhere.
- Sweet yet Savory: The combination of sweet rice balls, savory red beans, and crunchy nuts creates a unique flavor profile.
- Restaurant Atmosphere: Trying this dessert in a bustling restaurant offers an authentic local experience.
9. Zunyi Steamed Bamboo Rice
Sticky rice steamed inside hollowed-out bamboo shoots. Try it at local eateries along Jiefang Road.
- Unique Cooking Method: The use of bamboo shoots for cooking is unique and adds to the dish's flavor.
- Traditional Recipe: This recipe has been passed down for generations, making it a true local specialty.
- Local Eatery Experience: Trying this dish at a local eatery offers an authentic local experience.
10. Zunyi Pickled Vegetables
A variety of vegetables pickled in brine or vinegar. Try them at street food stalls along Zhongshan Road.
- Local Ingredients: The use of locally-grown and harvested vegetables makes these pickles unique.
- Street Food Experience: Trying the pickles at street food stalls offers a vibrant and lively atmosphere.
- Flavor Variety: Different vegetables are pickled in various brines or vinegars, offering a wide range of flavors.
11. Zunyi Stinky Tofu
Fermented tofu with a strong odor but delicious taste. Try it at street food stalls along Zhongshan Road.
- Strong Aroma: The strong aroma of the tofu is unique and might take some getting used to.
- Street Food Experience: Trying this dish at street food stalls offers a vibrant and lively atmosphere.
- Flavor Profile: The fermentation process gives the tofu a unique flavor profile that's hard to find elsewhere.
12. Zunyi Noodles with Chili Sauce
Thin noodles served in a spicy chili sauce with vegetables and meat. Try it at local eateries along Zhongshan Road.
- Thin Noodles: The thin noodles have a unique texture that's hard to find elsewhere.
- Spicy Sauce: The spicy chili sauce gives the dish a unique flavor profile that sets it apart.
- Local Eatery Experience: Trying this dish at a local eatery offers an authentic local experience.
13. Zunyi Rice Noodle Rolls
Thin rice noodles wrapped around fillings like vegetables or meat. Try them at local eateries along Zhongshan Road.
- Thin Rice Noodles: The thinness of the rice noodles is unique, making for a delicate texture.
- Variety of Fillings: Different fillings offer a wide range of flavor combinations to try.
- Local Eatery Experience: Trying this dish at a local eatery offers an authentic local experience.
14. Zunyi Mianpi Shou Zhong
A snack made from fried dough sticks dipped in a sweet and sour sauce. Try it at street food stalls along Jiefang Road.
- Unique Texture: The crispy exterior and soft interior of the dough sticks is unique.
- Sweet and Sour Sauce: The sweet and sour sauce gives this snack a unique flavor profile that's hard to find elsewhere.
- Street Food Experience: Trying this snack at street food stalls offers a vibrant and lively atmosphere.
15. Zunyi Barbecued Skewered Quail
Quails skewered and grilled over charcoal. Find them at night markets like Xinglong Night Market.
- Small Game Meat: The use of quail meat makes this dish unique.
- Grilled to Perfection: The grilling process ensures the quails are cooked to perfection, with a delicious char.
- Night Market Experience: Trying the skewers at night markets offers a vibrant and lively atmosphere.