Top Local Dishes & Where to Try Them in Yutan, China

1. Lanzhou Lamian Noodles

Hand-pulled noodles in a rich, flavorful soup with beef or lamb, originating from Lanzhou, a city near Yutan. Try it at Lao Xiangbi Beef Noodle Shop.

Hand-pulled Noodles: Unlike machine-made noodles, these are hand-pulled, giving them a unique texture.
Rich Soup: The soup is flavored with spices like cumin and chili oil, giving it a distinctive taste.
Beef or Lamb: The noodles are served with tender slices of beef or lamb, adding heartiness to the dish.

Thin, yellow noodles served in a clear soup with vegetables and tofu. Try it at Zhongxing Snack Street.

Yellow Noodles: Made from wheat flour mixed with turmeric, these noodles have a unique yellow color.
Clear Soup: Unlike other noodle soups, this one is clear and light, making it a good choice for those who prefer less spicy foods.
Vegetables and Tofu: The dish is typically served with sliced vegetables and tofu, providing a balanced meal.

Delicate Peking Duck prepared according to a centuries-old recipe. Try it at the Quanjude Restaurant in Yutan.

Centuries-old Recipe: The secret recipe has been passed down for over 150 years, ensuring a consistent and delicious taste.
Delicate Skin: The skin is thin, crispy, and flavorful, while the meat is tender and juicy.
Traditional Dipping Sauce: The dish is served with a traditional dipping sauce made from sugar, vinegar, and soy sauce.

Thick, hand-pulled noodles served with spicy sauce and toppings like pickled vegetables. Try it at local street food stalls.

Thick Noodles: These thick noodles have a chewy texture that pairs well with the spicy sauce.
Spicy Sauce: The sauce is spicy and flavorful, giving the dish its unique taste.
Pickled Vegetables: The pickled vegetables provide a tangy contrast to the spiciness of the dish.

Soft, fluffy buns filled with savory fillings like pork or vegetable. Try them at local bakeries.

Soft and Fluffy: The buns have a soft, pillowy texture that melts in your mouth.
Savory Fillings: The fillings are flavorful and savory, making each bite delicious.
Affordable Price: They are an affordable snack option, perfect for a quick meal on the go.

Tender pieces of mutton skewered and grilled over an open flame. Try them at local street food stalls.

Tender Mutton: The mutton is tender and juicy, cooked to perfection.
Grilled over an Open Flame: The kebabs are grilled over an open flame, giving them a smoky flavor.
Spicy Sauce: They are served with a spicy sauce that adds a kick to the dish.

Cold noodles served with a sesame paste sauce and pickled vegetables. Try it at local street food stalls.

Cold Noodles: The noodles are cold, providing a refreshing contrast to the spicy dishes commonly found in Yutan.
Sesame Paste Sauce: The sauce is made from sesame paste, giving it a nutty flavor.
Pickled Vegetables: The pickled vegetables provide a tangy contrast to the richness of the sesame paste.

Filled dumplings with various fillings like pork and vegetables. Try them at local restaurants.

Various Fillings: Dumplings can be filled with a variety of ingredients, from pork to vegetables.
Boiled or Pan-fried: They can be boiled or pan-fried, each method giving them a unique texture.
Dipping Sauce: They are typically served with a vinegar and soy sauce dipping mixture.

Deep-fried pork served in a sweet and sour sauce. Try it at local restaurants.

Deep-Fried Pork: The pork is deep-fried until it's crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.
Sweet and Sour Sauce: The sauce is a balance of sweet and sour flavors, complementing the pork perfectly.
Colorful Presentation: The dish is often served with colorful bell peppers and pineapples, adding to its visual appeal.

Fermented tofu with a pungent aroma and salty taste. Try it at local markets.

Pungent Aroma: The tofu has a strong, pungent aroma that is unique to fermented tofu.
Salty Taste: The tofu is salty due to the fermentation process, making it a flavorful addition to dishes.
Health Benefits: Fermented foods like this one are known for their health benefits, including probiotics that aid digestion.

Fermented tofu with a strong smell and chewy texture. Try it at local street food stalls.

Strong Smell: The tofu has a strong, pungent odor that some may find off-putting but is common for this type of tofu.
Chewy Texture: The tofu is chewy and has a unique texture due to the fermentation process.
Spicy Sauce: It is often served with a spicy sauce that helps balance the strong smell of the tofu.

Pickled vegetables like cucumbers and mustard greens. Try them at local markets or restaurants.

Variety of Vegetables: A variety of vegetables can be pickled, from cucumbers to mustard greens.
Tangy Flavor: The vegetables have a tangy flavor due to the vinegar used in the pickling process.
Crisp Texture: The vegetables maintain a crisp texture despite being pickled.

Soft, fluffy buns filled with sweet red bean paste. Try them at local bakeries.

Soft and Fluffy: The buns have a soft, pillowy texture that melts in your mouth.
Sweet Red Bean Paste: The paste is made from red beans and has a sweet, slightly earthy flavor.
Affordable Price: They are an affordable snack option, perfect for a quick meal on the go.

Fried dumplings with various fillings like pork and vegetables. Try them at local street food stalls.

Various Fillings: Dumplings can be filled with a variety of ingredients, from pork to vegetables.
Crispy exterior: The dumplings have a crispy exterior and a juicy filling.
Dipping Sauce: They are typically served with a vinegar and soy sauce dipping mixture.

Cold noodles served with a sesame paste sauce and pickled vegetables. Try it at local street food stalls.

Cold Noodles: The noodles are cold, providing a refreshing contrast to the spicy dishes commonly found in Yutan.
Sesame Paste Sauce: The sauce is made from sesame paste, giving it a nutty flavor.
Pickled Vegetables: The pickled vegetables provide a tangy contrast to the richness of the sesame paste.