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A visit to Xichang is a must-try for its ethnic and local specialties. Tuotuo meat, sauerkraut and potato chicken, fried potatoes, Yi-style steamed meat, lianzhacai, and Yi-style spicy chicken are all examples of Yi-style delicacies. Jianchang pressed duck, Qionghai drunken shrimp, Qionghai barbecue, Chengmendong beef noodles, Li pig intestines, Xichang rice noodle rolls, and meat-infused tofu pudding are all Xichang specialties.
Xichang Famous Snack Street offers nearly every popular snack and staple food in Xichang, attracting a constant stream of foodies. The Qionghai Scenic Area also boasts numerous dining options, particularly the small fishing village across from Qionghai, where numerous restaurants offer Xichang specialties like drunken and boiled shrimp. In season, you can also sample whitebait and hairy crab.
If you're craving an authentic Xichang breakfast, Xichang rice noodles are a must-try. These noodles come in a variety of flavors, depending on the ingredients, including beef, pork intestines, and offal. Paired with bone broth, they create a rich, flavorful dish. Xichang is dotted with small rice noodle shops, with Laohao Li Rice Noodles and Luotian Beef and Lamb Offal Rice Noodles being popular local favorites.
Because Xichang is located high in the mountains and enjoys strong sunlight, the starch content of potatoes grown there is significantly higher than in other places. Freshly fried potatoes are golden and crispy on the outside, yet soft on the inside, offering a crispy, refreshing flavor and a vibrant aroma. The best way to enjoy fried potatoes is with a special chili powder on the side. Whether you prefer soft or crisp is entirely up to your preference; just let the owner know in advance. There are many small fried potato shops on Famous Store Street, each with its own secret recipe, so it's recommended to try a few.
Tuotuo meat is a famous Yi ethnic minority dish. In Sichuan dialect, "kua" (a type of meat called "tuo") is pronounced "tuo," hence the name. It's prepared by cutting beef, lamb, pork, chicken, or wild game into chunks, cooking them, and then sprinkling them with salt, chili powder, Sichuan peppercorns, and the local "mu ku" ("litengzi" in Chinese) powder. The Yi people traditionally use suckling pig as the base, which gives it an unparalleled crispness and flavor. Tuotuo meat is a favorite among locals of all ethnic groups and can be found in major restaurants in Xichang.
Lianzhacai (Lianzhacai) is a uniquely Yi ethnic soup dish. It's made by grinding soybeans into a pulp with a stone mill, adding vegetable leaves, and adding a splash of sour water. It can be enjoyed plain, without any seasonings, or topped with a dipping sauce like Huhai pepper powder. This soup clears heat and quenches thirst, leaving a refreshing and comfortable feeling.
This authentic Xichang specialty features live shrimp, cleaned and then placed directly in a simmered pot of baijiu (white wine) with seasonings. The dish is called "drunken shrimp" because the dipping sauce, made with rice wine and chili peppers, allows for a distinct flavor of the raw shrimp and the aroma of the wine. This dish is incredibly popular and can be found in major Xichang restaurants and at farmhouses along the Qionghai coast.
In the small fishing village scenic area on the other side of Qionghai Lake, you can eat authentic Qionghai drunken shrimp and boiled shrimp, as well as other special seafood such as whitebait and hairy crab, which are also very delicious.
This time-honored local snack shop in Xichang is a childhood memory for many locals. Its signature braised beef noodles are renowned in the city. Besides rice noodles, you can also take out the braised beef, which is sliced thinly and topped with chili flakes for a spicy and chewy texture.
Address: No. 15 Shangshuncheng Street, Xichang City (near Datong Gate)
Transportation: Take bus No. 1 Inner Ring, No. 1 Outer Ring, No. 2 Inner Ring, or No. 2 Outer Ring and get off at Datongmen Station.
Reference price: 9 yuan per person
This is the oldest and most extensive mutton offal rice noodle restaurant in Xichang. Their beef and mutton offal noodles are renowned for their freshness. When first served, they are filled with a milky white broth, then topped with noodles and a few slices of meat. The remaining toppings are added at the table to your taste. Their mutton offal rice noodles and pickled pepper rice noodles are two of their signature dishes.
Address: No. 139, Longyanjing Street, Xichang City
Transportation: Take bus No. 16, get off at Longyanjing and walk 50 meters south.
Reference price: 15 yuan per person
This late-night eatery, boasting a culinary scene comparable to 8:30, is nestled in a vintage setting on a historic street. Entering the place, you're transported to the world of the Outlaws, with animal skins and tiger paintings on the walls and a collection of eighteen weapons displayed in the lobby. Their duck tongues are highly recommended, boasting a chewy texture. Their rice wine is also a specialty, brewed in-house and offering a unique flavor. However, be careful not to overdo it; it's potent and can lead to a headache the next day.
Address: No. 69 Shangshuncheng Street, Xichang City
Business hours: 7:00 PM - midnight
Transportation: Take bus No. 16, No. 1 Inner Ring, No. 1 Outer Ring, No. 201, No. 2 Inner Ring, No. 2 Outer Ring, or No. 3 and get off at Dashuijing Station. Walk about 300 meters east to the destination.
Reference price: 42 yuan per person
This shop sells handmade pastries using traditional techniques. Their fresh pastries, free of preservatives and additives, are a favorite among both new and returning customers. Despite its small, unassuming location, business has always been brisk. Their signature item, the Horseshoe Pastry, is uniquely shaped, crispy, and soft, making it a great gift for friends and family.
Address: Shuncheng Street, Old Town, Xichang
Contact: 0834-3281501
Transportation: Take bus No. 1 Inner Ring, No. 1 Outer Ring, No. 2 Inner Ring, or No. 2 Outer Ring and get off at Shuncheng Street.
Reference price: 10 yuan per person
Huang's BBQ in Puge is quite famous in Xichang. While their grilled dishes are similar to other restaurants, their signature dishes are the glazed tofu and fish fillets. The tofu is smooth and crispy, while the fish fillets are made with a secret recipe for a rich and unique flavor. The grilled fish is also excellent, and you can order a whole fish or select specific cuts.
Address: Haibin Middle Road, Xichang City
Transportation: Take bus No. 105 and get off at Qionghai Hotel
Reference price: 40 yuan per person
Zhou Da Huzi BBQ is a long-standing barbecue restaurant in Xichang, with 16 years of business. It's relatively authentic. Their grilled chicken skin doesn't come with kimchi, unlike other restaurants that overdo it, making the skin a mere garnish. They also offer tender beef, intestines, pork loin, tripe, and tendon, all worth trying. The vinegar sauce is also delicious! Overall, the service is excellent. This restaurant is located on Xichang's famous Hangtian Road barbecue street, where many other barbecue restaurants line the street, providing plenty of options.
Address: 200 meters from Hangtian South Road, Xichang City
Contact: 13881552509
Transportation: Take bus No. 105 and get off at Tengyunlou Hotel. Then walk 100 meters south across the traffic light.
Reference price: 50 yuan per person
Xichang's bamboo skewer barbecue is renowned in Sichuan, and this stall boasts a unique sauce. The sauce, a blend of patchouli and other spices, is brushed onto the skewers before grilling. The subtle herbal aroma blends with the natural flavors of the ingredients, creating a mouth-watering experience. It's been hailed as "one of the best bamboo skewer barbecues." Every evening, the restaurant's "babali" (babali) area fills up with people gathered around a large charcoal brazier, with chunks of meat dangling from long bamboo skewers. The atmosphere is filled with the uninhibited energy of munching on meat and drinking freely. Chicken wings, for example, dipped in chili powder and soybean flour, are sure to leave a lasting impression. Meat combos are also reasonably priced. However, on weekdays, the restaurant is busier, so service can be a challenge.
Address: Xiaojiezi Road, Chuanxing Town (near Chuanxing Testing Station)
Contact: 13408361208
Opening hours: 3:00 PM - 12:00 AM
Transportation: There is no public transportation nearby, so it is recommended to take a taxi (cost 20-30 yuan)
Reference price: 49 yuan per person
This time-honored barbecue restaurant, founded in 1993, specializes in authentic brazier barbecue, especially roasted pork belly, coated tofu, beef, free-range chicken, etc. Of course, these dishes must be paired with a cold and refreshing Kingway original beer to make them perfect.
Address: Hangtian South Road, Xichang City, Liangshan Prefecture, Sichuan Province (near Dada Shopping)
Contact: 13778666618
Transportation: Take bus No. 105, get off at Tengyunlou Hotel, and walk 500 meters south.
Reference price: 69 yuan per person
This is a place that serves genuine Liangshan specialties: Tuotuo meat, roast suckling pig, and buckwheat cakes, each with its own unique flavor. There's also a small shop nearby that sells delicious Liangshan snow tea.
Address: No. 58, Nanyuan East Road, Xichang City (near the TV station)
Contact: 0834-2174513
Transportation: Take bus No. 5, 7, 8, 106 (towards the park), 107, 108 (towards Sichuan Xing), or 111, get off at New Warehouse Station, and walk west to Nanyuan Road.
Reference price: 49 yuan per person
This specialty restaurant specializes in traditional Lizhou dishes. Its setting is distinctly ethnic, with square tables exuding a sense of rusticity and heritage. Prices are relatively reasonable. Their oil-jar pork and water spinach dishes are recommended, both Lizhou specialties, made with exquisite ingredients and well worth a try.
Address: Section 2, Hangtian Avenue, Xichang
Transportation: Take bus No. 11, 12, 16, 17, or 7 and get off at Changping Building Materials Center Station. Walk north to Hangyu Middle Road.
Reference price: 50 yuan per person
This is a rather bourgeois restaurant in Xichang, a popular late-night snack spot for locals. While the location can be difficult to find, ask the locals. They specialize in snacks and noodles, and all snacks are served in small bowls, allowing you to sample a variety. They also offer a unique millet wine, which pairs beautifully with lotus root slices for a truly delicious experience.
Address: Chalukouli, lower section of Wenhui Road, Xichang City
Transportation: Take bus No. 11, 12, 16, 17, or 7 and get off at Hangtian Avenue Section 2. Walk to Hangyu Middle Road and turn left. Walk 100 meters to the destination.
Reference price: 29 yuan per person
Xichang's mild climate is ideal for mushroom cultivation, and the locals have a long tradition of eating mushrooms. Junzhuxuan Restaurant is a renowned local mushroom restaurant, serving mushrooms year-round, but for fresh mushrooms, visit in August and September. The mushroom hot pot or the mushroom hot pot with black-bone chicken are highly recommended, offering a particularly nourishing and health-promoting experience. This restaurant is incredibly well-known in Xichang, but expect a long wait if you don't book early.
Address: Shengli South Road, Xichang City
Contact: 0834-3202001; 0834-3662119
Transportation: Take bus No. 107, 11, 16, 21, or 9, get off at Shengli South Road Section 1, and walk 100 meters south.
Reference price: 60 yuan per person
This popular local restaurant in Xichang boasts several branches. With a diverse menu and excellent flavor, it's a popular choice for many locals. Their "Hot and Crispy" dish, made with tripe and chicken stir-fried with pepper, has a crisp and powerful texture, while the mashed potatoes are soft and smooth, making them a must-try.
Address: Chengnan Middle Road, Xichang City, Liangshan
Contact number: 0834-3203688
Transportation: Take bus No. 107, 11, 16, 21, or 9, get off at Shengli South Road Section 1, walk south to Chengnan Middle Road, turn right, and you will arrive.
Reference price: 40 yuan per person
Xichang's specialty food is crucian carp cooked in a broth similar to hot pot ingredients. It tastes very fragrant and can be regarded as one of the must-eats in Xichang. The restaurant environment is good, but the service is average and the overall cost is slightly high.
Address: No. 43 Shuncheng Street, Huayuan Road, Xichang City
Contact: 0834-3230800
Transportation: Take bus No. 1 Inner Ring, No. 1 Outer Ring, No. 2 Inner Ring, No. 2 Outer Ring, get off at Datong Gate and walk west for 100 meters.
Reference price: 40 yuan per person
This is a well-known Western restaurant in Xichang. Their signature pizza is the best in Xichang. The flatbread and baked potato skins are also delicious. The cocktails are good and highly recommended. The environment is unique and sophisticated. They offer a variety of afternoon teas and the atmosphere is perfect for couples.
Address: No. 6 Ximenpo Street, Xichang City, Liangshan
Contact: 0834-3243498
Transportation: Take bus No. 10, 20, 22, 3, 4, 5, or 9, walk 200 meters east from Mashui River to Ximenpo Street.
Reference price: 48 yuan per person