Lanzhou
In business since 1954, this place has locals flocking here for steaming bowls of the city's most well-known export: spicy hand-pulled noodles. Join the…
Must-see restaurants in Gansu
Qīngxiāngyuán Lǎozìhào Niúròu Lāmiàn
Gansu
Grab a ticket from the kiosk out front of this Muslim restaurant and collect your beef noodles (niúròu miàn; ¥8) from the kitchen window inside. The…
Dunhuang
Part of the Silk Road Dunhuang Hotel, this rooftop restaurant is ideal for a meal (the western buffet breakfast is excellent) or a sundowner gazing out…
Gansu
This inviting, bright restaurant serves Tibetan dishes, such as the popular yak hotpot (¥25) and tsampa (¥20), as well as western favourites and…
Gansu
Mr Wang and the folk from Dali in Yunnan at this family-run restaurant are a bundle of fun. Sample the five or six flavours of strong homemade qīngkē…
Dunhuang
Come to this small and friendly Muslim restaurant down Confucian Temple Alley (Wenmiao Xiang) for lamb kebabs (羊肉串, yángròuchuàn; ¥2 each), roast lamb…
Lanzhou
One of Lanzhou's best night markets, this small pedestrian street is lined with vendors on both sides cooking up all manner of Silk Road delights. The mix…
Lanzhou
This very handy branch of the famed Mazilu Beef Noodles is a chopstick's throw from the train station, serving up simply delicious and very filling spicy…
Gansu
This traditionally styled and highly colourful restaurant on the ground floor of Tara Guesthouse is very good-looking indeed and serves excellent baked…
Gansu
This friendly family-run restaurant offers a wide range of Chinese dishes and breakfasts such as yóutiáo (fried dough sticks), dòujiāng (warm soya milk),…
Dunhuang
This road west off Mingshan Lu is stuffed with small hole-in-the-wall restaurants and larger eateries, perfect for dining on local specialities such as…
Dunhuang
A bowl of these fish-shaped noodles (搓鱼子, cuōyúzi) puts a spring in your step. Located on Speciality Snack Street off Mingshan Lu in the centre of town,…
Dunhuang
Extending from Yangguan Lu south to Xiyu Lu, this market is both a place to eat and to socialise, night and day. Off Yanguang Donglu are dozens of well…
Gansu
This chilled-out choice was moving at the time of writing, but its former incarnation served a menu of Tibetan, Chinese and western staples, as well as a…
Lanzhou
Overseen by a vivid and almost surreal painting of the statue Mother of the Yellow River, this brisk Muslim place serves up healthy and steaming bowls of…
Gansu
This large Muslim place serves filling helpings of huìmiànpiàn (烩面片, big/small ¥11/12) noodles – flat noodle chunks with veggies, beef crumbs, garlic,…
Gansu
This warren of covered pedestrian alleys within bustling Liangzhou Market (凉州市场, Liángzhōu Shìchǎng) packs in dozens of snack stands, hawker stalls and…
Gansu
This pedestrianised market has dozens of snack stalls and small restaurants, many selling local specialities and Chinese standards, hand-pulled noodles …
Gansu
Round-the-clock hours make this a decent pit-stop at any time of the day or night. For ¥7 you can devour a deep, clear, fresh, zesty and filling bowl of…
Gansu
A traditionally styled street with an ornamental gateway, Mingqing Jie is full of restaurants, stalls selling roast sweet potatoes and dàpáidàng selling…
Gansu
At this busy market load up on lamb kebabs, ròujiāmó (肉夹馍, pork sandwiches), shāguō (claypot) dishes, barbecue, Sichuan cuisine, beef noodles, roast duck,…
Gansu
Just north off the main street of Xi Dajie, look for this market with numerous restaurants, and more food stalls serving noodles, spicy hotpot and…
Gansu
For a fast, hot meal in the evenings, especially barbecued lamb washed down with beer, try the food stalls at this market, north of the Xinhua Lu traffic…
Dunhuang
Western-style breakfasts, including scrambled eggs, muesli with yoghurt, and pancakes, are available all day either à la carte or as a set. There are also…
There is a Yellow Flesh of a Donkey
Dunhuang
This bright, clean and friendly restaurant specialises in Dunhuang's not-exactly-famous donkey-meat noodles (驴肉黄面, lǘròu huángmiàn). Warm noodles are…
Gansu
Directly across from the bus station on the far side of a small park is this very good and rather smart Sichuan restaurant. Reach for the 'cookery book' …
Lanzhou
Not so much a market as a busy section of street extending from Tianshui Nanlu to Pingliang Lu, which is stuffed with all manner of steaming open-air…
Gansu
This upstairs place has a comfortable Tibetan-style interior with expensive coffee, plus breakfasts, sandwiches and other western dishes and desserts. It…
Green Lotus Vegetarian Restaurant
Dunhuang
This very elegant (but expensive) choice is arrayed with all manner of exquisite ceramics and paintings and exudes an air of tranquillity and…
