Top Yunnan Food: 10 Best Yunnan Dishes You Need to Try
With its unique geographic location and diverse ethnic minority cultures, Yunnan provides a rich variety of cuisines. Yunnan food, also known as Dian cuisine, combines the food of the Han Chinese and local ethnic groups. Yunnan cuisine is also influenced by bordering Southeast Asian countries, making it highly different from traditional Han Chinese food.
For food loves, Yunnan is undoubtedly a paradise. However, in this magical land, food is not only a pleasure for the taste buds, but also a cultural experience you can’t miss when visiting Yunnan. Let us embark on a journey of exploration of Chinese Yunnan food to taste those unforgettable specialties. Here are the 10 must-eat Yunnanese food and their characteristics:
1. Crossing the Bridge Noodles (过桥米线)
Crossing the bridge rice noodles (or cross bridge noodles) is the most iconic food in Yunnan province, famous for its delicious soup, rich side dishes and delicate rice noodles.
The soup is usually simmered for several hours with chicken, duck, pork ribs, etc., and the side dishes include chicken, pork, ham, quail eggs, mushrooms, bean sprouts, etc. When eating Yunnan crossing bridge noodles, the hot soup is combined with rice noodles and side dishes, and the taste is fresh and rich.
Locals in Yunnan eat mi xian (Yunnan rice noodle) almost every day. If you visit Yunnan, please do try these silky Yunnan noodles. Spicy food lovers can add some chili sauce or pickles to make your noodle soup more flavorful.
2. Steam Pot Chicken (汽锅鸡)
If you like chicken soup, steam pot chicken is a staple in Yunnan that you can’t miss. Jianshui has been producing earthenware steamers called “steam pot” since the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).
After the chicken being cut into small pieces, it will be put into a steam pot with ginger, salt, green onions and grass fruits. The steam pot will be placed on top of a soup pot filled with water. The chicken will be steamed for 3 to 4 hours. Since the chicken soup is condensed by steam, the umami flavor of the chicken is less lost during the steaming process. In addition, the chicken meat is tender and juicy.
Once you take a bite, your whole body will be surrounded by this delicious Yun Nan cuisine with its unique taste and flavor.
3. Wild Mushroom Hot Pot (野生菌火锅)
Yunnan is known as the "Kingdom of Wild Fungi" in China. The region’s unique environmental and climate conditions have nurtured rich wild edible fungi resources. A wide variety of wild fungi grow here, such as matsutake mushrooms, boletus mushrooms, gallinobacteria, etc. They are not only delicious, but also rich in a variety of trace elements and nutrients that are beneficial to the human body.
These wild fungi are gifts from nature and an integral part of Yunnan food culture. Wild Yunnan mushroom hotpot is one of the best Yunnan food that perfectly combines these fresh ingredients with the traditional cooking method of hot pot, allowing you to feel the essence of nature and the unique charm of Yunnan.
4. Fresh Flower Cake (鲜花饼)
Fresh flower cake is a Kunming specialty and one of the most famous Yunnan province food. It’s a flaky pastry with Yunnan's unique edible rose flowers inside. The crust of the freshly baked flower cake is so crispy and the filling is sweet and soft, with the fragrance of roses. Rose is the classic filling, but you can also find osmanthus.
Flower cake shops can be seen everywhere on the streets of Kunming. It’s also a good choice as gifts bringing home for family and friends. You can pair fresh flower cakes with a cup of tea for afternoon teatime.
5. Xuanwei Ham (宣威火腿)
Being traced back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) at the latest, Xuanwei ham is another traditional Yunnan food and one of China's famous hams. It’s named after the place where it is produced. Xuanwei ham is made of high-quality pork and is made through a unique pickling and fermentation process.
The ham is thin and thick, with moderate fat and lean, and full of flavor. Whether it is eaten right out of the package, steamed, or cooked into a delicacy with other ingredients, Xuanwei ham shows its unique charm.
Xuanwei ham is an integral part on the dining table in Yunnan because it can go with everything. A piece of good ham, even if paired with the simplest ingredients, can awaken this pure natural flavor.
6. Er Kuai (饵块)
As one of the Eighteen Oddities in Yunnan, Er Kuai or Erkuai is a common traditional food in Yunnan, kind of Yunnan’s version of rice-flour cake. Its production process is to wash, soak, steam, pound and knead high-quality rice into various shapes, including flat cakes, rolls, and matchsticks. There are also many ways to make it, such as frying, boiling, braising, and steaming, with different flavors.
Da Jiu Jia (大救驾), a staple food in Tengcong of Yunnan, is also made of Er Kuai. Different from the usual cooking method of Er Kuai in Kunming, Da Jiu Jia is to cut Er Kuai rice cakes into triangles and are as thin as paper. The seasonings are mainly eggs, fermented chili peppers, tomatoes, cabbage hearts, and green onions. No soy sauce is added, and only salt is used to adjust the saltiness. This unique cooking method makes Da Jiu Jia more crispy and delicious.Chewy rice cakes stir-fried with vegetables or meat.
7. Grandma’s Potatoes (老奶洋芋)
Yunnan-style mashed potatoes is called grandma’s potatoes locally. It’s soft and does not require much chewing, very suitable for old ladies with no teeth. This is why the people in Yunnan name it after granny. Grandma’s potatoes is not the kind of mashed potatoes you’ve had before.
The potatoes will be boiled, peeled, and mashed into a paste. Then they will be stir-fried with different seasonings such as chili peppers, pickled vegetables, garlic, and shallots. The flavors of the seasonings do not overshadow the taste of potatoes, but make the food more flavorful. It is full of fresh fragrance and tastes delicate and soft. This comfort food is a delicacy that Yunnan people cannot do without.
8. Ru Shan (乳扇)
Ru Shan (or Rushan), originally a specialty of the Bai minority, is one of the most iconic street food in Dali. On the streets of Dali, you can see vendors selling golden pieces of Ru Shan on tricycles. Rushan is a kind of cheese made from cow’s milk and it can be grilled or fried. Whether it is eaten as a snack or cooked into a dish with other ingredients, Ru Shan shows its unique charm.
Grilled Rushan is usually served on a stick. Condensed milk or rose jam is put on the flattened cheese block when baking. And then it’s rolled into a tube. Freshly baked Rushan tastes like soft cheese, but it becomes a bit chewy when it cools down.You should also try the deep-fried Rushan served with Sichuan pepper salt and white sugar for dipping the cheese in. It’s how the Bai people eat it. When deep-fried, the texture of Rushan becomes crispy.