Zhangjiajie Food and Restaurant
One of the best places to visit in China, Zhangjiajie is world known for its magnificent natural scenery and unique mountains, as well as many local dishes that reflect the unique local food culture and ethnic minority culture. This article introduces the must-try Zhangjiajie foods and recommended restaurants in Zhangjiajie.
There are various food in Zhangjiajie, where is the home to Miao and Tujia nationalities. So the local dishes are usually quite spicy like other parts of Hunan Province, and people love pickles as well in their daily life. Apart from the two features, they like the smoked meat and fish very much. The most famous dish in Zhangjiajie is Sanxiaguo, which made from preserved pork, radish and tofu. It is a must try when you travel in Zhangjiajie. One thing to be note here is the food at secnic area always more expensive than those served in Zhangjiajie city.
Zhangjiajie Cuisine - the Soul of the Tujia Ethnic Flavor in West Hunan
The Chinese food in Zhangjiajie belongs to the western Hunan Tujia cuisine, which is an important branch of Hunan cuisine, but with distinctive local characteristics due to the uniqueness of the geographic environment, minority cultures and local material resources. It is characterized by sour and spicy, waxy and mountainous flavors, combining the spiciness of Hunan cuisine with the unique cooking style of the Tujia people.
Unlike Shanxi vinegar or Guizhou sour soup, Zhangjiajie's sour flavor mainly comes from rice sour (sour water fermented from glutinous rice and corn, used for sour fish and meat in soup) and pickled sour (sour radish and pickled bean curd soaked in clay altar, etc.). Unlike Shanxi vinegar or Guizhou sour soup, Zhangjiajie's sour flavor mainly comes from rice sour (sour water fermented from glutinous rice and corn, used for sour fish and meat in soup) and pickled sour (sour radish and pickled bean curd soaked in clay altar, etc.).
The Tujia people have a tradition of “killing the China unar New Year's pig and smoking preserved meat”, so preserved meat is the soul of Zhangjiajie cuisine. Most of the ingredients in Zhangjiajie come from the Wulingyuan Mountains in Zhangjiajie, such as ferns, duck's feet, rock ears, small fish from the Donghe River and yellow bone fish.
The cooking method is mainly stewing, reflecting the Tujia tradition of “eating around the stove”.
Tasty Zhangjiajie Local Foods
1. Sanxiaguo
Sanxiaguo, known as the "set meal", is a must-try food in Zhangjiajie. It ingeniously stews cured meat, tofu and radish together. This dish is renowned for its unique salty and spicy taste and the diverse selection of ingredients. It is one of the representatives of the traditional characteristics of the Tujia ethnic Group and a truly delicious dish that goes well with rice. Sanxiaguo selects a wide variety of ingredients, including fat intestines, pig's stomach, beef tripe, sheep's stomach, pig's feet or pig's head meat, etc. You can choose any of them for cooking.
2. Stewed Chicken with Rock Ears
Rock ears are black lichen plants that grow on sandstone cliffs. It is named because it resembles an ear and grows on cliffs and shady crevices. Rock fungus is not only delicious, but also has high nutritional value. In the Compendium of Materia Medica, it is recorded that it has the effect of brightening the eyes and benefiting the essence. However, because the rock ear can only be found on the rock wall above 1200 meters. The person who picks rock ears needs to tie a rope around his waist like a trapeze artist to pick them, which is very difficult. Because it is rich in trace elements and amino acids, it complements the stewed chicken with a mellow and rich flavor.
3. Tuannian dish
It is a famous Zhangjiajie dish and also called He dish that is made of boiled radish, bean curd, cabbage, shallot, pork and chili. The dish is meaningful and symbolizes harvest and the reunion of family.
4. Sangzhi salted dried bean curd (yan dou fu gan)
It is another famous local food in Zhangjiajie made of dried tofu. It has been considered to be very good skin-care food. Since 300-400 years ago, it has been transported to the markets of major cities like Changsha, Wuhan, Guangzhou and even Beijing, and earned a fame nationwide.
5. She rice meal
The major material is sticky rice steamed with smoked meat, wild tarragon and other local wild vegetables. For Tujia minority ethnic group, it is not only for their family but also regarded as a great gift for their friends. It is also a traditional herbal meal for the locals.
>> Recommended Zhangjiajie tour packages with local food experiences
6. Pueraria powder
Pueraria powder, a must-eat food in Zhangjiajie is a kind of pure natural nutriment extracted from the vine Pueraria lobata. It is rich in Kuzdu vine element, many kind of trace elements such as biological soda, protein, Fe, Zn and ca and many kind of amino acid.Pueraria powder has many good function, such as clearing heat and detoxication, promoting the secretion of saliva and quenching thirst, delaying ageing and beautifying skin, etc. Fried pork with Pueraria powder is a special dish in Zhangjiajie. First of all, mix the pueraria powder into a paste, cool it, then cut in into slices and stir fry it with local dry-cured meat. You can taste this special dish at local Tujia restaurants and the restaurant at Zhangjiajie National Park.
7. He Zha
He Zha is a typical Tujia dish, also know as “lazy tofu”. Tujia people has a special attachement to Hezha, especially during wartime. Due to the extreme lack of food, Hezha saved many people’s lives. The method is to soak the dry soybeans in water for one night, and then grind them into slurry with some water, add some minced green vegetable leaves after boiling, a pot of delicious Hezha is ready.
8. Tujia wine
The local ethnic Tujia people are expert in making all kinds of wine. Tujia wine can be made from a wealth of materials, for example, brewing from sticky rice, corn, wheat and sorghum.
9. Chinese gooseberry
It is a kind of famous and great fruit in Zhangjiajie. When the harvest season is coming it is handy to pick Chinese gooseberry in the mountainous area. It tastes fragrant and sweet and is good to health care, because it is rich in vitamin C.
10. Tujia Braised Pork
Zhangjiajie Tujia Braised Pork is a main course served by the Tujia people when entertaining guests. It is usually only served as a main course when local people hold banquets or large-scale events. Tujia Braised pork is made from pork belly through multiple processes such as boiling, frying and steaming. When served, the meat is usually topped with dried pickles at the bottom. At present, this dish is available in most restaurants in Zhangjiajie.
11. Giant salamander
The giant salamander is a protected animal by the state. How can it be eaten? The giant salamander, also known as the "baby fish", is edible because it is artificially bred under conditions that imitate the wild environment. Only restaurants in Zhangjiajie that have obtained the franchise license for the use of giant salamanders can offer this dish.
Famed Zhangjiajie Food Street or Area
It it great pleasure to visit Zhangjiajie to taste the numerous flavor snacks. Xibu street is a large-scale commercial pedestrain street in Wulingyuan District of Zhangjiajie, which is full of Xiangxi (west Hunan) characteristics. You can taste special snacks from all over China. The food street is located on the second floor of the central area of Xibu street, covering an area of 2,500 meters, which brings together famous snacks of Hunan Province and other regions of country.
If you are just travel in Zhangjiajie city, you can also go to a place called Sanjiaoping, where many local people come for supper. Here you will have chance to taste very authentic local dishes, such as sour fried fish, Sanxiaguo, Hezha and so on. If you have enough time, take a leisure walk to the adjacent pedestrain street also a good choice for food exploration.
Recommended Chinese Food Restaurants in Zhangjiajie
He Tian Yuan Restaurant
Near Tianmen Primary School, Guanli Road, Zhangjaijie China
Tel: 0744-2817799
Tang Shi Fu Tu Jia Shi Fu
WuLing Yuan District Wuling Avenue, Zhangjiajie China
Tel: 0744-5615089
Qian Liang Hu Shi Fu
YongDing District Daqiao Road 24, Zhangjiajie, China
Tel: 0744-8327777
Zhai Zi Li De Bo Bo Cai (Wulingyuan)
156 Wuling Road, Wulingyuan District, Zhangjiajie
Tel: 0744-5958666
Recommended Chinese Halal Food Restaurant in Zhangjiajie
Muslim Restaurant
No. 151 Wuling Road, Zhangjiajie China
Tel: 15907449412
Recommended Vegetarian Restaurant in Zhangjiajie
Vegetarian Eatery - Suxin Food House
Located in the downtown Zhangjiajie, here vegans can try traditional Chinese vegetarian food such as mushroom tofu, stir-fried seasonal vegetables and vegetarian stewed soup.
Zen Yizai
Located in the Wulingyuan district of Zhangjiajie, this vegetarian restaurant combines vegetarian dining, tea ceremony and cultural exchange. The dishes combine the characteristics of Hunan cuisine with some innovative elements, making each dish unique.
The Wizard of Oz
Located near the Zhangjiajie Forest Park, this is a nature-themed vegetarian restaurant. It offers a wide range of dishes, from simple vegetable salads to exquisite vegetarian set menus.
Recommended Western Restaurant in Zhangjiajie
Wulingyuan Mr. Cat Restaurant
No. 18 Tuofeng Road, Wulingyuan District, Zhangjiajie, Hunan, China
Tel: 0744-5555660
FA Restaurant
The Octagon Building, Shanshui Yinxiang Fountain Plaza, Dayong Road
Tel: 0744-8881314
