Dali Local Cuisine and Restaurants

Dali, as a historical and cultural city, is home to the Bai people and naturally boasts its own unique and flavorful dishes. Dali's cuisine not only showcases the region's rich culinary culture but also allows visitors to experience the local Bai ethnic customs through tasting. The flavors of Dali include sour, spicy, bitter, sweet, and salty. Such as Sour and Spicy Fish, Xizhou Baba, Milk Fan, Er Kuai. All the delicious foods are a reflection of the wisdom of the ethnic minorities, leaving you with an unforgettable aftertaste.

What Famous Local Food to Eat

Top 1: Sour and Spicy Fish / 酸辣鱼

Sour and Spicy Fish is not only unique in flavor but also rich in nutrition, making it a staple on the dining tables of Dali

Made primarily with Erhai crucian carp, it is seasoned with red and green peppers, papaya, bayberries, or black plums, and cooked over a wood fire in a traditional earthen stove. The combination of sour and spicy flavors effectively eliminates the fishy taste, resulting in a dish with a hot and flavorful exterior and a sweet and tender interior.

Top 2：Clay pot Fish / 白族砂锅鱼

This is a traditional specialty dish from the Dali region. It features the local Erhai specialty, yellow-shelled fish, as the main ingredient, along with a variety of delicious ingredients including sea cucumber, dried squid, dried shrimp, fresh pig liver, pork ribs, pork tenderloin, and pig tendons. Cooked in a specially made clay pot from Xiangyun, the clay pot fish is fragrant, tender, and nourishing.

Top 3：Haishao Fish / 海稍鱼

Haishao Fish, sourced from Haishao Reservoir in Binchuan, is a type of white-scaled fish raised in local waters and prepared fresh. The fish soup is delicious and flavorful, with tender meat, available in both sour and spicy or clear soup varieties. It is one of the most authentic dishes in Dali. The main ingredients include sour lemon essence, red chili powder, green garlic sprouts, grass fruit powder, and potatoes, all prepared using a unique cooking method. It is unbelievable delicious with a special dipping sauce.

Top 4：Xizhou Baba喜洲粑粑

Xizhou Baba is a must-try snack for anyone visiting Xizhou Ancient Town in Dali. This delicious snack is made primarily from high-quality wheat flour that is fermented and carefully prepared. The freshly baked baba is golden and crispy, emitting a rich fragrance of wheat and oil. There are generally two flavors: one is savory, infused with the aroma of Sichuan pepper and chopped green onions, while the other is sweet, featuring the delightful scent of brown sugar and rose. Both flavors are worth trying!

Top 5：Grilled Rushan (Milk Fan) / 烤乳扇

This is a unique dairy product from Dali known as Ru Shan (milk fan), is a cow's milk cheese of Yunnan. It has a distinctive shape and is made from fresh milk, resulting in a creamy white, curled, sheet-like form that resembles a folding fan. Milk fan has a rich and fragrant taste, making it a common choice for family gatherings and street snacks. It is very popular in Dali, Yunnan. It can be eaten raw, dried, deep-fried, or grilled. The fried and grilled versions are particularly crispy and melt in your mouth. In Dali, you can find fried or grilled milk fans in every street and alley, which shows just how popular they are.

Top 6: Cold Chicken Rice Noodles / 凉鸡米线

Cold Chicken Rice Noodles is a specialty snack from Yunnan, known for its refreshing and tangy flavors. The chicken is first cooked and shredded, then rice noodles are prepared by boiling. The cooked noodles are placed in a bowl, topped with various seasonings and ingredients, and finally, the shredded chicken is added on top. The dish comes in a variety of flavors, ranging from mildly sweet and sour to spicy and tangy.

Top 7：Fried Er Kuai / 烧饵块

Rice cakes, known as Erkuai are made from rice through a special process. They are grilled over charcoal until they puff up and become thick, turning golden brown on both sides. Once they are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, and then they can be served plain or with various toppings and dips, such as spicy sauces or herbs, you can also add ingredients like ham or fried dough sticks according to your preference, making them a popular street food choice.

Top 8: Three-course Tea / 白族三道茶

Bai Ethnic Three Course Tea is a hospitality ritual of the Bai people and is recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage. It consists of three flavors: the first is bitter, the second is sweet, and the third has a lingering aftertaste. This reflects the journey of life; while you drink tea, you also savor the experiences of life.

Top 9: Yunlong Nuodeng Ham / 云龙诺邓火腿

Yunlong Nuodeng Ham" is a famous cured ham from the Nuodeng area in Yunlong County, Yunnan. This traditional delicacy is known for its unique flavor and rich cultural significance.

The ham is made from high-quality pork that is carefully salted and air-dried, often using local herbs and spices to enhance its taste. The curing process gives the ham a distinct texture and flavor, making it a sought-after ingredient in various dishes.

Top 10: Diao Mei / 雕梅

Diao Mei, is a local specialty from Dali that is not only a treat for the taste buds but also a meticulously crafted work of art. The process begins with picking slightly yellowing green plums, which are then washed and soaked. Intricate patterns are carved into the surface of the plums, and the pits are removed while the flesh is gently pressed to create a chrysanthemum-like shape. Next, the plums are mixed with salt, honey, and sugar, along with flower petals, and left to soak for several months until they turn golden and are ready to eat. Diao Mei can also be used in cooking with other ingredients. Such as Braised Pork with Diaomei.

Where to Try Typical Food

Fireplace Image Wild Mushroom Courtyard Hot Pot /火塘印象·野生菌庭院火锅(大理古城总店)

The restaurant is comfortable and elegant, with attentive service. It features a beautiful courtyard where enjoying a meal is a very pleasant experience. The specialty hotpot paired with barbecue is awesome! You can enjoy different flavors in two ways. This restaurant is also a favorite among the locals.

Signature Dishes： Braised Tofu, Wild Mushrooms, Matsutake Mushrooms, Homemade Rose Fermented Yogurt, Free-range Chicken Hot Pot, Chicken Oil Mushrooms, Colorful Potatoes, Pork Belly, Beef. Wild Mushroom Soup Hot Pot.

Address: 2-3 Luyulu Road, Dali Ancient Town (near the South Gate and pedestrian street)

Plum Well Restaurant / 梅子井餐厅

This restaurant is a place with strong Bai ethnic cultural characteristics. Upon arriving at the entrance, you will be captivated by its ancient charm. The environment is unique, the service is warm, and the dishes are distinctive. Inside the restaurant, there is a courtyard with a well that is 600 years old, beside which stands a plum tree of the same age. As a result, the well is known as Plum Well, and the restaurant is also called Plum Well Restaurant.

Specialty Cuisine：Tile-roasted Meat, Plum Blossom Braised Pork, Plum Wine, Braised chicken with papaya, Grilled Milk Fans, Braised Tofu, Braised Potato Rice.

Address: No.130, Renmin Road, Dali Ancient Town

Taibailou Restaurant / 太白楼餐馆

This restaurant is located in Dali City and is a quaint restaurant with an ancient charm. Although the restaurant is not large, it feels very cozy. Here, you can enjoy the unique flavors of Bai cuisine, and it’s also a great choice for afternoon tea. The famous Three Course Tea from Dali is a signature offering at this restaurant.

Specialty Cuisine：Wild Mushroom，Three Course Tea，Sour and Spicy Fish，Rice Cake Chicken，Black Pepper Steak. Yunnan Small-Bean Coffee.

Address: No.38, Huguo Road, Dali Ancient Town

Jinshan Restaurants / 百年古苑餐厅

One of the must-visit restaurants in Dali is a century-old courtyard restaurant, filled with a retro artistic atmosphere. The quaint courtyard is adorned with many green plants and fresh flowers, creating a beautifully serene environment. The menu is diverse, featuring a variety of dishes that highlight the unique flavors of Bai cuisine.

Specialty Cuisine：Bai Ethnic Clay Pot Fish, Tile-roasted Meat, Sour and Spicy Fish with Passion Fruit, Water Clover (This refers to a type of edible water plant, commonly known as "water clover" or "water celery."), Plum Blossom Beef.

Address: No.99, Renmin Road, Dali Ancient Town

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