Xishuangbanna Local Cuisine and Restaurants

Xishuangbanna is also famous for its cuisine. The region borders Laos and Myanmar, and is primarily a multi-ethnic area dominated by the Dai people, so its dishes mainly feature Dai flavors, which are typically sour, spicy, and fragrant. Popular dishes include Lemongrass Grilled Fish, Dai-style Baoshao, Sour Bamboo Shoots with Fish and pineapple rice etc. Another delicacy that requires some courage to try is Deep-fried Insects. You can also try some Southeast Asian specialties, such as Laotian iced coffee and Vietnamese snacks.

What famous local food to eat

Top 1: Lemongrass Grilled Fish / 香茅草烤鱼

Grilled Lemongrass Fish is a traditional Dai dish and a popular favorite, often served to honor distinguished guests. It uses eco-friendly, low-bone fish from the tropical rainforests of Xishuangbanna. The fish is cleaned, marinated with lemongrass, and tied up, then placed between bamboo strips and grilled over charcoal until about 80% done. After that, it’s brushed with a special oil and grilled to perfection, resulting in a fragrant and crispy fish.

Top 2: Dai-style Hand-Grabbed Rice / 簸箕宴手抓饭

Dai-style Hand-Grabbed Rice is a traditional Dai specialty. It is served on a large bamboo tray lined with banana leaves, featuring an array of foods like fruits, fish, and meats, with a balanced mix of vegetarian and non-vegetarian items. At the center of the tray, sticky rice and purple sticky rice are placed, along with dipping sauces. A decorative peacock head model is often added for a festive touch. The arrangement resembles a peacock spreading its tail. Traditionally, diners pinch a portion of food from the tray, kneading it into a soft ball with their fingers before enjoying it directly by hand.

Top 3: Dai-style Baoshao / 傣味包烧

Baoshao is a unique Dai cooking method. Ingredients are typically wrapped in banana leaves and placed over charcoal until the juices start to ooze out. Whether it’s vegetables or meat, the Baoshao technique imparts a refreshing flavor. This method not only preserves the essential taste of the ingredients but also infuses them with the subtle fragrance of banana leaves, creating a distinctive taste. The result is a dish that is light and greasy.

Top 4: Dai-style pineapple rice / 菠萝饭

Dai-style pineapple rice is a unique dessert that looks like a regular pineapple on the outside. Inside the pineapple shell, you'll find sweet and tangy sticky rice that is soft and fragrant, blending the aroma of the rice with the fruity sweetness of the pineapple. It is delicious and particularly popular among children.

Top 5: Sour Bamboo Shoots with Fish or Chicken/ 酸笋鱼

Sour bamboo shoot fish or chicken is one of Xishuangbanna's signature dishes and a local favorite. This dish is made with fresh fish or chicken cooked together with local sour bamboo shoots. The fish or chicken is tender, and the bamboo shoots add a unique texture, while the broth is tangy and spicy, making it both appetizing and flavorful. During the hot summer months, a bowl of sour bamboo shoot fish / chicken is perfect for boosting your appetite and refreshing you.

Top 6: Bamboo Tube Rice / 竹筒饭

Bamboo rice is a traditional specialty of the Dai ethnic group in Xishuangbanna. It is considered both an everyday staple and a special festival dish. Bamboo tube rice is made by filling bamboo tubes with glutinous rice, cloud mushrooms, gold gingers, oil rice grass, chicken or pork and various spices. The tubes are sealed with leaves and then roasted over a fire. It is said that in the past, when the Dai people worked outdoors, to save time, they would cut down nearby bamboo tubes, place the ingredients inside, and roast them over the fire. It was simple and convenient, but this method produced a very delicious dish infused with the fragrance of bamboo.

Top 7: Dai-style Niu Sapie / 傣家牛撒撇

In Yunnan Province, there is a traditional Dai dish known as "Niu Sapie," which is often served to honor guests. This dish is unique to the Dai culture and features a special ingredient—the liquid mixed with gastric juices from the cow's stomach. It may seem unbelievable, but this ingredient is believed to have cooling and detoxifying properties, making it a healthful choice that can help prevent illness for those who consume it regularly. It is valued for its medicinal qualities, aiding digestion, promoting appetite, and providing relief from heat in the summer.

The preparation method is quite special: during festivals or celebrations, a cow is slaughtered, and the spine meat is roasted over an open fire until golden brown. It is then shredded into thin strips and mixed with cooked beef tripe, ginger, garlic, chili, crushed peanuts, and other spices. Finally, it is combined with filtered beef bile or broth and often accompanied by rice noodles and grilled meats, offering a unique taste of Dai cuisine that reflects the region's culinary heritage.

Top 8: Deep-fried insects / 炸昆虫

The Dai people enjoy using insects as ingredients to create various flavorful dishes and snacks. Commonly consumed insects include cicadas, bamboo worms, large spiders, field crickets, and ant eggs. On the streets of Xishuangbanna, fried insects are a popular snack found everywhere.

Where to Try Typical Food

Top 1: Dai Manor -Zhengzong Daiwei Restaurant / 傣庄园*正宗傣味餐厅

The restaurant's decor is simple and rustic, yet clean and comfortable. It has two floors, with seating both inside and outside, and the surrounding environment is pleasant. Despite being a small eatery tucked away in an alley, it is very popular and the menu offers a wide variety of delicious dishes, all carefully prepared using natural plant-based spices.

Signature Dishes: Dai-style grilled chicken, grilled fish with lemongrass, lemon beef salad, pineapple rice, grilled pork belly, and Dai-style Niu Sapie.

Address: Gaozhuang Xishuangjing, Jingliang Village, 6-C-101/102, Jinghong City, Yunnan Province.

Top 2: Hongya Elephant · Dai Cuisine Garden / 红牙象·傣味美食园

This Dai restaurant, run by three Dai sisters, has been in operation for over 20 years and is very popular with the locals. The restaurant is set in a traditional Dai bamboo house, surrounded by tropical plants, offering a range of authentic Dai cuisine that you must try.

Signature Dishes: Lemongrass Grilled Fish, fish cooked with sour bamboo shoots, fragrant bamboo rice, steamed pork wrapped in leaves, fresh fish soup with river stones, pineapple purple sticky rice, Dai-style rice noodles, and meat wrapped in vegetables.

Address: Opposite Xinghu Bay Community, Civil Aviation Road, Jinghong City, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province.

Top 3: Thai-Dai Restaurant / 泰傣餐厅

The Thai-Dai restaurant offers a beautiful environment, complete facilities, and hospital service, The menu features a wide variety of dishes, combining Thai and local Dai specialties, with plenty of options to choose from.

Signature Dishes: Charcoal-grilled pork, signature roasted chicken, Thai-style grilled perch in banana leaf, Dai-style pineapple rice, Thai fried spring rolls, spicy boneless chicken feet, and shrimp head oil omelet rice.

Address: Ronglin Avenue, 2nd Floor, InterContinental Xishuangbanna Resort

Top 4: Mango Tree Restaurant / 芒果树江景餐厅‌

Located in Gaozhuang, this restaurant features a beautiful Southeast Asian style, blending the tropical rainforest into its setting. It offers delicious Thai and Dai cuisine, allowing you to enjoy tasty food while taking in the stunning views of the Lancang River.

Signature Dishes: Mango sticky rice, salted egg yolk butter shrimp, Charcoal-grilled pork，Tom Yum soup, Bangkok curry crab, Thai-style Tom Yum seafood soup.

Address: Jingzaizhai Building 39, 1st Floor. Gaozhuang Shuangjing

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