Zhangjiajie Local Cuisine and Restaurants

If you visiting Zhangjiajie, besides breathtaking scenery you won't to miss the unique local cuisine and experience with the Tujia ethnic food culture. Xiang Cuisine, is one of the 8Famous Cuisines in China. It is well-known for its fragrant, sour and spicy flavor. Try it whatever you like spicy or not. You might have a different pleasant eating experience.

Below are some most well-known cuisines and restaurants that we would like to recommend to you in Zhangjiajie city, Wuling yuan and Feng Huang Town.

Hunan Cuisine /Xiang Cuisine are with fragrant, spicy, hot, salty.

What famous local food to eat

Top 1: Zhangjiajie Stinky Tofu/张家界臭豆腐

Zhangjiajie Stinky Tofu is a local variation of the popular fermented tofu dish, characterized by its strong aroma and spicy seasoning. Stinky Tofu smells very pungent, but it tastes very delicious.

Top 2: Tujia Smoked Meat /土家蕨根粉炒腊肉

A type of cured bacon with a distinct flavor, often used in various dishes as a seasoning. a type of meat that is smoked over a wood fire for several days, resulting in a rich, smoky flavor.so hence the name smoked meat.

Locals make wild bracken roots into bracken jelly, which they combine with locally smoked meat. This is one of Zhangjiajie's unique delicacies. During cooking, the fragrant and glutinous bracken jelly absorbs the savory flavor of the cured meat, resulting in a rich and aromatic taste with a distinctive flavor.

Top 3: Tujia San Xia Guo/土家三下锅

Tujia Sanxia Guo is a specialty dry pot dish from Zhangjiajie. It mainly includes ingredients such as pork, chicken, and beef prepared using special cooking techniques by local chefs. Sanxia Guo can be served as a dry pot or a soup pot, with the dry pot being the more popular choice. It is known for its spicy, numbing, and savory flavors that greatly stimulate the appetite. It is said this cuisine is prepared by the Tujia people to celebrate the New Year.

Top 4: Xiangxi Wild Mushroom Hotpot/湘西野菌火锅

Wild Mushroom Hot Pot" primarily features wild mountain mushrooms as its main ingredient. Due to its nutritious and natural ingredients, it is highly popular among modern diners. The wild mushrooms used in "Wild Mushroom Hot Pot" must be known edible varieties. The broth for this hot pot is made from chicken stock and various mushrooms, creating a flavorful and nutritious mushroom soup. As a result, the broth is delicious and rich in nutrients.

Top 5: Chicken Stew with Shier/石耳炖土鸡

Shier, known as the ear of rock, grows on the sandstone cliff in Wuling mountains region. It looks like fungus, wood ear or tree ear. Stone ear, one of the "Three Delicacies of Wuling mountains" has high medicinal value and functions such as calming the mind, nourishing the stomach, and stopping bleeding. This dish features tender chicken and flavorful broth with a unique aroma, making it a prized stew delicacy.

It has been served as a tribute to the emperor since the Ming and Qing dynasties, and it is said that the emperor also liked this dish.

Top 6: Tujia Steamed Pork/土家扣肉

Tujia steamed pork belly holds an important place in the culinary culture of the Tujia people. It is not only a must-have dish during festive celebrations but also a delicious delicacy for entertaining guests in daily life. The ingredients are pork belly, and it is made through multiple strict procedures such as boiling, frying, and steaming. When cooking steamed pork belly, the Tujia people emphasize preserving the original flavor without excessive embellishment, making the taste of the pork belly more natural and fresh.it is taste very fresh and tender, fat but not greasy. Savoring the steamed pork belly slowly leaves a lingering fragrance on your lips and teeth.Most restaurants now offer this dish.

Top 7: Tujia Straw Hat Noodles/草帽面

Straw Hat Noodles are named because the owner likes to hang straw hats on his cart. The noodles are a type of handmade noodle, cooked in a clear broth, and topped with braised minced meat and its juices. Although the minced meat may appear a bit fatty, it melts in your mouth and is incredibly delicious.

Where to try the best local food

Best Restaurants in Zhangjiajie City

Top 1: Ye Hua Xiang Hunan Cuisine/业华湘湘菜馆

Hunan Cuisine /Xiang Cuisine are with hot, spicy, salty. The environment is the kind that is particularly bright at a glance. Restaurant’s specialty dishes include Tujia Sanxia Guo, Xiangxi Bandit Chicken, Rock Ear Stewed Chicken, Stone Pot Fish, Fried Bamboo Shoots with Cured Meat, and Xiangxi Specialty Dagupi (Drum Skin).

Address: 98 Guihua Road)

Top 2: Le Kou Fu Homestyle Restaurant/乐口福家常菜馆(古庸路店)

Le Kou Fu Homestyle Restaurant specializes in local Zhangjiajie dishes and enjoys an excellent reputation with a high level of popularity. The interior is clean and bright. The food tastes great, and the service is attentive and thoughtful. Signature dishes include the spicy and flavorful Chopped Chili Fish Head, the crispy and delicious Guoba Gai Rou, and the savory Paper-wrapped Shredded Chicken. If the weather is hot, you can also order a refreshing bowl of Ice Jelly.

Address: Opposite the City People's Hospital, Guyong Road.

Top3:He Tian Yuan Restaurant /禾田园私房菜

A very amazing restaurant , It is popular for tourists .It is very convenient with photographs in English and Chinese on the menu, As mentioned above, you can order vegetarian dishes. It is a well-reviewed local private kitchen restaurant located right by the roadside with a large sign. The owner is very friendly and gives pickled radish to every table. The sour soup with yellow duck is highly recommended. The dishes are generously portioned and reasonably priced.

Address: near Tianmen Primary School, Guanli Road, Zhangjiajie

Top 4: Suoxi Mountain Village·Xiangxi Folk Local Cuisine (Xibu Street Store)/索溪山寨·湘西饮食文化博物馆

Restaurant's specialty dishes include Zhaizi Three-Pot DishHomema ，Tofu Seafood Dry Stir-Fried Vermicelli Pot Glutinous ,Tianzi Mountain Mixed Mushroom Pot, Stir-Fried Chicken with Pickled Radish,Xiangxi Tujia Steamed Sausages, Tianzi Mountain Bamboo Shoots, Fire Pit Preserved Meat Pot Rice, Stewed Chicken Soup.

Address: Southeast corner of the intersection of Jundi Road and Tuofeng Road

Best Restaurants Wuling yuan

Top1: Tang Shifu Xiangxi Famous Dishes Restaurant/唐师傅湘西名菜馆

In Wulingyuan District, this restaurant has a great environment and the dishes taste very good. It is very popular. Specialty Dishes: Chopped Chili Fish Head, Large Bowl of Yam, Tang Shifu Fragrant Leaf Duck, Chive Dumplings, Eggplant with String Beans, Home-style Fried Pork, Xiangxi Sanxia Guo, Stir-fried Yellow Beef, Spicy Frog Pot, Sour Cabbage with Kudzu Powder, Tang Shifu Signature Cured Meat.

Address: Opposite Gen li Hotel, Wuling Avenue, Wuling yuan District, Zhangjiajie City.

Top2：Shaping Dayuan Brigade Old Fishing Village (Charming Xiangxi Branch)/ 沙坪大院大队老渔村(魅力湘西店)

Restaurant specializes in a variety of fish dishes. The fresh fish are killed and prepared on the spot to ensure the meat is tender, flavorful, and smooth. This has led to our popular signature dish, Organic Catfish. Other specialties include Garlic Fried Xiangxi Cured Meat and Dagupi (Drum Skin).

Address: South of Jin Xiu Business Hotel, Xiangzi Road South, Wulingyuan District.

Top3：Yinxiang Ni Yan Restaurant/印象鲵宴(溪布街店)

The restaurant on the first floor serves intangible cultural heritage traditional snacks, the second floor offers the experience of intangible cultural heritage New Year banquets, the third floor is an intangible cultural heritage buffet, and the fourth floor is an aerial garden restaurant with beautiful surroundings. Featured dishes include Sugar Oil Ba Ba, Tujia Sanxia Guo, Freshly Fried Ice Cream, Chocolate Fruit Sticks, Salmon, Lamb Chops, Pan-fried Golden Whip Stream Small Fish, Zhangjiajie Rice Wine, Xiangxi Drum Skin, Garlic and Chili Stir-fried Xiangxi Cured Meat, and Signature Rock Ear Immortal Chicken.

Address ：118 Baofeng Bridgehead Creek Cloth Street Entrance, Tianzi Street.

Fenghuag Best Restaurant

Zuixing Xiangxi Restaurant (Fenghuang Branch)/醉行湘西凤凰店

Restaurant's specialties include Blood Rice Duck, Fern Stir-fried Cured Meat, Sour Radish, Rice Tofu, Drunken Chicken, Homestyle Fragrance in a Bowl, Eggplant with Minced Meat, Plum Blossom Pork, Sour Vegetable Fish Hot Pot, Miao-style Rice Tofu, Xiangxi Blood Rice Duck, Wild Pepper with Cilantro Beef, Xiangxi Cured Meat, Drunken Chicken, Stone Pot Fish, Homestyle Tofu, Cured Meat, and Tuojiang River Small Shrimp.

Address: 2nd Floor, Building 6, Nan Huali, No. 14 Nan Hua Road.

Overall, these local restaurants offer a great opportunity to experience the flavors of Zhangjiajie and Hunanese cuisine. Whether you're looking for traditional Tujia dishes or spicy Hunanese favorites, you’ll find something to satisfy your appetite in Zhangjiajie.

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