8 Chinese Street Foods You Must Try


If you're a food lover, China is the place to be 💛🥢‍‍

From crispy snacks to comforting street meals, here are 8 delicious Chinese street foods you won't want to miss while you're here.

Top 8 Chinese Street 

Foods You Must Try‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍

              

01. Fast Food


Let's start by learning how to say "fast food" or "snack" in Chinese:‍‍‍‍


快餐
kuàicān
fast food

小吃
xiǎochī
snack

NOTE.

You can try Chinese snacks almost anywhere - from night markets to local food stalls. To find the best street food spots, search these terms on Baidu Maps:

  • 小吃街 (xiǎochījiē) - snack street
  • 夜市 (yèshì) - night market
  • 美食广场 (měishí guǎngchǎng) - food court


02. Chinese Snacks to Try

01. Tea Eggs
茶叶蛋 (cháyèdàn) is a popular Chinese snack made by boiling eggs, then cracking the shells and simmering them in a flavorful tea and spice broth, creating a marbled look and rich flavor. 

茶叶蛋
cháyèdàn
tea eggs

  • Price: around 1-2 RMB‍
  • Taste: savory, slightly salty, with a deep umami richness‍
  • Why you'll like it: quick, and yet healthy breakfast option‍

‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍


02. Steamed Buns, or Baozi
Fluffy steamed buns (包子 bāozi) filled with either savory or sweet fillings like pork, vegetables, or red bean paste. These are a warm, comforting street food enjoyed all across China.

包子
bāozi
baozi

  • Price: around 5 RMB
  • Taste: can be both sweet and savory
  • Why you'll like it: soft, warm, and comforting

.TEACHER'S ADVICE.

Baozi comes in a wide range of flavors. Here are some delicious fillings (馅料, xiànliào) to try:

  • 鲜肉 (xiānròu) - juicy pork

  • 豆沙 (dòushā) - bean paste

  • 韭菜鸡蛋 (jiǔcài jīdàn) - chive and egg

  • 三鲜 (sānxiān) - shrimp, pork, and mushrooms

  • 黑芝麻 (hēizhīma) - black sesame paste



03. Bean Curd, or Tofu‍

Tofu (豆腐, dòufu) is a soft, and smooth bean curd that can be found in many street stalls around.

豆腐
dòufu
tofu, bean curd

  • Price: around 10 RMB (for a portion)
  • Taste: mild, with a slight nutty flavor
  • Why you'll like it: tofu's versatility makes it a treat for both savory and sweet cravings

.NOTE.

臭豆腐 (chòudòufu), or stinky tofu, is a unique variety of tofu known for its intense aroma. If you can get past the smell, you'll discover its unique and delicious flavor 😋

04. Chinese Crepes, or Jianbing

These savory pancakes are a popular breakfast or street snack. Made from a thin batter, they're cooked until golden brown and filled with eggs, vegetables, and savory sauces.

煎饼
jiānbing
jianbing, Chinese crepe

  • Price: around 10 RMB (for a portion)
  • Taste: crispy, chewy, and packed with flavor
  • Why you'll like it: quick and perfect grab-and-go snack


05. Chinese Kebabs

Skewered marinated meats like lamb, chicken, or beef, grilled over an open flame, and seasoned with cumin, chili powder, and other spices.‍

肉串
ròuchuàn
chinese kebabs

  • Price: around 2-5 RMB per skewer
  • Taste: smoky, savory, with a kick of spice
  • Why you'll like it: perfect for sharing with friends‍

.NOTE.

When ordering kebabs, you can say:

我要(一个)肉串。
Wǒ yào (yí ge) ròuchuàn.‍
I'll have (one), kebab, please.
‍‍‍

06. Malatang

Malatang (麻辣烫, málàtàng) is a DIY street food where you select your favorite skewers of meat, vegetables, tofu, and noodles, which are then boiled in a spicy, numbing broth. It's a customizable comfort food for spice lovers.

麻辣烫
málàtàng
malatang‍‍

  • Price: around 15-30 RMB (depending on how much you choose)
  • Taste: spicy, savory, and numbing
  • Why you'll like it: it's perfect for a cold day


07. Ice Jelly, or Bingfen

A refreshing dessert, bingfen (冰粉) is made from fermented rice jelly, served with sweet syrup, crushed ice, and sometimes drizzled with fragrant osmanthus syrup (桂花酱 guìhuājiāng).

冰粉
bīngfěn
bingfen, ice jelly

  • Price: around 5-10 RMB
  • Taste: sweet, slightly floral‍‍‍
  • Why you'll like it: perfect cool-down treat for summer

08. Steamed Bun

馒头 (mántou) are soft, fluffy, and slightly chewy steamed wheat buns. Unlike 包子 (bāozi), which are filled with meat or sweet pastes, mántou are usually plain, making them a versatile side dish or snack.

馒头
mántou
steamed bun; steamed bread

  • Price: around 1-3 RMB
  • Taste: mild, slightly sweet, and fluffy
  • Why you'll like it: freshly steamed mántou is soft and comforting


Practice with Teachers

              

To discuss the street food vocabulary
with Chinese teachers at That's Mandarin,
book a free trial class with them 👇



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