8 Chinese Street Foods You Must Try- 大数跨境

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8 Chinese Street Foods You Must Try

thatsmandarin

2025-02-19

导读：8 Chinese street foods you won't want to miss while you're in China 🥢

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.