Lanzhou Beef Noodles (Stretched Noodles) are the most famous local refection in Lanzhou. It was first created during the reign of Guangxu Emperor (1875-1908), Qing Dynasty (1616-1911) and now it has become popular all over China. There are five features of the noodles: clear soup, white radish, red pepper, green caraway and yellow noodles. The noodles can be wide and slim to meet different preferences. Boys like er xi (a little wider) while girls like slim, the middle aged and the old like jiuyezi (leek leaf) and maoxi (slimmer); the intellectual prefer slim and jiuyezi while the farmers, soldiers and workers like wide or wider. If a girl or an old man asks wider or a boy asks maoxi, it would rather strange. The noodles have gone beyond food but become a culture.
A bowl of beef noodles costs CNY2 and takes only a few minutes to make. The chef twists and stretches dough skillfully and in less than two minutes the noodles are made. This economic and fast food is undoubtedly the first choice among the locals. There are one or two beef noodles eateries in every street in Lanzhou.
Niang pi zi cannot be missed among the local delicacies. Flour paste is steamed for 3-4 minutes, then cut into strip and serve with mustard, garlic, sesame butter, chili oil, vinegar, soy sauce, etc. This has become a favorite among the locals and many tourists.
As many Hui people live in Lanzhou, barbeque mutton, boiled mutton and lamb with wide vermicelli are local dainties among various ethnics.
Do not forget pie with preserved ham, casserole, and fried field snails, which are good choices for you to enjoy either alone or with friends.
Fried Sheep Tail is actually made up of egg, bean paste and starch. It is crispy with a golden cover.
Tea drinking has long been a custom among locals in Lanzhou, among which sanpaotai is the most famous. Sanpaotai is made up of spring tea, longan, date, apricot, preserved fruits, wolfberry, walnut, sesame, dried raisins, etc. The tea is put into a unique tea bowl with a cover. The first time you taste it, you will enjoy the fragrance of the tea, the second time, the sweetness of the sugar and on the third occasion you will notice the sweet taste of longan. It is not uncommon that a bowl of tea lasts 5 to 6 hours.
Hui Dou Zi (Gray Bean) and Tian Pei Zi (Sweet Wine) are not seen in other parts of China except in Lanzhou. Boiled red bean and steamed barley are mixed with sweet wine for fermentation. This drink is good to have in hot weather and the glucose is sweet and nutritious!
The story has it that the Hot Boiled Pear (Re Dong Guo) was invented by Wei Zheng, a distinguished minister of Tang Dynasty (618-907). His mother kept coughing but refused to take medicine due to its bitter taste. As a filial son, Wei Zheng knew clearly his mother liked pears so he asked his servant to boil the pear juice with powder of herbal medicines. It was sweet and tasty and soon after his mother recovered. Re Dong Guo is made of Dongguo Pear, a choice fruit in Lanzhou. This delicacy is sweet and helpful to curb coughing.
Steamed Lily is worth trying since lily is one of the specialties of Lanzhou. Lily with honeydew is refreshing and sweet.
As to fresh fruits, Bailan melon is the most wide known. Travelers should try this mellow and sweet fruit at least once. Peach, the Yellow River honeydew melon and dongguo pear each have their selling point.
Restaurants Index
For beef noodles:
Jinding Beef Noodles Eatery on No.143, Zhongshan Road
Feicui Beef Noodles Eatery on Pingliang Road
Ma Zilu Beef Noodles Eatery on Wudu Road
Ethnic Restaurant on Zhangye Road
For various cuisine:
Lanzhou Hongjin Fang Restaurant
Location: No.534 South Binhe Road, Chengguan District
This is the only luxury restaurant on water in Lanzhou.
Baijiaxing Tutanzi Folk Customs Restaurant
Xiguan Branch: Fl. 3, Qiaomen Building, North Zhongshan Road
Xikou Branch: Fl.5, Food Building, No.1 Changjia Alley, Dongfanghong Square, Lanzhou
Xizhan Branch: No.27 Xijn Xi Road
Seventy Two Industries Folk Customs Restaurant(Qishier Hang Minsu Jiulou)
Xinye Branch: Central Square
Xiguan Branch: No.240 Zhongshan Road
Nanguan Branch: No.220 Jiuquan Road, Chengguan District
Tianfu Renjia Jiayan Restaurant (specialized in Sichuan food)
Location: No.98 Minzhu Xi Road, Chengguan District
Beiwei Shuijiao (one hundred flavors of jiaozi)
Location: Wuquan Shizi (cross), Jinchang Nan Road
For hotpot:
Lanzhou Dazhamen Hotpot Restaurant
Location: No.262, Wudu Road
Zhuyuan Cun Hotpot Restaurant
Location: No.609 Binhe Dong Road
Furong Laoma Hotpot Restaurant
Location: Fl.2, Xinsheng Building, Central Square
For instant boiled mutton:
Xiaofeiyang Chain Restaurant
Location: Wudu Road, Chengguan District
Xijin Xi Branch: No.41 Xijin Xi Road, Qilihe District
Dingxi Branch: Dingxi Road, Chengguan District
For western food:
U.B.C Coffee
Xiguan Branch: No.240 Zhongshan Road
Nanguan Branch: No.220 Jiuquan Road, Chengguan District
This chain cafe is seen in many cities in China. It provides good coffee, ideal food, casual and cozy environment.
Shengdu Shijia Western Food Cafe
Location: No.231-233, Zhongshan Road
Haoshike Cafe
Location: Gannan Zhong Road
Kuailile Cafe
Location: No. 233 Gannan Road
Waitan Fengshang
Location: No.317 Zhongshan Road, Chengguan District
In addition to these restaurants, the eatery streets such as Nongmin Alley, Hezheng Road, Tielu Xincun Square, West Square Eatery Street, Xiguan Shizi (cross) and Xiao Xihu are good places, since these are where the locals frequent.
