Why Trust This Article?
- • Author: Hesham Al-Daaja (based in China since 2019)
- • Last updated: Apr 10, 2026
- • Based on direct field experience with Arab travelers and buyers
Xi'an: Where Halal Food IS the Culture
Hello, I'm Hesham. If there's one city in China where a Muslim never needs to worry about halal food, it's Xi'an. The Muslim Quarter (回民街 — Huimin Jie) is the most famous Muslim district in all of China, with a history spanning over 1,000 years. Hundreds of halal restaurants and food stalls are run by Hui Chinese Muslims.
Quick Answer
Xi'an's Muslim Quarter (回民街) is the most famous Muslim district in all of China, with a history spanning over 1,000 years. Hundreds of halal restaurants are run by Hui Chinese Muslims, and Biang Biang noodles are the signature dish.
The Muslim Quarter (回民街): An Unmissable Experience
A long, bustling street packed with halal food from morning until midnight. You'll find grilled lamb skewers, roujiamo (肉夹馍 — the "Chinese burger" stuffed with lamb), sesame candy, fresh pomegranate juice, and every kind of nut. My tip: explore the side alleys — the best and cheapest food isn't on the main street.
Lao Sun Jia (老孙家): Interactive Dining Since 1898
A historic restaurant founded in 1898 specialising in Yangrou Paomo (羊肉泡馍). The experience is unique: you crumble bread by hand into tiny pieces, then the chef pours rich, hot lamb broth over it. The smaller the pieces, the better the taste. Meal per person: ¥30-50.
Jia San Soup Dumplings (贾三灌汤包): Watch the Broth!
A famous stall on the main street of the Muslim Quarter. Dumplings filled with lamb and hot broth inside. The right technique: bite a small hole, sip the broth first, then eat the dumpling. Be careful — the broth is extremely hot! Meal per person: ¥15-25.
Biang Biang Noodles: Xi'an's Most Iconic Dish
Biang Biang noodles (𰻝𰻝面) are Xi'an's signature dish — extremely wide hand-made noodles, like a belt, served with chili sauce and garlic. Many shops in the Muslim Quarter serve them halal. Fun fact: the character "Biang" is the most complex Chinese character ever written (58 strokes!) — ask the seller to write it for you. Meal per person: ¥12-20.
Food Around the Great Mosque (大清真寺)
Xi'an's Great Mosque is over 1,200 years old — one of the oldest mosques in China. The area around it is filled with small halal stalls serving grilled meats, Chinese-Muslim sweets, and fresh pomegranate juice. A unique Islamic atmosphere you won't find in any other Chinese city.
For more information or to arrange a food tour in Xi'an with a guide, contact me on WhatsApp.
