Ask a QuestionIn the Beijing eating culture, a must-eat meal named Beijing Roasted Duck is took as the top selection, others like the imperial cuisine Tan Cuisine and the refreshments will bring you the feeling of being imperial officers in China. Except for these featured food in this city, there are other tasty snacks that are worthy taking a taste, for most of them are from different parts of the country. In this page, TopChinaTravel will give you some tips about top 13 famous snack streets in Beijing.
Gui Street (簋街, pronounced "Guǐ Jiē") refers to Dongzhimen Inner Street in Beijing's Dongcheng District. It is a renowned culinary hub, often called "Beijing’s No. 1 Dining Street." Most of the food stalls here are open for 24 hours. It is very bustling every day, especially after 22:00 at night in summer. Most of people coming here are the young.
And the excellent food in the street includes its spicy dishes like crayfish in mala sauce (麻辣小龙虾) and spicy crab (麻辣肉蟹) etc. You can also try some iconic snacks, such as luzhu huoshao (卤煮火烧, stewed pork offal with bread), baodu (爆肚, quick-boiled tripe), and yangxiezi (羊蝎子, lamb spine hotpot). You should really come here to have a try of the local snack if you get a chance to Bejing.
It is an old-brand snack street in Beijing. It was developed from Longfu Temple Fair. The food stalls in the street are only open before 20:00. After 20:00, it is nearly deserted. So if you want to hang on this street, you’d better go there before that time. You can eat the food while walking, while looks more leisured. This street is only about 100 meters.
Huguoshi Street Snack Street is no more than 500 meters. It is the most famous one in the city, for it has a perfect location. The famous snacks here include food from Xian, Wuhan, etc. as well as Moslem snacks. Visitors can sample authentic local snacks such as Lvdagun (驴打滚 glutinous rice rolls with sweet bean flour), Douzhi (豆汁 fermented mung bean drink), Miancha (面茶 flour tea), Dun'er Bobo (墩儿饽饽 steamed cornmeal cake), Zaogun (jujube rolls), Ginger-flavored fried twists, and Tang Erduo (糖耳朵 syrupy fried dough twists).
The street is divided by Mianhua Hutong. The western section focuses on time-honored snack brands like Huguosi Snacks, while the eastern section features attractions such as the former residences of cultural icons like Mei Lanfang, traditional siheyuan (courtyard houses), and private home-style restaurants.
For its perfect location of the street, the price of the things here are more expensive than other places. The snacks here come from different parts of China, so you can taste most famous snacks only in this city. There are more than 100 stalls and shops along the street. They are specialized in business in snacks, souvenirs, folk arts, etc. The business area covers an area of more than 2,000 square meters. Wangfujing snack street can be kind of on behalf of the local eating habits. Except for the snack, the locally-featured buildings at the both side of the street is quite unique. The decorative style will bring you to the past. The operation hours of stalls and shops in Wangfujing is around 10:00 - 22:00.
Particularly famous are Beijing's specialty snacks, such as lamb skewers, quick-boiled tripe, grilled squid, grilled lobster, grilled pig's trotters, fried scorpions, fried yogurt, lotus seed soup, traditional Beijing yogurt in ceramic jars, aiwowo (a sweet glutinous rice snack), soy milk, jiaoquan (crispy fried dough rings), and various other unique foods. It is a famous tourist street and snack street in Beijing.
Stretching from Guang’anmen in the west to Hufangqiao in the east, Guang’anmen Food Street is one of Beijing’s most renowned culinary areas. The street is particularly famous for its Sichuan cuisine and spicy flavors, attracting food lovers who crave bold and savory dishes. Along the street, you’ll find everything from humble dumpling shops and barbecue joints to expansive seafood and abalone banquet restaurants.
Top picks include Tan Yutou (a hotpot chain), Li Lao Die (for Beijing home-style dishes), and Tulu Fan Muslim Restaurant (for lamb skewers and hand-pulled noodles). The area around Niujie nearby is also famous for traditional Hui Muslim food. It’s ideal for adventurous foodies who want something more authentic and less commercial.
Nanluoguxiang is one of the oldest hutongs in Beijing, located just east of the central axis. The whole area is filled with boutique shops, retro cafés, and—of course—snack stalls. It's a magnet for young locals, backpackers, and artists.
Try Beijing milk rolls (danaijuan), rice wine popsicles, deep-fried yogurt, and the famous aiwowo (glutinous rice balls). You can also explore traditional hutong life while snacking. Each shop has its own personality—some vintage, some modern, all charming. It’s one of the most “Instagrammable” food streets in the city, and perfect for a slow afternoon stroll and a bite (or ten).
Xiaoyun Road Food Street is a modern and stylish dining destination, popular for its cosmopolitan vibe and upscale atmosphere. Surrounded by office buildings, luxury apartments, hotels, and shopping malls, this street brings together a wide variety of restaurants catering to different tastes and budgets. It is especially known for international cuisine and is often regarded as one of the most romantic and “chic” food streets in Beijing.
Here, you can find not only the modern and avant-garde casual restaurant "Lugang Town (鹿港小镇)", the "Faust" Western restaurant brimming with French romantic charm, but also the "Lemon Leaf (柠檬叶子)" Thai restaurant and the Japanese cuisine "Sake No Takumi (酒乃泷)".
Fangzhuang Food Street is one of the most vibrant and well-established culinary streets in southern Beijing. It developed naturally after the rise of Gui Jie (Ghost Street) in Dongzhimen and has since become a top dining destination for locals. Offering a wide variety of regional Chinese cuisines—such as Cantonese, Beijing, Shandong, Chongqing, Guizhou, Sichuan, and Jiangsu dishes—as well as both Chinese and Western food. If you are looking for a new dining experience, Fangzhuang Food Street is a good choice. It’s especially popular during lunch hours starting from around 11:00 AM, and it turns into a bustling night market come evening.
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There’s an old saying in Beijing: “Beijing’s best snacks are in Xuanwu, and Xuanwu’s best snacks are in Niujie.” Originally a pomegranate orchard, this area was once called Liujie (榴街) because many Hui (Muslim) residents lived here and made excellent beef dishes. Due to the homophonic similarity between “niu (牛)” and “liu (榴),” the name eventually evolved into Niujie, or “Ox Street.”
Stretching from Guang'anmen Inner Street in the north to Nanheng Street in the south, Niujie is renowned not only for its food but also for the presence of the Niujie Mosque, one of the oldest and largest mosques in China.
Niujie is a central hub for Beijing’s Muslim community, and the streets and alleys around it are filled with Halal eateries, traditional Beijing snacks, and historic restaurants. Popular local snacks include: Miancha (面茶), Douzhi (豆汁儿), Doufuna (豆腐脑), Fried tofu, offal soup (杂碎汤), deep-fried dough rings (焦圈), sugar ear pastries (糖耳朵), baked sweet cakes (糖火烧), and more.
If you walk down Shuru Hutong, which intersects Niujie, you'll find butcher shops selling high-quality beef and lamb, known across the city as among the freshest and best. Long-established eateries like Jubaoyuan Hotpot, Hongshunxuan, and Niangao Qian draw both locals and tourists from afar.
Located near the bustling Sanlitun area, the Sanlitun Night Market is a great place to sample not only traditional Chinese snacks but also international street food from around the world. The vibrant mix of flavors reflects the cosmopolitan nature of the neighborhood. Sanlitun itself is known as one of Beijing’s most fashionable and trendy districts, famous for nightlife, street photography, and people-watching. The night market attracts both locals and foreigners looking for an exciting culinary adventure in a lively, modern setting.
Located along the bustling Xidan Avenue, Xidan Snack Street is a popular spot for traditional Beijing snacks such as zhajiang noodles (炸酱面), fermented mung bean juice (豆汁), and spicy lamb spine hotpot (羊蝎子). The street is especially lively around Joy City Mall on the west side of the road, which houses a wide variety of restaurants and food courts catering to all tastes. For many locals, Xidan is the go-to destination when they're unsure where to eat—there’s always something tasty to discover.
Located along the scenic shores of Houhai Lake, Houhai Bar Street is well-known for its vibrant nightlife, featuring a mix of bars, hotpot restaurants, grilled skewers (串串香), and traditional Beijing-style instant-boiled mutton (涮羊肉). It's a great place to relax with friends, enjoy lakeside views, and experience the city's laid-back, bohemian vibe. The area is also home to a variety of stylish and intimate restaurants and cafés. However, in recent times, the number of open venues has significantly decreased, so visitors might find fewer choices than in the past. Still, it remains a favorite spot for tourists and locals alike seeking evening leisure.
Located in the basement of Hopson One Mall in Chaoyang District, the “21st Street Food District” is one of Beijing’s most popular and vibrant themed food streets. With a “Midnight Canteen” concept, this night-centric culinary and cultural area stretches for hundreds of meters across two underground levels. The district hosts hundreds of trendy food stalls and specialty restaurants offering a wide variety of tastes. Beyond food, visitors will also find cross-industry collaborations in live streaming, street dance, sports entertainment, and more than 30 experience-based brands.
The area comes alive at night with small theater performances, street shows, and athletic challenges. Whether you're here to eat, shop, or simply explore, this is a must-visit destination for anyone wanting to experience local life. Many Beijing locals bring their families here regularly, making it a great alternative to tourist-heavy areas. If you're visiting from out of town and want to eat like a true Beijinger, this is the place to go.
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