Kaifeng Dining

Kaifeng dining will bring you some information about what to eat and where to eat in Kaifeng, including Kaifeng dishes, Kaifeng snacks, Kaifeng restaurants and snack shops. Kaifeng is the birthplace of "Henan cuisine", and its Bianjing flavor is also one of the representatives of Henan cuisine, with moderate sour and hot taste, and is suitable for public taste. Tasting Kaifeng's delicious food is not only tastes its flavor, but also tastes its culture.

What to Eat in Kaifeng

Food culture in Kaifeng has a long history. Among those delicious food in Kaifeng, Li Yu Bei Mian (鲤鱼焙面), Tao Si Bao (套四宝), Tuo Zi Ji (桶子鸡) are popular. Local snack in Kaifeng is also important components of the unique charm of this ancient city, and representative snacks include Xiao Long Bao (小笼包), Xing Ren Cha (almond tea), Yang Rou Kang Mo (羊肉炕馍), Chao Liang Fen (炒凉粉), Ba Bao Fan (八宝饭) etc.

Kaifeng Snacks

  • Xing Ren Cha/Almond Tea(杏仁茶): Almond tea is a kind of flavor snack introduced into the folk from the court. Refined almond powder is selected as the main material, and more than 10 kinds of seasonings such as almonds, peanuts, roses, osmanthus fragrans, medlar, cherries and so on are added, which is a good product for nourishing and prolonging life.
  • Sweet Potato Mud(红薯泥): Created by chef Jiang Shiqi of Datong Restaurant in Qixian county in the early years of the Republic of China, it is a traditional dish of Qixian county, with sweet potato as the main ingredient, and the finished product looks like mud.
  • Lotus Flover Short Cake(莲花酥): A snack made of white flour as the main ingredient. The stuffing of the snack is made of three different materials.
  • Fried Bean Curd(锅贴豆腐): Fried Bean Curd has been well-known in Kaifeng since the 1930s. Now it has changed from the conventional "pot stickers" to dipping in egg white paste and then frying. The finished product is slightly yellow in color, crisp and scorched. It melts at the mouth and is served with pepper and salt. It has a unique flavor and is especially suitable for the elderly.
  • Chao Liang Fen/Fried Bean Jelly(炒凉粉): Agar-agar jelly is made of sweet potato or mung bean starch, then stir-fried with bean paste, scallion, ginger, garlic and sesame oil.
  • Yang Rou Kang Mo(羊肉炕馍): Put the minced mutton, cumin and other materials into the baked pancake, and then baked with mutton fat. It tastes scorched and fragrant.
  • Dried Rabbit Meat with Five Spices(五香风干兔肉): The hare, weighing about 1.5 kg, is hung in a cool and ventilated place to air dry and marinated with more than ten kinds of spices. 

Kaifeng Traditional Cuisine

  • Xiao Long Bao/Small Steamed Bun(小笼包): Small steamed bun has a long history and unique flavor. It is one of the famous foods in Kaifeng. When eating soup dumplings, first bite a small hole, then lift it with chopsticks, drop the soup inside onto the spoon, drink the soup, and then taste the steamed stuffed bun.
  • Tong Zi Ji/Spring Chicken in Salt(桶子鸡): As one of Kaifeng's most famous dishes, Tong Zi Ji is famous for its bright yellow color, salty flavor, tender and crisp, fat but not greasy, and the longer it is chewed, the more fragrant it becomes. Tong Zi Ji is particular about deboning before slicing.
  • Carp with Noodles in Sweet and Sour Sauce(鲤鱼焙面): Carp with Noodles in Sweet and Sour Sauce is a traditional famous dish in Kaifeng, which is made up of two famous dishes, sweet and sour fried fish and baked noodles.
  • Kaifeng Mutton Soup(开封羊汤): Mutton soup is the favorite food of Kaifeng people. Kaifeng mutton soup is usually stewed meat and bone in large pots. When eating, you can choose white meat, braised potted meat, crispy meat, etc.
  • Tao Si Bao(套四宝): Tao Si Bao is Kaifeng's traditional dish. It is the representative food of the famous chef of Chin family in Kaifeng, which has been circulating for a hundred years. It integrates the strong, fragrant, fresh and wild flavors of chicken, duck, pigeon and quail.
  • Fried Eight Cutlets(炸八块): Fried Eight Cutlets, also known as "eight pieces of chicken", is a famous traditional dish in Henan Province. It is made of spring chicken, chicken gizzard, chicken liver, starch, broad bean and other food materials.
  • Braised Dongpo Pork(东坡肉): Legend has it that it was created by Su Shi, the literary giant of the Song Dynasty, and is one of the famous dishes in the ancient city of Kaifeng. It is characterized by fresh soup, mellow taste, and fat but not greasy.

Where to Eat in Kaifeng

Night Markets in kaifeng

There are many snacks in Kaifeng, and the local night markets are also very popular. Gulou night market and Xisi night market are all gathering places for many diners.

Gulou Night Market(鼓楼广场夜市)

Kaifeng's night market has a long history. Gulou night market is located in Gulou square, is the largest night market in Kaifeng. The whole Gulou square night market is packed with countless snack stalls with uniform styles, selling all kinds of delicious food without confusion. There are many kinds of snacks in the night market with different tastes, including braised fish, wonton, camellia oleifera, bean foam, spicy soup, almond tea, eight treasures porridge, peanut cake and so on, which are popular with the Kaifeng people.

Xisi Night Market(西司广场夜市)

Xisi Square Night Market is one of the famous night markets in Kaifeng, but it is not as famous as Gulou. Xisi Night Market gathers many delicious foods and numerous snack shops. At Xisi, some snack shops must not be missed.

  • Zhang Er Fried Agar-agar Jelly(张二炒凉粉)
    Address: Xisi Night Market, Dingjiao Street, Gulou District, Kaifeng开封市鼓楼区丁角街西司夜市
  • Fu Er Fried Shredded Pancake(付二炒饼)
    Address: Xisi Night Market, Dingjiao Street, Gulou District, Kaifeng开封市鼓楼区丁角街西司夜市
  • Xiaomao Youpo Noodle(小毛油泼面)
    Address: Xisi Night Market, Dingjiao Street, Gulou District, Kaifeng开封市鼓楼区丁角街西司夜市

Time-honored Restaurants in Kaifeng

Kaifeng was once the capital of the Song Dynasty, thriving and prosperous, with many merchants gathering here. In addition to literature, architecture and other brilliant cultures in Kaifeng, extensive and profound Chinese food culture has also been passed down. Most of the time-honored brands passed down today began in the late Qing Dynasty and the early Republic of China.

  • Kaifeng Di Yi Lou(开封第一楼)
    Address: No.8, Sihou Street, Gulou District, Kaifeng开封市鼓楼区寺后街8号
    Tel: 0371-25998655
  • Huangjia Old Shop(黄家老店)
    Address: No.1 Building of Fenghuang City, Songcheng Road, Longting District, Kaifeng开封市龙亭区宋城路凤凰城1号楼
    Tel: 0371-23991818
  • Huangjia Baozi(黄家包子)
    Address: No.16, Shengfu West Street, Gulou District, Kaifeng开封市鼓楼区省府西街16号
    Tel: 0371-25662988
  • Ma Yu Xing(马豫兴)
    Address: Near Gulou Square, Gulou District, Kaifeng开封市鼓楼区鼓楼广场附近
    Tel: 0371-25954233
  • You Yi Xin Restaurant(又一新饭店)
    Address: No.23, Sihou Street, Gulou District, Kaifeng开封市鼓楼区寺后街23号
    Tel: 0371-22282999/0371-22282222
  • Xing Family Guotie Old Shop(邢家锅贴老店)
    Address: No.98, Xinmen Avenue, Longting District, Kaifeng开封市龙亭区西门大街98号
    Tel: 0371-22886678
  • Dao Xiang Ju(稻香居)
    Address: No.73, Imperial Song Street, Longting District, Kaifeng开封市龙亭区宋都御街73号
    Tel: 0371-22884603

Kaifeng Cuisine Restaurants

  • Zhong Xing Lou(中兴楼)
    Address: Bianjing Road, Shunhe Hui District, Kaifeng开封市顺河回族区汴京路
    Tel: 0371-22662000/0371-22661000/18937838989
  • Di Guo Cheng Restaurant(地锅城食府)
    Address: No.35, Xiguan North Street, Longting District, Kaifeng开封市龙亭区西关北街35号
    Tel: 0371-25553399/15137892816
  • Fu Sheng Yuan(福盛源特色酒楼)
    Address: Furniture Street, Xiangfu District, Kaifeng开封市祥符区家具一条街
    Tel: 0371-26666333/18939562675
  • Re Hu Dun Da Zao Tai(热烀炖大灶台)
    Address: No.37, Yishan Avenue, Longting District, Kaifeng开封市龙亭区夷山大街37号
    Tel: 15137819998

Kaifeng Dining by Region

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