Whatever part of the world you’re from, there is certainly some street food that is iconic to your city. Street food is a great way of experiencing local culture, as it is the raw representation of local cuisine which hasn’t been glossed over by fancy venues or high prices. Here in Beijing, as the capital of such a large country, many of the city’s iconic street foods originated from other diverse parts of China. Whether you’re just coming to Beijing, or have been here for years, I certainly recommend stepping away from the familiar and trying new street foods.
Chuan’r (串儿 chuàn er)
This is for all of the meat lovers out there, although it can also be made with vegetables. Chuan’r is most often made with, but not limited to beef, lamb, chicken, or even tofu and various vegetables like sweet potatoes and corn. Chuan’r originated in Xinjiang and was made primarily with lamb. Every chuan’r stand will have their own secret blend of seasoning but in general, they tend to taste heavily of cumin.Youtiao (油条 yóutiáo)
Youtiao are sticks of deep-fried dough, which are often served savory but can also be sweet and are a widely loved breakfast food throughout China. In Beijing specifically, you can find it at stands around the city, although they are quite hard to find if you’re a late riser, as most restaurants or food stands that serve breakfast food usually close around 9am.
Candied fruits (糖葫芦 tánghúlu)
From talking to friends, tanghulu seem to be the most Beijing popular street food for dessert or just as a snack. Tanghulu is fresh fruit on a stick coated with a crunchy layer of caramelized sugar, and is amongst the easiest street snacks to find. I’ve seen it nearby almost every temple or park I’ve been to. The taste of this delicious food is very, very sweet so it works great to satisfy that sweet tooth. The fruits used range from the classic hawthorn berry to grapes, strawberries, and pineapple.
Jianbing (煎饼 jiānbing)
Jianbing is one street food that has a lot of variety in terms of flavor and is basically a savory fried crepe typically made with delicious fillings like hoisin sauce, fried egg, a crispy wafer, cilantro, cumin and chili powder. When at a jianbing stand, the chef often has multiple batters and ingredients for you to choose from. Then, as the customer, you can make some requests, such as asking for your jianbing to not be spicy or add in additional eggs or sausages. It’s one of the most iconic Beijing street foods that can easily be found all over the city.Baozi (包子 bāozi)
Finally, steamed buns or baozi are the Beijing street food which can be the most customizable in terms of filling. The base dough is often made using white flour, milk, water, yeast, and oil. Then, the seller will steam the buns after adding a filling inside.
Classic breakfast options are pork buns but when it comes to baozi, there are no limits to what you can fill them with. Any type of meat or vegetable baozi can be found at street stands around the city, and if you happen to venture into a local dessert shop, there are plenty of dessert buns filled with things like sweet custard or red bean paste that are just waiting for your to discover.
KEEP READING: The Pizza Show: Beijing’s Newest Pizza Parlor
Photos: Uni You
This article appeared in the beijingkids 2020 August issue
