Eating Through the Xi’an Muslim Quarter

ByRui Yu Destinations
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The Muslim Quarter is not a tourist attraction with food stalls attached. It is a neighborhood where 20,000 Muslim residents have lived for over a thousand years. The food is why you are there. Here is what to order.

xian muslim quarter

At 9pm on a Thursday the main street is shoulder to shoulder. Lamb skewers smoke over charcoal on both sides. A woman at a marble counter tears flatbread into pieces for her paomo. The smells are cumin, lamb fat, chili oil, and frying dough, all at once. The Muslim Quarter has been here since the Tang dynasty (618 to 907 AD). The Great Mosque inside it was founded in 742 AD. This is not a recreated attraction. For Xi’an context: Xian Travel Guide.

What to Eat

Roujiamo (肉夹馍)

Slow-braised pork spiced with over 20 herbs, chopped and stuffed into freshly baked flatbread. The bread should be crispy outside, yielding inside. ¥10 to ¥15. Queue at a stall with fast turnover.

Paomo (泡馍)

Order at a restaurant, not a stall. Receive a dry flatbread. Tear it into pieces the size of a fingernail. Hand the bowl to the server. Lamb broth arrives hot. Condiments: pickled garlic, chili sauce. ¥30 to ¥50.

Biang biang noodles

Belt-wide hand-pulled noodles. Hot oil poured over chili, garlic, and scallion tableside. The sizzle is part of the meal. ¥15 to ¥25. Full guide: Biang Biang Noodles guide.

Pomegranate juice (石榴汁)

Fresh-pressed at street machines throughout the quarter. ¥10 to ¥15. Xi’an pomegranates come from Lintong district east of the city. Drink it cold.

The Great Mosque

Turn off the main food street westward and follow lanes to the mosque. Founded in 742 AD during the Tang dynasty. Built in Chinese architectural style: tiled roofs, carved wooden screens, courtyard with ancient trees. No dome, no Arabic minaret. The prayer hall faces west toward Mecca. Entry ¥25. Modest dress. Mornings are quieter.

Frequently Asked Questions

Roujiamo, paomo, biang biang noodles, and fresh pomegranate juice. The Muslim Quarter food is a 1,300-year-old fusion of Chinese and Central Asian flavors. Nothing in Beijing or Shanghai tastes like this.

Lunch (11:30am to 1:30pm) for shorter queues. Evening (8:30 to 10pm) for full atmosphere. Avoid 5 to 7pm when Terracotta Warriors tour groups flood in. The quarter is best visited twice.

A thick lamb or beef broth served with a dry flatbread that you tear into small pieces and add to the broth yourself. The smaller the pieces, the more broth they absorb. It is a sit-down meal (¥30 to ¥50), not a street stall dish.

Yes. Founded in 742 AD and built entirely in Chinese rather than Arabic architectural style. Entry ¥25. Modest dress required. One of the oldest mosques in China and genuinely unexpected in its design.

Yes. The evening market is busy, well-lit, and family-friendly. Standard precautions in crowded areas. The Muslim Quarter at 9pm is one of the most vibrant food scenes in China.

For Xi’an overview, read this: Xian Travel Guide. For biang biang noodles, check this: Biang Biang noodles Guide.

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