Changsha, capital of Hunan province, is the centre of Hunan Cuisine which is one of the eight cuisines in China, and it is characterized with plenty of oil and gorgeous outlook. Chefs in Hunan province are adept at making spicy and hot dishes, dried meat, and pickles. Therefore, city-dwellers in Changsha are well reputed as foodies.
Famous Dishes of Changsha
Some renowned Hunan cuisine dishes in Changsha are spicy chicken and sesame crisp duck. In the meanwhile, its snacks are as famous as the cuisine. Not only are they countless in number, but also unique in flavor. Stinky tofu is just a typical snack in Changsha that enjoys great popularity.
Stinky Tofu (臭豆腐)
The most famous stinky food in Changsha are in Fire Palace (火宫殿). In the year of 1958, Chairman Mao specially tried the snack here. It tastes crisp at first then tender; if dipped in pepper oil, sesame oil and soybean sauce, it would be better.
Liuyang Steam Food (浏阳蒸菜)
Liuyang steam food, originated from eastern part of Liuyang city, has a history of more than six hundred years. As a special class of Hunan cuisine, Liuyang steam food tastes healthy and delicious, and is convenient for many eaters.
Spicy Chicken (麻辣子鸡)
It is one of the authentic Hunan cuisine dishes. Its golden outlook, tender meat, spicy flavor and fresh smelling will never fail to make you drooling. It is said that one does not try Hunan cuisine unless he eats spicy chicken.
There are also various snacks in Changsha, such as Sugar oil Baba, scallion oil Baba, bundled chicken, Stinky tofu, perilla peach ginger, scraped bean jelly, small bowl of sweet wine, Bianjing fried chicken, Dongguashan sausage, sister dumpling, crispy pepper...
Where to eat?
Famous Food Markets in Changsha
Posi Street
Pozi Street, the source of Changsha snacks, is located in the Wuyi Road core commercial district of Changsha, and is the birthplace of modern catering, distribution center for medicinal herbs, and financial and trade center in Changsha. This 1000 year old street, which is about 1500 meters long, and the T-shaped area formed by Sanwang Street, gathers all familiar Shinise. The biggest feature is that it is an official mainstream one-stop shop led by the Fire Palace, such as Xiangqun, Qiangmin, Shuangyanlou, Yang Yuxing, etc. However, the most tempting thing is the few barbecue stalls near the pedestrian street corner, which are always surrounded by people.
There are authentic specialty restaurants here, and it is also a leisure destination. Whether day or night, here is bustling with traffic and bustling scenes.
Changsha Food Plaza: Visitors come in flocks to the Dachangsha Food Plaza on the Huangxing South Road Pedestrian Street in Tianxin District, Changsha, to have a taste of Changsha snacks. (Photo/Guo Liliang, Hunan Daily)
Add.: No. 537, Huangxing South Road, Furong District, Changsha City
Sifangping Night Market in Kaifu District is bustling with activity as visitors enjoy a variety of food and entertainment options. It is a "late-night canteen" for local people. (Photo/Guo Liliang, Hunan Daily)
Add.: Shuangyong Road, Kaifu District, Changsha City
Yuren Matou (Fisherman's Wharf): People enjoy breeze and scenery along the Xiangjiang River while appreciating delicious snacks at the Yuren Matou (fisherman's wharf) commercial complex on the west bank of the Xiangjiang River. (Photos/Guo Liliang, Hunan Daily)
Add.: No. 1088, Third Section, Xiaoxiang North Road, Yuelu District, Changsha City
4 Restaurants from Changsha rated in the 2023 Black Pearl Restaurant Guide
The Black Pearl Restaurant Guide is a professional restaurant guide published by China's on-demand service platform Meituan, together with the food-rating platform Dazhong Dianping, since 2018. The cuisines of the nominated restaurants are evaluated anonymously by experts every year from three perspectives: cooking skills, experience, and inheritance & innovation. On Feb 9,2023, four restaurants from Changsha were rated as one-diamond restaurants in the guide for the first time.
Xin Chang Fu Restaurant (Shijia Branch)
Address: No. 299, Renmin East Road, Furong District, Changsha
Junting Chinese Restaurant (Xiangjiang Haosheng Branch)
Address: No. 168, Binhai Road, Yuelu District, Changsha
Moquan Fengwei Restaurant
Address: 3/F, Runhe International Square, Kaifu District, Changsha
Qingxi Manor Restaurant (Xingsha Branch)
Address: No. 20, Xingsha Avenue, Changsha County, Changsha
More Recommended Restaurants:
Fire Palace (火宫殿)
Located in Pozi Street (坡子街). People can try various snacks here such as stinky tofu, fried dough twist and so forth.
Xieguangtou Restaurant (谢光头辣椒炒肉家菜馆)
Located in No. 339 West Laodong Road, Tianxin District (天心区劳动西路339号). Though the name of the restaurant is so common that it can be missed easily, it has always been devoted to its specialty "sautéed pork with chilli pepper" which draws numerous visitors home and abroad.
Some long
Standing large restaurants and catering area are in sight in Changsha, including Youyi Xincun of the Second Ring Road, east bank of Xiangjiang, and Jinxiu Square.
