Located in the Central Plains, Xuchang’s cuisine combines the essences of northern and southern Chinese food. Local dishes feature the delicate refinement of southern cooking as well as the hearty boldness of northern styles. Braised noodles, rolled pancakes and spicy pepper soup are all local specialties well worth trying.

Mutton soup is a signature delicacy of Xuchang. Here, people from all walks of life, whether laborers or scholars, love gathering together to enjoy this soup.

Bones and meat simmer in huge millstone-sized pots. The milky white broth gives off a rich aroma that drifts halfway down the street, tempting every passerby. Served in fine porcelain bowls, the creamy soup is garnished with fresh green coriander leaves, making people’s mouths water at the mere smell. Many authentic mutton soup shops line the streets of Xuchang.

Rolled pancakes are a famous snack that the Hakka people have preserved from Central Plains traditions. Every family makes them during the Lantern Festival. A soft pancake is wrapped with lettuce, cucumber strips, ham and egg omelette. Colorful and appealing, they are a feast for both the eyes and the palate, available at local snack bars.

Also known as mixed stew, this classic local snack has a long history and enjoys great popularity. As its name suggests, it is cooked by stewing and stir-frying assorted vegetables, meat and vermicelli together.

First cook pork, beef or chicken until done, then stir-fry various vegetables. Add water and bring it to a boil, then put in the vermicelli, pre-cooked meat and seasonings, and simmer thoroughly. This homestyle dish can be found in nearly all local restaurants.

It gets its name because it does not need to be flipped while cooking. With a long history and exquisite craftsmanship, it boasts a unique flavor.

High-quality rice and millet are ground into slurry and fermented. Mixed with special seasonings, the batter is baked in a dedicated pan in just one minute without flipping. The finished snack looks attractive with a glossy surface, white as jade and golden yellow in parts. It is widely sold at street stalls across Xuchang.

This traditional snack combines noodles, soup, meat and vegetables. It is tasty and affordable.

Fresh premium mutton is soaked repeatedly and stewed slowly with a full set of spices until tender. The dough is kneaded thoroughly to achieve a chewy texture. The noodles are pulled into thin strips and cooked in the original mutton broth, together with mutton, daylilies, wood ear mushrooms and soft vermicelli. It is served with side dishes of coriander, chili oil and sweet garlic for an enhanced flavor.

Xuchang spicy pepper soup is famed at home and abroad for three characteristics: thick consistency, rich spiciness and inviting aroma. Slow-cooked with over 30 kinds of Chinese medicinal herbs, stewed meat, pepper, chili, Chinese prickly ash and star anise, it features tender meat and a savory, mellow broth with a lasting aftertaste. It is a staple breakfast for locals and can be found at every morning food stall.

This well-known local eatery serves an entire menu of soybean products, including tofu pudding, dried tofu skin, tofu gluten and tofu soup. Its donkey meat sesame cakes are also an unrivaled specialty and a must-order for many diners. It is a perfect stop for soybean food lovers.