Beijing Local Snacks Guide: What to Eat and Where to Find Them

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When most people think about Beijing food, they will typically mention Peking Duck or jianbing. Many people believe the misconception that Beijing lacks a snack culture compared to some other cities such as Chengdu or Guangzhou. This isn’t the case at all as Beijing actually has a plethora of delicious snacks all over the city. Vendors and restaurants can sometimes be daunting to find in this sprawling city and that’s where we come in to help! 

We have compiled a list of delicious Beijing snacks and where to find them all around the city. So work up an appetite and fill up your bellies with these scrumptious local snacks of Beijing.

What to eat

Glutinous rice ball 艾窝窝 ài wō wō

A staple of the old Beijing Muslim community, aiwowo has been one of the most popular local snacks for a long time. It is made of sticky rice with various fillings, such as walnuts and sesame seeds. If you like soft and sweet snacks, it is a good choice.

Rolling Donkey 驴打滚 lǘ dǎ gǔn

The reason it’s called rolling donkey is because the final step is to wrap this delicious treat with yellow soybean powder, like donkeys rolling in the dust. It is sweet, soft, and white glutinous rice rolled with red bean paste. Lǘ dǎ gǔn will delight you with its sugary filling and yummy taste of soybean flour.

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Sesame Balls 麻团 Mátuán

Mátuán is definitely a famous Beijing breakfast choice. It is crunchy outside covered with sesame seeds and soft inside with red bean paste or lotus paste. Best served warm and a perfect pair with a cup of tea.

Pea Flour Cake 豌豆黄 Wān dòu huáng

Wandouhuang or pea flour cake, is a traditional snack that was first introduced during the Qing dynasty and was particularly favored by Empress Cixi to the point that it became a royal court snack. It is made from finely ground white peas and tastes very light, soft, and sweet. They can sometimes be filled with red dates and its the perfect snack for everyone to feel like royalty for a day.

Sculpted potatoes Figurine 兔爷土豆泥 Tùyé tǔdòuní

Tùyé (rabbit doll) is a local traditional handicraft in Beijing, which comes from children’s toys during the Mid-Autumn Festival. This custom originated in the Ming Dynasty. Tùyé tǔdòuní is a fairly recent snack based on the traditional figure of the rabbit god, Tuye，from Chinese folklore. This snack is only available at Juqi restaurant.

Where to find

Baikui Old-Brand Restaurant (白魁老字号饭庄)
158 Jiaodaokou South Street, Dongcheng District 东城区交道口南大街158号.（6406 3611）

Huguo Temple Snack Stand (护国寺小吃店)
214 Dongsi North Steet, Dongcheng District 东城区东四北大街214号.（6402 1798）

Juqi Restaurant （局气）
F6 APM shopping mall, 138 Wangfujing Street, Dongcheng District 东城区王府井大街138号 apm商场6层. (6808 0898)

Photos: Weibo.com

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