Top 5 Beijing Food Streets & Night Markets (2025 Guide)

Beyond Peking duck, Beijing's street food scene is full of surprises waiting to be explored.

In this guide, we'll walk you through five of the best places to try street food, authentic local snacks, and regional specialties.

We'll tell you what to eat, which shops to visit, who each street is best for, and how to plan your visit. You could easily fit these stops into your Beijing itinerary for a flavorful and memorable experience.

Not sure which food street to choose? Here's a quick guide:

• First time in Beijing? Start with Qianmen Street for safe and iconic snacks.
• Want a trendy hutong walk? Try Nanluoguxiang in the afternoon.
• Prefer nostalgic local snacks? Head to Huguosi Snack Street for a classic Beijing feel.
• Craving late-night eats? Guijie stays open until 4 a.m.
• Curious about halal food? Niujie offers rich flavors and culture.

1. Qianmen Street - Sights & Signature Flavors

Qianmen Street is best known for its central location. Just south of Tiananmen Square, this wide pedestrian street is lined with restored old-style buildings and is one of the most visited in Beijing. It's a pleasant place to stroll after a day of sightseeing.

It's especially popular with first-time visitors and families who prefer somewhere easy to navigate, spacious, and tourist-friendly. The street is also great for shopping and relaxing, with both international brands and long-standing local shops.

Among them is Quanjude Roast Duck, one of Beijing's most iconic restaurants. For the best experience, head to the Peace Gate branch, known for hosting foreign guests and offering top-tier service and presentation.

For more restaurants to enjoy Peking Duck, see our guide to Where to Eat Peking Duck.

Quanjude Beijing Roast Duck

If you're interested in tea, stop by Laoshe Teahouse. They offer a variety of green, black, and floral teas served in a traditional setting.

While you sip your tea, you could enjoy captivating performances such as Peking opera, acrobatics, or magic, with performers sometimes interacting with the audience. It's a unique chance to experience the storytelling culture of old Beijing teahouses.

Laoshe Teahouse

For families with kids, the haystack-shaped tanghulu from Beiping Ice Factory is uniquely cute and perfect for photos.

Haystack-shaped tanghulu

If you're feeling adventurous, Chenji Luzhu Xiaochang serves a bold Beijing classic—luzhu huoshao, a rich stew made with pork lung, intestines, and stomach. It's a deeply local flavor that's not for everyone, but worth trying if you're curious.

Luzhu huoshao

The best time to visit is in the afternoon, after touring nearby landmarks like the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, or the National Museum.

2. Nanluoguxiang - Trendy Snacks & Hutong Walk

If you enjoy food, shopping, and walking through a charming old neighborhood, Nanluoguxiang is a great place to spend a relaxed afternoon.

Nanluoguxiang

Located in central Beijing near Shichahai, this lively and well-known hutong blends traditional courtyard architecture with modern cafés, creative snacks, and boutique shops. It's especially popular with young people. The mix of old and new makes it a fun and photogenic stop.

Food here is trendy, light, and easy to try. You could sample traditional Daoxiangcun pastries (look for the authentic "Sanhe" logo). The jujube flower cake, Napoleon slice, and hawthorn cakes are local favorites.

Daoxiangcun pastries

If you're looking for something more filling, head to Fangzhuanchang No. 69 for zhajiangmian, thick noodles topped with a rich soybean paste sauce and crisp vegetables.

Zhajiangmian

If it feels heavy, refresh your palate with the soft, mousse-like yogurt from Ziguangyuan.

You've probably heard about douzhi, a famous sour-smelling Beijing drink. If you're up for the challenge, go to Yin San Douzhi for a bowl. They also offer douzhi ice cream, which has a sweeter taste and is more palatable than the traditional douzhi.

Douzhi

Nanluoguxiang has a total of 16 hutongs. While the main street is lined with shops and snacks, the side lanes are quiet and residential. Stroll through Mao'er Hutong and Ju'er Hutong to see old courtyards and former residences of famous figures, experiencing more authentic and tranquil hutong culture.

If you get tired, hop on a rickshaw for a more relaxed ride through the alleys.

Our guests took a rickshaw

This area is within walking distance of the Drum and Bell Towers and Shichahai. A good route is to visit the towers and lakes in the morning, explore the hutongs in the afternoon, and end your day with snacks in Nanluoguxiang at night.

3. Huguosi Snack Street - Old Beijing Flavors

If you're curious about traditional Beijing snacks, Huguosi Snack Street is worth a visit, especially if you're looking for somewhere low-key, local, and full of old Beijing character.

This street is only about 600 meters long but packs in around 20 small eateries, many of them long-time favorites among local residents. It's not fancy or touristy, but it's a great place to get a real taste of everyday Beijing.

To taste authentic Beijing-style snacks, head to Huguosi Snack Store. You could sample classics like Doornail Meat Pies and Beef-filled Sesame Buns. Most of the diners here are locals from the neighborhood, a good sign you're tasting the real thing.

The Huguosi Snack Store is visited by many local people

If you want to try some imperial desserts, we recommend Fuhuazhai Pastry Shop, a traditional dessert store with roots in imperial Beijing. You could watch pastry chefs hand-make delicate treats like pea cake, red bean rolls, and almond tofu.

The chefs is making food on-site

It's a lovely spot for a relaxed afternoon tea. In summer, their seasonal watermelon jelly is especially refreshing.

Enjoy afternoon tea in Fuhuazhai Pastry Shop

After eating, step into Liyuan Bookstore, a cozy space themed around Peking Opera. It features intricate opera masks, hand fans, and even try-on costumes. It's great if you're curious about China's traditional stage culture.

The street is within walking distance of Prince Gong's Mansion and Shichahai. A nice way to plan your visit is to tour the mansion in the early afternoon, enjoy an afternoon tea here, then head to Shichahai for a lakeside stroll or bar-hopping as evening sets in.

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4. Guijie (Ghost Street) - Late-Night Hotspot

If you want to find a lively place at night, Ghost Street is the best choice.

From early evening until well past midnight, the street glows with red lanterns and the buzz of sizzling woks and animated conversations. With over 150 restaurants open late, it's the city's most famous destination for late-night feasts.

Guijie

Guijie is best known for spicy crayfish, Sichuan hot pot, and classic mala dishes.

Huda Restaurant is the most iconic spot to try spicy crayfish, but lines can get very long. There are four branches along Guijie. For a smoother experience, head to the second branch before 5 PM on a weekday, when there's usually no wait.

If you're visiting later in the evening, Jialinglou is a good alternative with shorter lines.

Spicy crayfish

Barbecue and beer are a classic Chinese late-night pairing. A popular spot is Beixinqiao Grilled Squid, where you could grab a face-sized squid, grilled to smoky, chewy perfection.

Barbecue

Located near Dongzhimen Railway Station, it's easy to reach after a day at Lama (Yonghe) Temple or Sanlitun. Spend your day exploring temples or shopping, then come here for a fiery, flavor-packed meal and soak in the vibrant pulse of Beijing at night.

5. Niujie Muslim Street - Halal & Cultural

If you follow a halal diet or are curious about traditional Muslim cuisine in China, Niujie is the place to explore.

Located in Xicheng District, it's not your typical snack street. Instead, it's a local neighborhood where Beijing's Hui Muslim community shops for essentials like beef, lamb, and fresh-baked goods.

Niujie is compact, with fewer than 20 shops selling items like dumplings, rice cakes, kebabs, and sesame seed cakes. It draws a steady local crowd and has a grounded, authentic feel, offering a cultural experience beyond the usual tourist food streets.

Stop by Hongji Baozi for beef and lamb buns with juicy fillings and rich, flavorful broth soaked into the dough.

Beef and lamb Baozi

If you're in the mood for something heartier, Jubaoyuan's traditional Beijing hot pot is well known among locals.

Beijing Hot Pot: Mutton Boiled in a Copper Pot

For dessert, Baiji Rice Cakes offers soft, sticky lvdagun, a sweet rice roll dusted with soybean flour.

Lvdagun

You'll also find Beijing's largest halal supermarket here, selling everything from cured meats and ready-to-eat meals to snacks and baked goods. Even if you don't plan to buy anything, browsing the aisles offers insight into halal food culture in China.

Come in the morning for breakfast when the area is lively but not crowded. Afterward, you could head to the Temple of Heaven, about 25 minutes away by car or 40 minutes by subway and foot.

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China Highlights tours can include snack streets!

If you have special food requirements, or are especially interested in trying any of the street foods you read about above, please let us know when you are booking your Beijing tour. We can make the reservation for you and tailor your itinerary to fit your needs.

We also have a ready-made food tour to make things easy if you can't choose!

Enjoy Chinese Dumplings