5 Best Restaurants in Xian, The Silk Road

Although it's better known for the affiliated theater, this separate restaurant specializes in the imperial cuisine of its namesake, a taste you're not likely to find back home at your local Chinese restaurant. You can eat at the restaurant separately or reserve tickets for dinner and the show (Y500).

As one of Xi'an's most famous restaurants, De Fa Chang offers a buffet of Chinese dumplings that will satisfy even the hungriest of travelers. The restaurant can be a bit tricky to find; walk along the front of the building facing Xi Dajie, past the shops selling trinkets and antiques to the end of the row.

For a break from Chinese food, try this authentic Indian restaurant that combines fragrant curries with oven-fresh naan bread. Although the service needs some polishing, the staff are good at handling requests for vegetarian dishes, of which there are also enough on the menu to ensure everyone leaves satisfied.

This traditional, family-run affair has been serving some of the best local Islamic lamb and beef specialties since 1898; it's become so popular that it's grown into a small Xi'an chain. A few famous offerings, such as the roasted leg of lamb or the spicy mutton spareribs, are pricey, but most dishes are inexpensive.

All of Xi'an's top hotels have elegant eateries, but Shang Palace deserves special mention for its Cantonese and Sichuan dishes, which are authentic and approachable. Classics like honey-barbecued pork and stir-fried chili chicken compliment their specialty noodle dishes.