Popular street food in China – Our friend brought us to try Quanzhou specialty, saying the food inside is a must-try. So we went to Jinjiang street food market to check out what’s in store for us. And don’t be surprised about the China street food price, because almost all are very cheap!
We stayed at Hampton by Hilton Hotel for days, and this isn’t even the first time we did! Are you still unsure about it? Learn more about my experience here.
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Everything we ate at Jinjiang street food market
While we were still full because we ate a lot in lunch, our friend said we definitely should try some dishes because the food is all great-tasting — not to mention being a crowd’s favorite.
While not all are weird Chinese street food, I agree that they are indeed something worth the try. Check out some popular street food in China we loved!
Bitter gourd juice
You read that right.
Bitter gourd juice.
Before your face winces and you say no, I suggest you get this one. Especially if you’re like us who are not fans of sweets, this drink would surely make you take one sip after another.
The refreshing drink will remind you that not all good things taste bad. This bitter gourd drink isn’t that bitter, though it may taste a bit weird at first, but you’ll just get used to it and be reminded to take your veggies because they’re good for you!
Pan-fried siopao
When my son wasn’t all that game in trying all the other popular street food in China, he happily ate the pan-fried siopao.
I like that their siopao didn’t have that fatty meat filling. With every bite, you get real meat, so your money is all worth it without the added calories.
Oyster with garlic
Seafood lovers shouldn’t resist this oyster with garlic sauce. If you’re familiar with butter garlic shrimp, more or less you already have an idea of how this oyster tastes.
Just swap the shrimp with oysters, and you’re going to love how fresh the seafood is. A friendly reminder not to eat oysters on an empty stomach – else you’ll get a stomachache!
Fresh wrapper with sticky rice, peanuts, and sugar
Okay. You might laugh, but I don’t how this one’s called, so I just described what’s inside.
Wrapped inside a fresh lumpia wrapper is sticky rice, which we call tikoy in the Philippines. And along with it, they added sugar and ground peanuts, which is a great treat.
As someone who doesn’t love sweet things, I was amazed at how good this thing was!
Fried chicken wings
When our friend asked us if we want to try these delicious fried chicken wings, we quickly said yes!
I mean, who doesn’t love fried chicken??
When I saw the newly cooked wings on display, I was already drooling. And so after waiting for it to cool for a bit, I didn’t hesitate to bite into it, and woah! The chicken wing was full of flavor you can literally taste it inside your mouth!
Be cautious if you’re not a spicy food lover, because hubby didn’t like the little bit of spice in it. Sorry, forgot to take a photo!
Soy milk and soybean curd
We had both soybean curd and soya milk because why not?!
Both soya — they’re from different sellers, btw — were really good; you’d wonder why you didn’t try them so soon! If you want to try popular street food in China, you shouldn’t miss this one, especially because this can’t be found in just anywhere!
Mazhang
You aren’t Chinese if you don’t know what mazhang is. Growing up in a traditional Chinese household, we were introduced to many different Chinese dishes, and one of them is mazhang.
When sticky rice with meat, sausage, egg, and mushroom is placed inside bamboo leaves and then steamed to perfection, you get that yummy filling meal!
Haven’t tried one? Make sure you do if you go to China!
Taro ball
We have tried taro ball, but when we encountered the taro balls we bought on Zhong Shan Road, we knew we still have so much to learn! Taro ball is made up of taro rolled into a ball, then steamed. You can taste the natural sweetness that comes from taro — definitely a nice treat!
Sugar cane juice
Visit China in summer, and you’ll be looking for something cold, so sugar cane juice to the rescue!
Although a bit sweet, sugar cane juice has nutrients to hydrate you up! Never underestimate the summer of China even if you live in a tropical country whole year round!
Did you know?
Sugar cane helps with your liver and kidney care, and it balances your stomach acid so you have better digestion!
Milk tea
There are 2 types of milk tea we buy here in the Philippines. One type is Taiwanese milk tea – where milk overpowers the tea taste, with lots of boba and other sinkers. Another one is the Chinese milk tea, where you can taste the tea more than the milk.
And here in China, you should try their milk tea because it’s a lot different from the Taiwan style.
We love Chagee – our go-to milktea when in China, but we gotta try Molly Tea when we go back again! Luckin Coffee also has milk tea, and I loved their Jasmine milk tea. Heytea was more on the fruit-tea style, and they also have great tasting juices!
Wintermelon juice with sinkers
We were very thirsty one afternoon when we went to UNESCO World Heritage Kaiyuen Temple. Thankfully, they had so many stores selling yummy drinks!
The one we tried was the wintermelon drink with sinkers. It wasn’t that sweet, so it will definitely quench your thirst!
Chinese-style halo-halo
Here in the Philippines, there’s an ice-cold sweet dessert called halo-halo. And if you’re not familiar with it, it means mixing everything together. The Tagalog term “halo” means mix, so basically, you’re just mixing everything together before eating.
It’s like a Filipino version of bingsu (famous Korean ice dessert), and in China, there’s also a chilled dessert you can enjoy during summer. But instead of everything sweet like banana, gulaman, coconut shaving, ube halaya, and leche flan, you get a healthier version here in China.
They have everything also – gulaman, fruits like watermelon, lychee and pineapple, white fungus, white boba, and so much more! It has a very light taste, so you won’t worry about sugar spike. Go ahead and try it!
Frozen yogurt and cakes
We were able to try dessert from China as well. While we didn’t really buy them on the streets, I’m sure you’ll find them in streets somehow. We had plain yogurt, which had the typical yogurt taste, and pistachio crepe cake. Yum!
Weird-flavored ice drop
Throwback time to when ice drop was famous in the Philippines; a popular street food in China is ice drop. I tried the famous red bean ice drop, and my son tried a milk-flavored ice drop – and we both fell in love! There are even weirder flavors we saw, like grape ice drop, and so much more!
China street food insects
Don’t be surprised to find a quirky street food in China.
A popular street food in China that’s made of insects is definitely a must-try! I wasn’t game to try the one in the photo, but my sis-in-law said it tasted great – not the least bit weird, but just like any other protein food you can get.
So, if you’re more adventurous than me, better to try it before you leave China!
Chinese street food list review conclusion
When walking along the different Chinese street food restaurants, you’ll see some stores selling the same items. And sometimes, it’s hard to choose which seller to buy from — with all the nice life-like displays, you’ll be choosing between the different stores based on gut feel.
I hope you enjoyed this list of popular street food in China we tried. Are there anything that you want us to try in China? Maybe we can (as long as it’s not a worm!) when you go back again!
If you’re here for the first time, I’d like to invite you to follow me on my socials – Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok so you’re updated on our recent food, hotel, and travel reviews!
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