What are the local delicacies in Nanning?

Cuisine Nanning Travel Local Specialties Snacks

Hey friend! You've come to the right person to ask about what to eat in Nanning. Nanning's cuisine is so rich, you could talk about it for three days and three nights, but if I had to highlight the essentials, you absolutely can't miss these!

Must-Try "Noodles" in Nanning

Nanning people's love for "noodles" (粉 - fěn, referring to rice noodles) is ingrained in their bones; they feel uncomfortable if they don't eat it for a day. So, the first stop must be slurping some noodles!

1. Laoyou Fen (Old Friend Noodles)

What it is: This is absolutely the soul of Nanning! An authentic bowl of Laoyou Fen is made by stir-frying sour bamboo shoots, fermented black beans, minced garlic, and chili, then adding rich broth and rice noodles. The flavor combines sourness, spiciness, saltiness, and aroma, making it incredibly appetizing. It makes you sweat, and in one word: exhilarating!
Friendly tip: The first time you try it, the sour bamboo shoots might taste a bit "pungent," but trust me, that's its charm. Many people absolutely love this unique flavor. You can choose various toppings like pork, beef, pork offal, seafood, and more.

2. Shengzha Mifen (Freshly Pressed Rice Noodles)

What it is: This is another noodle with a lot of character. Its unique feature is that the rice noodles are "pressed" fresh upon order. Fermented rice batter is squeezed through a press with holes directly into boiling water to cook.
Flavor characteristics: Because the rice batter is fermented, it carries a slight, unique sour-fermented taste. Some people adore it, while others might need some time to get used to it. But its texture is incredibly soft and smooth, and paired with minced meat and special sauce, it offers a distinct flavor.

3. Luosifen (River Snail Noodles)

What it is: Although Luosifen originated in Liuzhou, it has become ubiquitous in Nanning and an integral part of life here. Its broth is simmered with river snails and various spices, resulting in a delicious flavor.
Flavor characteristics: "Smells stinky, tastes delicious" is its best description. The special "stinky" smell mainly comes from the sour bamboo shoots, but when mixed with the broth, chili oil, peanuts, and fried tofu skin, the flavor is simply irresistible!

4. Juantong Fen (Rolled Rice Noodles)

What it is: Similar to Guangdong's Chee Cheong Fun, but thinner and smoother. Thin rice noodle sheets are steamed, then rolled with stir-fried minced meat, long beans, preserved vegetables, and other fillings. Finally, it's drizzled with Huangpi sauce (loquat sauce) or tomato sauce.
How to eat: Have a few rolls for breakfast, or as an afternoon snack. It's tender, smooth, delicious, and inexpensive.

Beyond Noodles, Don't Miss These Main Dishes

1. Ningmeng Ya (Lemon Duck)

This is the signature dish of Wuming District in Nanning, and now it's very popular throughout Nanning. Local ducks are braised with pickled ingredients like sour lemons, sour chilies, and sour ginger.
Flavor: The duck meat is not gamey or greasy, has a firm texture, and tastes sour and spicy, with a unique refreshing lemon aroma. It's incredibly appetizing and goes perfectly with rice! Definitely a flavor you won't find elsewhere.

2. Fen Jiao (Rice Dumplings)

A traditional Nanning snack, the dumpling wrapper is made from rice batter, making it translucent so you can see the filling inside. The filling typically consists of pork, water chestnuts, mushrooms, etc.
Soulmate: Fen Jiao must be eaten with Nanning's unique "Huangpi sauce" (loquat sauce), which is sweet and sour, instantly enhancing the flavor of the entire dumpling.

Street Snacks and Local Delicacies

1. Suanye (Sour Fruits/Vegetables)

On the streets of Nanning, you'll definitely see many stalls selling "Suanye." "Ye" in Cantonese means "things," so Suanye refers to various sour fruits and vegetables.
What's available: Mangoes, plums, radishes, cucumbers, papayas... almost any fruit or vegetable you can think of can be made into Suanye. They are pickled with salt, sugar, chili powder, etc., offering a sweet, sour, and crunchy taste that is particularly refreshing and appetizing.

2. Shaokao (BBQ)

Nanning's nightlife is inseparable from BBQ. The BBQ here is very distinctive; besides common meat skewers, grilled oysters, grilled bean sprouts, grilled eggplant, and grilled Youtiao (fried dough sticks) are very popular. Vendors brush them with secret sauces and honey, resulting in a sweet and spicy flavor that will make you unable to stop eating.

Refreshing Desserts and Specialty Fruits

Huaihua Fen / Liangfen (Sophora Flower Jelly / Grass Jelly): A summer cooling artifact, this transparent jelly made from sophora flower seeds is slippery and smooth. Served with brown sugar syrup, it's incredibly refreshing and cooling.
Ludou Haidai (Mung Bean and Seaweed Sweet Soup): Don't be scared by this combination; it's a specialty sweet soup from Guangxi. Softly cooked mung beans and seaweed, sweetened with rock sugar, make for a clear, sweet, and moisturizing drink that's great for cooling down.
Fruits: Nanning is a land of fruits, with an endless supply of fresh fruits all year round. Mangoes, lychees, longans, jackfruit... you must eat your fill when you visit.

In short, come to Nanning and eat to your heart's content! From street-side noodle shops to bustling night markets, there's always something to capture your taste buds. Wishing you a happy eating experience!