https://https://uk.trip.com/toplist/tripbest/recommend/dunhuang/best-local-restaurants/100900010599
Local Restaurants
Top 20 Local Restaurants in Dunhuang [2025]
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Jingyuangaliumeiweiyanggaorou
4.7
/5
260 reviews
Northwest China Cuisine
From £8.00
Shazhou Market | 226m from downtown
Address: East Gate of Shazhou Paradise, Beitai Lane
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The real Dunhuang queue king. I told the driver of the one-day tour about this place, and he knew I was going to eat Galiu lamb. I arrived at about 7 o'clock and waited for a table. It was around 8:20.
Taste:
White-strip lamb, braised lamb chops, strongly recommended to order 1 catty, we were not satisfied with half a catty. Lamb has no smell, 3 people were addicted after one bite. Half a catty is 49-98.
Fish salad with alfalfa. After eating fried eggs with sand onion at noon, I chose this dish. It tastes refreshing and is more greasy.
The mutton offal and white radish soup is a big portion, with a lot of mutton offal, mutton liver, mutton tripe, and mutton soup. Children like to eat the white radish in the mutton offal soup, which is crispy and delicious.
Cumin lamb chops (half a catty) This is not very surprising, maybe the lamb chops don’t feel fresh and tender after being roasted.
You can order half a portion of fish sand onion beef dumplings, which tastes very good. Try it.
The milk and egg fermented glutinous rice soup is a sweet after-meal dish similar to Shanghai's fermented glutinous rice egg drop soup.
Environment:
It is very large inside, with private rooms around the outside and the lobby in the middle, which is very lively. The dishes are served very quickly, and customers are asked about their feelings when they check out. When I went out, I saw waves of people queuing up.
Value for money:
A total of 200 yuan, and the coupons saved more than 10 yuan, which is very good value for money.
The restaurant is impeccable, the food is outstanding, and the owner is exceptionally kind. We had an extraordinary experience, and we thoroughly enjoyed savoring the local specialties.
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范记靖远羊羔肉
4.8
/5
24 reviews
Northwest China Cuisine
From £8.00
Shazhou Market | 1.1 km from downtown
Address: Yueying Road, Yangguan, Bottom Commerce (downstairs at Yangguan Hengye Hotel, opposite to the side door of Jinye Hotel)
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The soup is the soul, the noodles are the body, and the toppings are the beautiful clothes. A bowl of delicious noodle soup with thin white noodles, neatly filled in a large bowl, emerald green onion leaves scattered on the noodles or floating in the soup, and the toppings, big meat, big ribs, duck meat... just looking at it makes people salivate.
The service is great. The boss lady and the boss are both very nice people. I ordered cumin lamb chops, which are delicious. The skin is golden and crispy, and the inside is really tender. There is no smell of mutton at all. The ingredients are really authentic. I highly recommend it.
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QI XING LOU GUO MU KAO QUAN YANG
4.5
/5
128 reviews
Barbeque
From £10.00
Shazhou Market | 377m from downtown
Address: 沙州北路292号七星
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Yellow noodle barbecue is a local snack with Gansu characteristics. The chewy yellow noodles are paired with tender barbecued meat. Once you take a bite, the rich aroma will stimulate your taste buds and leave you with an endless aftertaste. 👍
[Location] Right in the city center, very close to the Fanfan Pipa, with a large storefront and easy to find. It's just that it's inconvenient to park the bus. You have to go 300 meters forward to get a large parking lot, but you can go to the cashier to reimburse the parking fee.
[Service] I started ordering the menu from Jiayuguan. Liu mm patiently explained the menu to me and helped me prepare dinner for 20 people. There was a reception from the first floor all the way to the third floor. Every waiter was proactive and enthusiastic. She would not take the initiative to point the way because we were not in her area.
The second floor is mainly used for wedding banquets or large private venues, and individual guests usually go to the third floor.
[Taste]
-Roasted whole lamb: Book at least 2.5 hours in advance. It's very ceremonial. First introduce it, then ask the guests to make the first cut. When cutting, they will also say blessings, which is very warm. The meat is also very fragrant. It's said to be more than ten pounds, but in fact, none of us 20 people finished it.
-Sesame spinach and pickled radish: very refreshing, empty as soon as it's served.
- Braised pancake with chicken and spareribs: Because some people don't eat mutton (in fact, they think it tastes good after eating it), they specially ordered this braised pancake. The pancake is very chewy and has gravy, which is very delicious.
-Eggplant and spicy pastry: Since I first heard and ate it nine years ago, I will never forget this straightforward and fun name. In such hot weather, tomatoes are very sour and appetizing, green peppers are absolutely first-class for supplementing VC, and eggplants connect the two. The three vegetables are wonderfully combined together, which is an innovation in the northwest.
-Mutton offal soup: Let's not talk about anything else, just say that my friend who claims to never eat mutton and offal, under my instigation, reluctantly drank a sip, and then one bowl, two bowls, and three bowls without stopping, you can see how delicious it is.
There are many other dishes, but I didn't take pictures. Anyway, I ate so much that I couldn't even eat vegetables.
[Price] Although this restaurant is two hundred yuan more expensive than the other roasted whole lamb I originally ordered, it has more side dishes and good service.
[Suggestion] For our appetite, 1.5 servings of Northwest Chinese food is enough for two tables. One serving per table is too much, which is a bit wasteful and I can't bear it.
No.
4
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Yangjiazhuangtuyaoguomukaoquanyang
4.8
/5
35 reviews
Barbeque
From £11.00
Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Moon Spring | 2 km from downtown
Address: Diagonally opposite Yangjiaqiao Health Center, Mingshan North Road
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We had the most satisfying meal here after traveling all the way. We booked a set meal of half a whole lamb roasted with fruit wood in advance. The restaurant roasted it 3 hours in advance and arranged for someone to pick us up from the hotel. The service was super good. [Strong] The restaurant specially arranged a neat small private room, brewed chrysanthemum tea to clear the heat, and a refreshing big watermelon, waiting for the roasted whole lamb to be served. [Naughty] Half a lamb actually had two full plates, crispy skin and tender meat, super fragrant, but two full plates, and many side dishes and snacks that could not be finished at all. Each taste was very positive. For tourists, they had to taste them all to satisfy their cravings. The staple food cakes here are also very fragrant. The noodles stewed with lamb are wrapped in the essence of the soup. You can't stop eating them at all. [Naughty] This is the lamb offal soup, which feels lighter and just relieves greasiness. Everyone ate so much that they had to lean on the wall. Based on the principle of not wasting, there was really no way. I discussed with the store to deposit the excess and come back to eat the next day. I didn't expect the store to agree. It was a surprise. The next day, we were given a large plate of watermelon as usual, which was very refreshing. It was served with some vegetables, all of which were fried well. The special fried eggs with shallots were delicious. The hand-shredded cabbage was also the best I had here. The service in the store was beyond imagination. I will definitely come again if I have the chance.
The taste is really good, not smelly at all. The boss is also responsible for pick-up and drop-off. If you order a roasted whole lamb, it also comes with vegetables and staple food. And compared to the roasted whole lamb I had in Qilian, this one is much more tender, and it feels like real lamb meat.
No.
5
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国辉·羊羔肉·胡羊焖饼(市场巷店)
4.3
/5
15 reviews
Northwest China Cuisine
From £6.00
Shazhou Market | 331m from downtown
Address: 市场巷356号敦煌特色街内第2家（国辉胡羊焖饼）
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Although it is a small shop, the mutton braised pancake is really delicious. Northwestern cuisine is a bit greasy, but this braised pancake is really fragrant. I didn't eat enough of one plate, so I ordered another plate of braised pancake. This braised pancake is a bit like noodles, and I don't know why it is called a pancake. You can also order some refreshing small cold dishes to adjust the taste.
The restaurant only opens at 11am. I don't want to queue up for a number, so I came back from Crescent Lake and went straight to Guohui Desert Mutton Stewed Cake. It was less than 11am. I only ordered mutton stewed noodles. The free tea was rich and fragrant; the apricot peel water was sweet and sour; the wide noodles were chewy; the mutton pieces were large and chewy; the mutton soup was fragrant and juicy; I asked for some chopped green onions to sprinkle on, red, green, white, purple, the colors made people more appetizing...
No.
6
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Chengbianbian Barbecue (Dunhuang Main Branch)
4.4
/5
18 reviews
Barbeque
From £9.00
Shazhou Market | 447m from downtown
Address: Bottom Vendor of Tianrun Garden Community, Xiyu Road
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For our first dinner in Dunhuang, we had some skewers. Since it was off-season, there were not many people there at mealtime. I tried sand onion for the first time, which was quite delicious. It was like a healthy vegetable. I ordered some beef, mutton, and mushrooms. Except for the beef tendon, which was a bit hard to chew right after it was served, everything else was fine. The beef tendon had to be grilled on the charcoal fire for a while before it became soft and tender. It tasted very good when it was soft and tender.
If you are looking for a place to eat in the afternoon, this is the store with the best price. Because it is November, it closes very early. There are many stores nearby, especially the most famous snack shops. In the end, I had no choice but to choose this one, but surprisingly, the taste is not bad.
No.
7
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清真·敦来顺·手抓羊肉
5.0
/5
4 reviews
Northwest China Cuisine
From £7.00
Shazhou Market | 1.1 km from downtown
Address: 祥云西路239号一层111铺（敦煌维景大酒店左侧）
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[Location] It is next to the Vision Hotel, very convenient. It is just across the road to the Dang River, perfect for digesting a full meal~
[Environment] The Dunhuang elements are used very carefully in the decoration. There is a caisson on the top, hand-painted nine-color deer and flying fairies on the wall, and the lamps are also gentle Buddha's hands holding pure pink lotus.
The lobby is clean and bright, and the private room is elegant and spacious, which can accommodate up to 16 people.
[Taste]
- Two ways to eat mutton: the hand-grabbed mutton is slightly salty, and the roasted mutton is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. The four ingredients are suitable for both locals and foreign friends. The amount of two ways is very friendly for lone rangers or people dining in pairs!
- Stir-fried yellow beef: very tender and tasty.
- Fresh fruit yogurt: rich ingredients, real ingredients, sweet and sour.
Noodles: A Happy Hometown for Carbohydrate Lovers
🍜 Lanzhou Beef Noodles
A top-tier Gansu culinary destination! The clear broth makes the noodles springy and tender, and the "one clear, two white, three red, four green, five yellow" toppings are simply divine! The chef-made beef noodles, whether thin, wide, or with chives...are all incredibly chewy! 📍Recommended: Time-honored restaurants like Ma Zilu
🐟 Zhangye Rubbing Fish Noodles
The adorable "little fish noodles"! These hand-rolled noodles are incredibly chewy. They're delicious when paired with lamb or stir-fried with various vegetables! Be sure to check out the 📍Ganzhou Night Market!
🥟 Dunhuang Donkey Meat Yellow Noodles
The golden, thin noodles, paired with the secret donkey meat topping, are a truly divine combination! The aroma of meat and noodles fills your mouth with just one chopstick! 💥
🥩 Meat: The Joy of Meat Lovers
🐑 Hand-Pulled Lamb
Northwestern Chinese eat meat with abandon! Boiled in water, the lamb is authentically flavorful, dipped in pepper and salt, and topped with garlic slices for a deliciously tender and juicy treat! Don't forget to grab it with your hands for the ultimate indulgence!
🐏 Jingyuan Lamb
30-day-old baby lamb is incredibly tender! Braised in yellow sauce, you'll want to lick the broth clean! The melt-in-your-mouth texture is simply heavenly!
🐔 Jingning Roast Chicken
Free-range chicken, prepared with a secret sauce, is incredibly flavorful and perfectly shredded! Even the bones are fragrant—pack one for a delicious road trip!
🍡 Snacks: Locals' Secret Delicacy
🌶️ Tianshui Guagua
Buckwheat "jelly" is hand-torn and served with chili oil for a spicy, sour, and refreshing treat! Be sure to wipe your sweat off with tissues if you're having it for the first time~
🥒 Wuwei Noodles
Golden dough and chewy gluten, topped with a special sauce, are a real treat! A bowl of hot and sour noodles is a summer favorite!
🍜 Jiangshui Noodles
A must-have for those in Northwest China! Enjoy these spicy and sour noodles in both dry and soup versions—a summer must-have~
#GansuFood #NorthwestFlavor #LanzhouBeefNoodles #Hand-PulledLamb #GansuTravel
No.
8
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五味香·驴肉黄面·胡杨焖饼·烧烤(敦煌店)
4.0
/5
3 reviews
Northwest China Cuisine
From £4.00
Shazhou Market | 504m from downtown
Address: No. 91 Mingzhou Plaza, Shazhou Night Market, Yangguan Middle Road
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🍜Dragon meat in the sky, donkey meat underground. Dunhuang's donkey meat yellow noodles are the most distinctive local snacks. The last time I came to Dunhuang, the restaurant I went to might not be very punctual, so I didn't get its deliciousness. This time I came to Wuweixiang and the whole table of people exclaimed that it was great.
The "Donkey Meat Yellow Noodles" set meal contains 4 servings of yellow noodles and a large portion of sauced donkey meat, which is much larger than the amount of yellow noodles directly. The donkey meat stew tastes excellent, and it also has some tendons and is very chewy. Dip it in the prepared chili sauce, it is several times more delicious than covering it with yellow noodles. The yellow noodles are q-elastic, and the tofu is poured on top, which has a unique flavor.
"Authentic Hejian Donkey Meat Fire Roast" This one is even better than the authentic Hejian Donkey Meat Fire Roast! The others are rectangular fire roasts, baked crispy, this one should be fried on the outside, and the meat inside is fried with cumin or something, and there are onions, chili peppers and other seasonings, super fragrant!
"Cold Alfalfa" Alfalfa was my rabbit's favorite when he was little. It's really delicious~very refreshing and full of fiber.
"Fried elm money" is also a kind of wild vegetable, wrapped in eggs and fried. I don't like this one.
"Fried wide noodles" "Dunhuang grain stuffed skin" There is nothing to pick about the pasta in the northwest. The taste is full and delicious.
"Home-brewed apricot peel water" is refreshing and a little sour. Have a cup of this while eating meat. It's great!
🤤 There are 6 of us. We bought a 4-person meal in a group and added a few dishes. The average cost per person is less than 60 yuan. It's super cost-effective. Friends who come to Dunhuang for tourism must come here to try it!
I feel like most people went there based on the reviews, and after eating, I felt like it might have been overcooked. Of the five dishes, only the Desert Sand Chicken had good color, flavor, and aroma. The signature donkey meat noodles were average, and the golden trout looked good on the plate, but we all felt it wasn't tasty, the fish was dry and tough. All in all, a little disappointed.
No.
9
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ZHOUJI MENBINGZI
4.3
/5
72 reviews
Snacks
From £8.00
Shazhou Market | 406m from downtown
Address: 5th Floor, Qixing Building, No. 8 North Shazhou Road (300 meters north of downtown sculpture, 20 meters north of Sun Hotel)
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There are many braised cakes here, some with mutton flavor and some with beef flavor. You can choose whichever you like. I prefer mutton flavor! There are also various staple foods and vegetables, all of which are delicious and clean!
[Location] On the fifth floor of the same building as Qixinglou Roast Whole Lamb. There is a slight deviation in the positioning of Gaode Map.
[Environment] Simple decoration.
[Service] It was the first time I encountered rain in Dunhuang. It was said to be early September rain. After coming down from Mingsha Mountain, I was still not satisfied and felt a little hungry. Suddenly I wanted to have noodle soup. Unfortunately, noodle soup is breakfast, and many stores have not bought it. Fortunately, this one is still open and still has noodle soup.
After we finished eating, we sat and chatted for a while. The waiter didn't come to chase us away. I was really sorry that we delayed them from getting off work.
The dishes were ordered by scanning the code, which was also very convenient.
[Taste]
-Gang Gang Lamb Noodle Soup 15 yuan: warm, not much, tasted good, and the price-performance ratio was slightly low.
-Apricot peel tea 5 yuan: it is homemade, a little light, but only 5 yuan, it's okay.
No.
10
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妙街胡羊烧烤羊排
5.0
/5
2 reviews
Barbeque
From £8.00
Shazhou Market | 464m from downtown
Address: No. 32, Yangguan Middle Road (South of Huasheng Hotel)
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I love the Huyang braised pancakes here. They are very tasty and go really well with a drink.
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