Features: A traditional famous dish in Shanxi Province. The Guo You Rou in the restaurants near Jinci usually selects fine pork tenderloin. After being sized and fried in oil and other processes, and then stir-fried with ingredients such as agaric and winter bamboo shoots, the dish presents a golden and bright color. It has a savory taste with a hint of vinegar, and a texture that is tender inside and slightly crispy outside.
Recommended Restaurant: Jinweiyuan Restaurant near Jinci is known for its authentic preparation of Guo You Rou, allowing diners to savor the genuine Taiyuan flavor.
Dao Xiao Mian (Sliced Noodles)
Features: These noodles are thick in the middle and thin at the edges, resembling willow leaves. They have a unique texture, being smooth on the outside and chewy on the inside, soft but not sticky, and the more you chew, the more flavorful they become. Restaurants around Jinci offer a variety of toppings for these noodles, including meat sauce, tomato and egg, and stir-fried pork, etc.
Recommended Restaurant: Lao Jinyang Noodle Shop, where the noodles are made with a perfect texture, and the sauce is rich and flavorful.
Tou Nao (a kind of nutritious porridge)
Features: A traditional nourishing porridge made from ingredients like fatty mutton, lotus root, Chinese yam, astragalus, and other herbs. It has a rich and mellow flavor and is believed to have beneficial effects on health. When consuming, it is often accompanied by pickled leeks to balance the richness.
Recommended Restaurant: Qingheyuan, an old and renowned restaurant in Taiyuan, is famous for its authentic Tou Nao, although its unique taste may not appeal to everyone.
Pingyao Beef
Features: The beef is tender, delicious, and nutritious. It can be purchased and tasted in specialty stores or restaurants near Jinci. It can be eaten directly or used as an ingredient in various dishes, especially when paired with noodles.
Kao Lao Lao (a kind of oat flour food)
Features: Made from oat flour, it is shaped like a hollow cylinder. It has a chewy texture and is typically served with mutton sauce or tomato sauce, presenting a unique flavor.
Recommended Restaurant: Some farmhouse restaurants near Jinci may offer this dish, providing an opportunity to taste the rustic flavor of Kao Lao Lao.
