Restaurant:
Local dishes:
Catalpa Garden : Located in Yueyatang Lane, Yuer Road, the ancient city, there are many locals, and friends who live in Dali often go there. There is local wine with high alcohol content. One of my friends particularly likes their "sour papaya fish". Dali expert "Ya Ba Hu Zi" recommends: thousand pieces of meat, steamed stinky tofu, fried whitebait with eggs, stir-fried beef, stir-fried shredded cucumber, and bean tip soup.
Awang Private Kitchen : Deep in Fu'an Lane, not easy to find. It is also recommended by "Yiba Huzi" (Xiaohongshu: Yiba Huzi, with more food recommendations in Dali, Kunming, and Pu'er), and he named it one of the three kings of local dishes. He recommends: boiled meat, barbecue, braised chicken, and hot and sour fish. Huzi's side comment: "I often meet the owners of local famous restaurants eating there"
Guanyintang Food Street: Raw leather, local dishes. The most lively place, very down-to-earth. For example: Laoguan Pea Flour is at the entrance of the alley where I used to live. The shop has a row of low tables and small stools, and most people sit under the overhanging eaves and under the wall of the temple across the street. It is crowded but not chaotic, and everyone eats their own food in a lively manner. All the restaurants that can be found on this street are good. All the other restaurants are good too, not necessarily this one. They are all affordable, delicious and have local characteristics. There are several local specialties to try: stinky tofu fried with chrysanthemum, fried spareribs, sour papaya fish, old milk potatoes, pickled vegetables fried with shredded pork, seaweed and taro soup. After dinner, walk a few dozen meters north from Zhangjia Garden. There is a small shop selling yogurt and purple rice dew . Try Pao Ruda (a Burmese dessert, 10 yuan). It is a place I often go to sit in Guanyintang. Ruifengyuan , not far away, is a slightly better restaurant where locals treat guests.
There are some new shops in Guanyintang now, which are well integrated with the original local restaurants. They are concentrated in the row of shops in front of the temple: " Bean and Bean's House ", a high-quality vegetarian shop, breakfast fried dough sticks, soy milk, and lunch sets are also delicious. Sitting on the roadside is comfortable. Next door is the "Nosui" bakery, which also has coffee. Next door is the Daigo Coffee House , which has a small courtyard with a good view and environment. Several shops together form a comfortable new atmosphere.
Halal clear soup beef hotpot: Dali has a large number of Islamic villages, so halal beef dishes are very praised and worth a try.
Zhangjiayuan Tongpiao Beef - Near the Muslim Food Street, it is a courtyard restaurant. Beef, beef tongue, steak, all good, you can order half a portion if there are few people. If it is full, the nearby ones are good, such as Niu Niu , they can also cook soup and grill at the edge of the pot, and the vegetables are weighed on the shelf, which makes you very flexible when choosing, and the model is more advanced. I am not saying that these are the best, but I have been there with my friends and I think they are good. Most of the halal beef restaurants in Dali are of good quality. Clear soup is more of a test of the ingredients, try to choose clear soup, it is very
Maoduoli Dai-style pilaf : If you haven't tried it, it's worth a try. The set meal is for two, four or more people. The store will prepare it well and it's rich and diverse. You can add grilled fish or grilled chicken for an additional 40 yuan. The average price per person is generally less than 50 yuan. Convenient parking.
Grilled fish: This life is destined grilled fish restaurant - Guangwu Road Yuer Road intersection. Freshly killed and grilled, with plenty of vegetables. Very fragrant, and even more delicious with a portion of fish soaked in water. You can ask for less salt (Dali people prefer slightly salty taste). I like this grilled fish very much, and some friends say there are better grilled fish, but they all think it is not as good as this one. So every time I occasionally invite friends to dinner, they don’t have to guess which restaurant it is. They invite me to dinner and take care of me and choose this grilled fish (they don’t love it as much as I do). It is quite popular now. Make a reservation by phone 1 hour in advance, 15912633200, and it’s just right to go there, otherwise you will have to wait too long on site. Park the car in the open parking lot of Lanling Pavilion opposite
Yuguagua Frog and Fish Intestine: This is a restaurant we often go to recently. It is at the entrance of an alley near Santa Pagoda. Sichuan and Chongqing flavors are delicious and affordable. A small pot for two or three people costs more than 120 yuan. Convenient parking.
Yuzhilian Mutongyu : Right next to Yuguagua, a very unique local fish shop, the clear soup is spicy and fragrant. It is served with cucumber, lettuce and tomatoes, and the color is beautiful and refreshing. We go there more and more, and usually order pike or sturgeon (gristle) which tastes better. It is on Santa Road, and parking is convenient and not crowded.
Sting's Japanese salmon : Xiulou (highly recommended)
(Moving to a new address, temporarily closed. The new address is at the foot of Wuwei Temple, under preparation)
It sounds strange to recommend Japanese food in Dali, but I like the Japanese food of Sting, the place and the taste. Order meals by person, fixed dishes. There are salmon sashimi, fried fish fillet, sushi, vegetable salad, miso soup set. Friends who go to Japan to eat Japanese food say: the standard is extremely high, the method is special, and the quantity is surprisingly sufficient, which makes me sigh that Dali is full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers. It is true that although the level is high (I received 20 years of professional training in sushi/Japanese food in Japan when I was young), but the people are simple and easy to get along with. (Dianping has information about the store, it is better to make an appointment in advance) Just say a few people, and the food will be prepared according to the number of people. It is reliable and there is no need to doubt. He also grows coffee in Wuliang Mountain and goes there every year during the coffee season. Now it is in the old wealthy family Xiulou on Pingdeng Road, which is a traditional and beautiful courtyard. For reservations, find WeChat Nisdeg-Tavag, phone 15147969989 (Mongolian, my friend who played football with me for many years) Xiulou Salmon Restaurant , Sukiyaki Hot Pot is launched in winter. You can also order takeout, the packaging is very thoughtful.
Shiyi Korean Food House : (temporarily closed)
This Korean restaurant is located in a village about 15km away from the ancient city. It has an open courtyard with a large pond in front of the door, facing Cangshan Mountain, ancient trees and hundreds of sauce jars under the trees. The scenery is unique. The barbecue side dishes taste good, 68/person. Reservations are required. There is a WeChat applet: Shiyi Korean Food House Reservation. It can be regarded as a small trip to the countryside. There is no limit on the number of people, one or two people are fine. There are outdoor seats. In December, the winter cherry blossom season, the cherry blossoms in the yard should be beautiful.
Cangshanlu Restaurant:
Nanwuli Bridge, near Qingzhen Street. The owner, Dahai, has been my friend for 20 years. He has traveled a lot (in the true sense), and knows how to farm, water and electricity, masonry, welding, photography, bird watching, mushroom picking, and paddle boarding. He is the only person I have ever met who has all these abilities. So his dishes also integrate all kinds of things, such as fresh seafood, spicy hand-shredded chicken, and braised pork trotters. Each one is an extraction from his past life. There is no routine, no conventions, and he is unique. You will like it. And it is cost-effective. Now the entire restaurant is designed by himself, and most of it is done by himself, including tables and chairs, water and electricity, and landscaping.
Sharing a meal (even if you are alone, you can have a rich meal):
When traveling alone, it is often difficult to order food. If you order too much, you won’t be able to finish it, which is also a waste of money. Eating only rice noodles and rice bowls is too monotonous.
Meal time (community meal sharing)
This private kitchen canteen in Dali Community has dinner every day (dinner starts at 6 o'clock) for group meals, 38 per person, Jiangsu and Zhejiang cuisine. Chef Pan Deng (WeChat: pd0302) used to be a chef in a famous local private kitchen restaurant. The customers are all from the local community. They are connected in the group in advance, with five or six people at a table and serving chopsticks. If you are not a social phobic, it is especially good. Add him to the group. Make an appointment on the Kuai Tuan Tuan WeChat applet, search: meal time. Publish one day in advance. In addition to meals, there are also desserts, rice wine, mulled wine, fruit wine and other special drinks (purchased separately)
Brunch:
Stone Baking
You can sit comfortably on the sidewalk near Dali University, sometimes just sit there for a while and have a cup of coffee. American coffee is 12 yuan, which is quite fragrant. The bread is baked very well (European bread, large amount of water, natural yeast). A ciabatta sandwich (stewed beef) and a cup of coffee are a good meal. Their chicken liver pate sandwich is also good. Pizza and desserts are good. There are also homemade specialty ice cream, wine, and cocktails, all of which are good. I am not a special expert in Western food, but I think the quality of the people and the food is very good. The location is near Dali University on Hongsheng Road, and it is often the starting point for our activities.
Fly to the Moon
The two stores on Guangwu Road in the ancient city and Cangshan Avenue are the most popular simple Western-style brunch stores in Dali. The characteristic is that the Western food is modified in Chinese style, and the cost performance is very high. It is also very popular among the local permanent population. It opens early at 8:30. The American breakfast includes coffee and juice for 32. The iron plate French braised eggs are hot and have vegetables, meat and eggs. The pizza is also delicious. It is just crowded. I will go there in the off-season and when friends come. It is especially good for those who bring children, and there are many choices. Please note that in the peak season, you may have to queue for more than 30 minutes, and parking is not convenient. Recently, a new store opened next to Sannei Croissant on Cangshan Avenue, where parking is convenient.
Happy Bird
At the entrance of Erhai Lake. Huan Huan, who used to run the Moon for many years, opened a new shop. Good quality, good environment, affordable price, many locations, it is the best choice for permanent residents to have brunch. American coffee (can be refilled before noon) and fresh juice are included in the price of less than 40 yuan, which is a great breakfast. The owner Huan Huan is also our hiking leader (often taking time out of his busy schedule to save the day). Bruch in Dali may be the most cost-effective place in the country. Huan²
Bings
An exquisite brunch and dessert shop with gelato ice cream. Bingbing, the owner of Bings, is a Le Cordon Bleu pastry chef. In the past, she ran a brunch shop and an ice cream shop with a good reputation. Now the newest shop on Xinmin Road is integrated into one. Many customers have been there and have given it high praise. BING'S
Mushroom Hotpot
There are two wild mushroom hotpot restaurants with good reputations. The mushrooms are usually eaten in chicken soup pot. The season for fresh wild mushrooms is between June and October.
In recent years, wild mushroom restaurants have become numerous, and their quality varies. I have picked out a few that have been open for many years. Although it is impossible to be comprehensive, it can reduce the choice confusion of some travelers.
If you want to eat the farmer's own rustic mushroom meal, you can try the following during the rainy season (June-October): Going up the mountain to pick mushrooms, farmer's mushroom meal
Huayujun Wild Mushroom Hotpot : No. 345 Renmin Road, is a mushroom restaurant that has been open for many years. My friend said that the boss is from Guangdong and the soup is good. Many people who live in Dali also recommend this restaurant.
Qinghong Private Kitchen : Wenxian Road. This private kitchen restaurant has a very good reputation for its wild mushrooms and food. It should be a good choice for more refined Bai ethnic cuisine. It is by appointment only. Phone: 15368999288
BBQ supper:
Gold Rose near the Literature Building is loved by local friends. The raw beef is the most special. It is very comfortable to sit down and eat on the street. The barbecue is professional, clean and well organized. The ice edamame is delicious. There are many choices of beer and drinks.
Xiaoxuan's Nameless Yakiniku (Japanese): Late-night snack, a stall at Erhai Gate. Xiaoxuan used to be a partner of our Shanlu Restaurant. He has studied Chinese, Western and Japanese cuisine, and his Yakiniku stall is also a favorite place for many local friends. There is a Cantonese-style pho restaurant next to him, which is also very popular. Reservation WeChat: vim8181318
Late Night Canteen : Located at the intersection of Huguo Road and Guangwu Road, it is open until 4am. It is a great place to go if you want to have a quiet meal and chat late at night. Whether it is the main course of braised pork rice, beef brisket noodles, or light meals such as French toast, rice dumplings with fermented rice wine, steamed egg custard, or drinks such as Thai milk tea and coffee, they are all available. This is the shop we opened before we opened the "Cangshan Hiking Home". Currently, our friend Hanhan is in charge of the business. Many of the current tour leaders were former store managers there (Xiaochun, the tailor and Hechen, and Honghong), and they have many good memories in common. If you live in the southern area of the small courtyard, you can go to Dali Late Night Canteen (Xiaoyuanzi South District Store)
Qiqi Restaurant : No. 165 Renmin Road, Qiqi Restaurant is also open until very late, and its fried rice and ginger duck rice are well-known. Qiqi is also a very nice girl. About Qiqi's story: Qiqi Restaurant ,
Chinchin Bistro : Near Dali University, in a quiet alley beside Xuefu Road. Fusion dishes: squid pasta, Tom Yum Goong soup, Sichuan/Korean side dishes. The proprietress Joy is from Sichuan and generally prefers fusion flavors. The environment in the store is cozy, there are many varieties of wines, and the prices are affordable. Our customers Charcy and Alu like her special wines that are hard to find elsewhere, so they often go there. The customers are basically regular and repeat customers in Dali, and I always meet acquaintances every time I go there. Joy studied wine when she studied in France. Suitable for one person or with a few friends. There is a performance of the community jazz band every Friday, and the proprietress Joy is one of the band members.
Daji Xitang Restaurant:
When Daji was not yet known to the locals, one of our architects, Cynde, saw it by chance and recommended it after staying there. The attached "Xitang Restaurant" is also a very good dining option. The rice fields in front of the door, the rural temples in the distance and Cangshan Mountain form a very beautiful picture. Now Daji is often the place where friends from Dali will make an appointment to eat. In a short period of time, two friends invited me to eat there, which shows that the real popularity can withstand the scrutiny of locals who are often more picky than tourists. The exquisite rural environment, the exquisite dishes and the friendly service are probably the important factors.
Hunter & Rou 598/person
Hunter used to be a chef in a five-star hotel. He and his wife Rou live in Dali and opened this private kitchen. In Dali, where the cost of living is not high, several local friends have eaten here and thought it was worth it. I have been there myself and I like it very much. I think it is better in terms of the overall experience: a beautiful traditional country yard, clean and tidy with a sense of life. Hunter is busy in the kitchen in the yard, which is bright and well organized. There are dogs and cats in the yard, and microgreens are grown. If you are interested, you can chat with the couple. Make an appointment on WeChat: hunterrou
Trout Restaurant 268/person
Reservation WeChat: the_trout_dali
It has always been quite famous in Dali. I had the opportunity to experience it for the first time in January 2025 because Sun Yu invited me to have dinner there. My impression is: the environment is good, it is almost at the end of the village, I have my own vegetable garden, raising some chickens, ducks and sheep, and the view of the village and Erhai Lake from a high place to the north is good. The service staff is friendly and thoughtful, and it is a very young and energetic team. The dishes are creative and produced seriously, which can be seen from the care and richness of the dipping sauce used in a small dish. It is pet-friendly, and the chef monkey played with the fried hair after cooking. I am not a person who often comes to such restaurants, nor am I an expert in fine food, but I thought at the time that I should introduce it to my friends and guests. Such a restaurant is worth recommending.
Two Acres Restaurant
Reservation WeChat: leungdondon
Compared to the orthodox new fine-dining restaurant of Trout and the meticulous courtyard of Hunter&Rou, this is a place with a more rural feel. Erliang is a person who is very serious about cooking and has high requirements for serving food. He can manage a tin house with his own meticulousness. I hope that through this introduction, you can understand a little bit about the restaurant opened by this old friend.
I don’t have a thorough understanding of vegetarianism, but many of my friends and guests are vegetarian lovers, and they gave me some recommendations:
Yirantang : Located in the ancient city of Jiulongju, it offers a home-cooked vegetarian buffet for NT$5 per person. It is run by a non-profit Buddhist group. The food tastes good.
Sule : On Santa Road, clean and fresh, very modern, many friends like it. Dali Sule Restaurant . There are several vegetarian restaurants nearby, all look good, and there are also coffee shops.
Vegetarian Ark: Vegetarian Restaurant and Event Space Vegetarian Ark Future Space
Zhaishu : The new store has opened on Cangshan Avenue. Rich in variety and affordable. The broad bean stewed rice is very special. The new store is cleaner, more spacious, and has more choices. The old store was more lifelike.
Jizhao Temple (usually quite crowded, long queues during peak season, please be prepared) and Polo Temple both offer vegetarian food around 11:30. 20 yuan per person, no reservation required.
Zhonghe Temple : The vegetarian food is good, and the volunteers are warm and enthusiastic. You can take the Zhonghe cable car or hike up (2 hours). You need to make an appointment (mobile phone: 18725419447), or try your luck.
