DALI · FOOD GUIDE
Eating in Dali
Dali's food is shaped by the Bai ethnic people and by Erhai Lake, which provides the freshwater fish at the centre of the local diet. The town's popularity with Chinese independent travellers has created a lively café and restaurant scene alongside traditional Bai restaurants near the market.
白族三道茶
Bai Three-Course Tea
A ceremonial tea sequence — bitter tea first, then sweet tea with walnuts and milk, then a herbal finish; a cultural ritual as much as a drink.
Where to try: Traditional Bai guesthouses and cultural restaurants in Dali old town.
洱海鱼
Erhai Lake Fish
Freshwater fish from Erhai Lake — typically boiled in a clear broth with local herbs or lightly fried; seasonal species vary.
Where to try: Lakeside restaurants in Xizhou and Shuanglang villages along the Erhai shore.
乳饼
Rubing Cheese
Fresh pressed goat milk cheese, pan-fried and served with chilli paste; similar to the Lijiang version but made from cow milk in some villages.
Where to try: Bai food stalls in Dali old town market and Xizhou ancient town.
饵块
Bao Shao (Roasted Wheat Wrap)
Rice or wheat cake grilled and rolled with chilli paste, preserved vegetables, and ham; a Yunnan street snack also found in Kunming.
Where to try: Street vendors near the North Gate of Dali old town.
大理生皮
Dali Cowhide Rice Noodles
Thin-sliced raw pork and skin served with dipping sauce of soy and chillies — a Bai cold dish eaten mostly at festivals.
Where to try: Traditional Bai restaurants in old town; mainly available during festivals and at established Bai cuisine restaurants.
Dali Old Town (Dali Gucheng)
Renmin Road cafes and restaurants
- Address
- Renmin Road, Dali old town
- Hours
- 09:00–23:00 daily
- Metro
- No metro; bus from Dali train station
- Order
- Erhai fish, rubing cheese, Yunnan mixed plate
Fuxing Road Bai restaurants
- Address
- Fuxing Road area, Dali old town
- Hours
- 11:00–22:00 daily
- Metro
- No metro
- Order
- Bai three-course tea, roasted cheese, pork with wild mushrooms
North Gate morning vendors
- Address
- North Gate area, Dali old town
- Hours
- 07:00–11:00 daily
- Metro
- No metro
- Order
- Grilled erkuai rice cake, Yunnan preserved vegetables, tofu
Xizhou / Erhai lakeside
Xizhou lakeside fish restaurants
- Address
- Xizhou village, Erhai Lake eastern shore
- Hours
- 11:00–20:00 daily
- Metro
- No metro; local bus from Dali
- Order
- Erhai lake fish in clear broth, pickled vegetables, baba
Shuanglang village eateries
- Address
- Shuanglang, northern Erhai Lake
- Hours
- 10:00–21:00 daily
- Metro
- No metro; bus or taxi from Dali
- Order
- Freshwater fish, Bai cold dish platter, goat cheese
Xizhou Bai farmhouse restaurants
- Address
- Xizhou ancient town courtyard restaurants
- Hours
- 11:30–21:00 daily
- Metro
- No metro
- Order
- Traditional Bai home-cooking set, lake fish, three-course tea
The Dali old town market (near the North Gate) is active from early morning with Bai vendors selling highland produce, local cheeses, and dried mushrooms. Renmin Road in the old town becomes a café and restaurant strip in the evenings, catering largely to independent travellers. The Monday market at Shaxi village (90 minutes by road) is one of Yunnan's most authentic traditional markets, with Bai and Yi ethnic traders.