Best Food and Snacks in Zhangjiajie - What to Eat

Zhangjiajie is a habitation of Tujia ethnic minority group, so the cuisine here has typical features of Tujia food: maintaining the original tastes and freshness of ingredients. Other obvious characteristics of Zhangjiajie delicacy are spiciness, sourness, and saltiness. Don't worry if you can't eat too spicy food, as many restaurants allow customers to choose the spiciness level. If you can't eat any spicy food at all, be sure to inform waiters when making orders. Then, what to eat in Zhangjiajie? Below are some best dishes and snacks to try. 
 Chinese name:三下锅 (san xia guo)
Flavor: spicy, salty
Zhangjiajie Sanxiaguo, also called Tujia Sanxiaguo, is the most popular dish in Zhangjiajie’s restaurants. The chef would fry or boil 2 or more kinds of ingredients together in one pot, like pork intestine, pork/ beef/ lamb tripe, and vegetables.
 Chines name: 土家腊肉 (tu jia la rou)
Flavor: salty, unami of pork
What food is Zhangjiajie famous for? Tujia Bacon would be recommended by many local people. It is a must-try for almost every visitor to Zhangjiajie. The high-quality pork would be pickled with salt first and then roasted above fire, which stirs a unique aroma of pork. The ingredient would be matched with pepper or garlic sprouts through steaming, boiling or frying. 
 Chinese Name: 打鼓皮 (da gu pi)
Flavor: spicy and hot 
This is a traditional specialty among local people. After being seasoned and fried in the burning hot oil, the beef tastes spicy and tender with strong flavor of pepper. 
 Chinese Name: 土家扣肉 (tu jia kou rou)
Flavor: combination of saltiness and a little sweetness
As a main dish for local people to entertain guests in big events, the pork is usually fried and steamed together with picked vegetables, which makes the pork less greasy and very tender.
 Chinese Name: 团年菜 (tuan nian cai)
Flavor: fresh and spicy
Tuannian Dish, Reunion Dish or He Cai, is a stewed dish made with radish, bean curd, cabbage, shallot, pork, and chili. It is a must in local Tujia people’s New Year banquet, not only delicious but also representing a good harvest, the reunion of the family, and the remembrance of their ancestors.
 Chinese Name: 血豆腐 (xue dou fu)
Flavor: numbing and spicy
Pig Blood Curd, also Blood Tofu, is actually made from pig's blood and bean curd, which is fragrant and pairs well with wine. Due to its tender taste like jelly, the dish is also called pig blood jelly.
 Chinese Name: 酸肉鱼 (suan rou yu)
Flavor: sour and spicy
The Sour Fish is a cured dish usually made in summer. It doesn't taste fatty or smell fishy and can be stored for a long time. 
 Chinese Name:乌鸡天麻汤 (wu ji tian ma tang)
Flavor: umani of chicken and vegetables
It is a healthy, secret folk recipe made from high quality Gastraodia Tuber and Black-boned Chicken.
 Chinese Name: 社饭 (she fan)
Feature: sticky, soft, full of fragrance of rice and vegetables
She Fan is a traditional snack among the local Miao ethnic minority group. Its main ingredients include sticky rice, preserved ham, and a kind of wild vegetable called Hao. Local people cook this snack by frying the ingredients in lard and vegetable oil. 
 Chinese Name: 慈利米粉 (ci li mi fen)
Flavor: a little spicy but bearable
Zhangjiajie’s Rice Noodles are known for its distinctive toppings, including beef, boiled pig’s feet, white fungus, and Chinese pickled cabbage.
 Chinese Name: 桑植盐豆腐干 (sang zhi yan dou fu gan)
Flavor: salty
Sangzhi Salted Dried Tofu is often given as a gift because it contains as many nutrients as milk. And those who eat the Sangzhi Salted Dried Tofu find their skin become soft and smooth, thus it is also considered a good food for maintaining one's beauty. 
 Flavor: sweet and sour

Kiwi, Juhuaxin Grapefruit, and Jinxiang Grapefruit are popular fruits in Zhangjiajie. The juice of kiwi fruit has a unique nature and a good taste. Juhuaxin Grapefruit is known for its red and juicy flesh, which tastes sweet with a moderate sourness. Jinxiang Grapefruit won’t disappoint you for its strong aroma and tender flesh.
 Chinese Name: 糖油粑粑 (tang you ba ba)
Flavor: sweet and tender
Tangyou Baba is a traditional street food in Zhangjiajie. It is mainly made of glutinous rice flour and sugar. After frying in the burning oil, it tastes crispy outside but tender inside.

Further Reading: Best Restaurants and Food Streets in Zhangjiajie