If you’re planning to visit China, you know by now that every region has its own food specialties. It almost feels like you’re in a different country entirely, since the spices and dishes are all so new. Enshi is no exception! After reading this article, you’ll know exactly what to eat in Enshi China.
Enshi China is home to the indigenous groups of Tujia and Miao peoples, and just like other regions, their traditional foods are still popular among locals today.
When we were going to Enshi, we had a really hard time finding any English information online! Thankfully, our amazing taxi driver was able to namedrop some restaurants, a few dishes…and voila! We were on our way!
Enshi is a very agricultural place, so everything you eat is going to be fresh, fresh, fresh!!
Unlike some regions of China, they tend to avoid spicy flavors and stick to more meaty and herbal flavors. Honestly, my mouth has been watering like crazy just getting photos together for this post. So on that note:
My top recommended dishes to eat while in Enshi China!
#1 Hezha: A must-Eat in Enshi China
This was hands-down our FAVORITE dish in Enshi–it’s creamy, meaty, and I would have eaten it every day we were there if I could have. Definitely prioritize HeZha as a must-try meal in Enshi!
This dish is made with a creamy tofu, radish, minced meat and veggies, and eggs. A few scoops of HeZha over a steamy bowl of rice is both filling and oh-so-satisfying after a long day spent outside in Enshi’s scenic areas.
Apparently, there are two different variations of HeZhaWe by far preferred the type called “Zhangguan HeZha” (written: 张关合渣). The locals seemed to favor it, as well.
Below, you can see the setting from our table at a local restaurant which served Zhangguan HeZha.
At some restaurants, you’ll be charged more so that lots of little pickled side dishes will be included with your HeZha. We saw so many herbs, roots, and spices we’d never seen or tasted before, and liked all of them!
#2 Roasted Fresh Fish: Enshi China’s Local Favorite Food
Are you a seafood person? You’re in luck! And even if not, you’re still in luck! I HATE all things fishy, and somehow I LOVED this local favorite roasted fresh fish (written: “烤活鱼”).
Locally caught fish are roasted on a bed of onions, mild peppers, and chives. Potatoes are boiled in the resulting broth, providing a fragrant and super-yummy dinner. We got the small-sized dish…and it was still so massive!
In Xuanen, a riverside town with an amazing hotel which you can read about here, the entire river walk was filled with roast fish restaurants! Just pick the one which has the view you like most and enjoy.
Be aware that, due to the large steaming trays the fish are cooked on, it gets quite steamy indoors. In the winter, it was wonderful. But in the summer, you may do better to get outdoor seating by the river.
#3 “LaRou” or Cured Meat: An Enshi Delicacy
Enshi seems to be very into foods which are pickled or cured and stored for later. Not only did we see a lot of pickled veggies and spices, but one of Enshi’s specialties is cured meat.
This meat is essentially bacon on steroids. Amazing flavors and chewy pieces made up of both meat and fat, and there are endless ways to order.
Basically, you can just look for any dish which has “larou” (腊肉) in the name of the dish, and choose whichever one has the vegetables or that you like mixed in. Whatever dish you get with Enshi’s cured meat will be hearty and filling!
#4 Seaweed and Cured Meat Soup: Enshi’s Surprise
We asked SO many people why Enshi, a midland mountain-surrounded town, had so many dishes that were famous for their seaweed. We always got the same answer: “It’s imported!”
Still doesn’t tell us how past generations got so into seaweed in the first place.
Either way, people will often recommend Enshi’s seaweed and cured meat soup.
Combining seaweed and bacon isn’t exactly something that I would have thought of, and honestly, I’m not a big seaweed person.But my travel buddy happens to be a massive fan of both seaweed AND cured meat, and he was in some kind of seventh heaven while enjoying this soup.
So if seaweed is your thing, Enshi has definitely got you covered! Look in the menu for 海带腊肉汤 to order this salty and savory soup.
#5 Street Foods in Enshi China are a Must-Try!
Any Asia traveler will tell you that some of the biggest food adventures start with a humble little roadside cart. The same rules apply while looking for local foods in Enshi!
While the dishes we ordered from street food vendors were not specific to Enshi, they did have some different methods of preparing these familiar dishes which made them special and yummy.
I tend to lean towards anything with noodles (either cold noodles or fried noodles) when it comes to street food. Enshi’s take on my favorite street dishes did not disappoint!
Just know that street foods can be a bit riskier when it comes to stomach issues/sanitization. I’ve been living in China for five years now, so my stomach has definitely gotten better at rolling with the punches.
However, if you’re a tourist just popping into China temporarily, having some stomach relief/antacid pills on hand is always a good idea before tucking into a steamy, street cooked delight.
#6 Hotel Breakfasts in Enshi China
Okay…I cannot stress enough how WORTH IT it is to just get breakfast at your hotels in Enshi! Not only are the prices super fair ($5-10 USD per person) but the quality of the food is SO GOOD.
As mentioned earlier, Enshi is extremely agricultural. The majority of food you’ll eat is all locally grown and sourced. I am NOT a food snob in any way, I don’t care about organic or not, etc. etc….
…but I noticed IMMEDIATELY how robust and colorful the vegetables are, how fresh the eggs were, and the MILK!! I don’t even like milk! But this fresh milk was SO sweet that we were certain they must have been adding sugar.
We asked at every hotel that we stayed at, and they all told us NO! I guess it’s just so fresh and pure that it’s some kind of miracle milk.
Some hotels have a set meal, while others have buffet style. And we were so happy either way. While these dishes may not be as “traditional” to Enshi, simply enjoying locally grown food at such a great price is worth it.
Definitely take advantage of these delicious hotel breakfasts during your stay in Enshi!
Bonus Shoutout: Enshi Porridge
See that humble tin bowl filled with rice soup stuff in the bottom left corner of the above photo?
That unassuming little soup is a common appetizer served at restaurants in Enshi–and it is the BOMB!! The broth is salty and nutty, with peanuts, rice, and small vegetables stirred throughout.
The restaurant staff had more than a few chuckles when we kept asking for refills. I think for them, this soup is something they have everywhere all the time. But we just couldn’t get enough of it.
Keep your eye out for this tasty soup at most restaurants you’ll visit. You don’t want to miss out on this delicious local staple during your food travels in Enshi!
So there you have it: seven SUPER tasty foods to eat in Enshi China that you DON’T want to miss out on!
Is there anything you would add? Or did this post inspire you to try one of Enshi’s local dishes during your travels? I’d love to hear about it! Let me know in the comments!
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