4 Best Restaurants in The Silk Road, China

Black Tent

$$

This place serves great Tibetan, Indian, and Nepali food. The friendly Tibetan waitstaff all hail from Anmo and add to the already-warm atmosphere. On the menu, which is in Tibetan and English, are plump momo (dumplings), a must-order. The restaurant is in Wenmiao Square, a small bar street not far from the Xingwang Hotel.

Wenhua Jie near Xingwang Hotel, Xining, Qinghai Sheng, 810000, China
187-9715–2326-mobile phone (no area code)
Known For
  • international cuisine
  • momo dumplings
  • friendly Tibetan staff
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: No credit cards

John's Information Café

$$

Cool off after a full day of sightseeing on this trellised patio with an ice-cold beer and plate of noodles. In addition to an array of familiar foods, the restaurant can arrange overnight camel rides for Y700 per person, as well as trips to Yadan National Park and other destinations.

21 Mingshan Lu, Dunhuang, Gansu Sheng, 736200, China
0998-258–1186
Known For
  • good coffee brews
  • familiar Western foods
  • popular travel tour options
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: No credit cards

John's Information Café

$$

Part of a small, family-run chain that operates in destinations along the Silk Road, this popular tourist hangout is far from authentic, but people flock here for the familiar Western fare and rock-solid travel advice. The café is only operational during the summer tourist season, so if you visit in the winter you'll find the area locked up.

Qingnian Lu, Turpan, Xinjiang Uygur Zizhiqu, 838000, China
0998-258–1186
Known For
  • familiar Western cuisine
  • quiet and comfortable outdoor atmosphere
  • bike rentals
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: No credit cards

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Ma Zilu Beef Noodles

$

This lively canteen opens at the crack of dawn and has some of the most fragrant, toothsome beef noodles in Lanzhou, among other excellent dishes. The downstairs is set up like a cafeteria, where you can take what you want and grab a seat, while the upstairs is a dining room with air-conditioning and table service.

86 Da Zhong Xiang, Lanzhou, Gansu Sheng, 730000, China
931-845–0505
Known For
  • delicious beef noodles
  • lively atmosphere
  • a quick, cheap meal
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: Closed after 2 pm