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Local Restaurants
Top 20 Local Restaurants in Kunming [2025]
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Huixiang Xilou
4.7
/5
135 reviews
Yunnan Cuisine
From QAR 81.00
Cuihu District | 1.9 km from downtown
Address: No. 100, Cuihu North Road (opposite the west gate of Cuihu Park)
No.4 of Must-Visit Restaurants in Kunming
Highlights:
Steamed Chicken in Steam Pot with Original Flavor (2,287 people recommended) | Overlooking the beautiful scenery of Green Lake
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I went to this restaurant today and was lucky enough to be the first group to go in. The manager and the waiter were very enthusiastic in introducing the dishes. The first bite of the chicken soup was so delicious. None of the dishes were disappointing. It is worth recommending
Really good, good environment, we are in the private room on the second floor, 8 people, including a child, the dishes are exquisite, the taste is good, the taste buds are particularly enjoyable, a must go, a very good food experience. 1600 worth. Every dish is delicious!
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Lao Dian Shan Zhai
4.4
/5
65 reviews
Yunnan Cuisine
From QAR 36.00
Nanping Pedestrian Street | 100m from downtown
Address: 3 / F, Tower B, Jinshi brilliant, Sanshijie
Highlights:
The decor is full of ethnic charm, specializing in folk cuisine
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I went there in February 2019. There were cultural performances at around 7pm. Everyone was good at singing and dancing, and it was quite lively.
I personally think the environment is very good, with a strong ethnic minority style, and the place is very large and a bit domineering.
In terms of food, it is generally quite good. I personally think that the quality of the ingredients is also good, and the quantity is also good. It costs about 40 yuan per person, and the cost performance is quite high. Then the taste is relatively heavy, and there is nothing else that impressed me.
In Yunnan, August is the peak season for wild mushrooms. At this time, many restaurants will launch a series of wild mushroom dishes, such as green pepper porcini, potato chips and stewed blue-headed mushrooms, etc.
This time I ate the wild mushroom set meal of Laodian Mountain Village. Their newly launched copper pot wild mushrooms are really good. They are served on the table in a basket, which is very grand. Several kinds of mushrooms can be cooked together in the copper pot for a long time before they can be eaten. After eating the mushrooms, the green vegetables are cooked. A full basket is eaten directly without any left!
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Fuzhaolou Dian-style Chinese Restaurant
4.2
/5
769 reviews
Yunnan Cuisine
From QAR 40.00
Railway Station Area | 1.8 km from downtown
Address: 1F, Jinjiang Hotel, No. 98 Beijing Road (200 meters south of the intersection of Huancheng South Road and Beijing Road)
No.10 of Must-Visit Restaurants in Kunming
Highlights:
Steamed Clay Pot Chicken (626 recommends) | Featured on A Bite of China
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A meal for two people, 4 dishes + 1 large portion of cold rice noodles, just enough to fill you up.
Among them, I like 2 of them the most: Truffle Steam Pot Chicken (small pot)^ really delicious, the chicken is tender and smooth. Single order 68 yuan; Colorful Cold Rice Noodles^ 38 yuan, sweet spicy sauce is not spicy. In comparison, the 128 yuan set meal including 2 favorite dishes is more affordable.
Flame Mashed Potato^ burning fire, containing inconspicuous but spicy red pepper [sad]
Xuanwei Killing Pig Vegetable^ good with rice, a little salty, suitable for people who like leeks.
Blanched Chinese Cabbage Heart^ too salty.
The last 3 are just for tasting.
Speaking of Yunnan steam pot chicken, the one restaurant that Kunming people know is Fuzhaolou. I think the price-performance ratio is average and a bit commercial, but ignoring the price, the taste is still good. (Stir-fried porcini mushrooms on the left, taro and seaweed in the middle, steam pot chicken on the right).
No.
4
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JUN CAI
4.5
/5
15 reviews
Hot Pot
From QAR 52.00
Nanping Pedestrian Street | 891m from downtown
Address: 威远街金鹰购物广场B座5层F5012号商铺（近昆明老街、南强街巷、南屏步行街）
Highlights:
With green plants creating a natural ecological feel, the mushroom hotpot uses fresh ingredients
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Of course, you have to eat a mushroom hotpot at the end of your trip to Yunnan. The set meal you ordered is quite rich. The soup base is paired with black chicken ribs. The soup is very rich and fresh. The main dish of porcini mushroom stewed rice is a must. The environment is also very good. There are not many people and it is quiet. The service is also very good. Basically, you don't have to do it yourself. They will introduce mushrooms to us and remind us of precautions, such as not using chopsticks. Haha, I am very satisfied overall.
It is on the 5th floor of the mall, very easy to find. I have been to Yunnan 7 or 8 times but never had time to eat a mushroom hot pot. This time I was not busy, so I finally had time for a hot pot and enjoyed the deliciousness of the mushroom pot.
[Service] There were not many people when I went there in the afternoon. The service staff were very enthusiastic and the experience was good.
No.
5
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A MUSHROOM
4.0
/5
33 reviews
Hot Pot
From QAR 68.00
Nanping Pedestrian Street | 478m from downtown
Address: 宝善街192号2层
No.12 of Must-Visit Restaurants in Kunming
Highlights:
Exquisitely decorated with a free-range chicken broth
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I saw this one through Ctrip. It is said to be a chain store. It has a big storefront, nice decoration and a great location. The waiter will inform you in advance that the wild mushrooms in this season are all refrigerated and not freshly picked, and they taste good.
The most famous restaurants in Kunming are either Yunnan cuisine or wild mushrooms. A few friends from other places got together here and wanted to try the taste of wild mushrooms, so they chose this famous restaurant.
The mushrooms are all frozen now, and the taste is indeed not as good as fresh ones. The environment is OK, but the service is a bit behind. The mushroom soup base does not feel very comfortable, but the other side dishes are better, especially the sour and spicy cold shrimp and wild mushroom dumplings.
No.
6
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XIAO JI PO 8TH
4.6
/5
131 reviews
Yunnan Cuisine
From QAR 39.00
Cuihu District | 2.2 km from downtown
Address: 文林街19号
Highlights:
Retro decor with high aesthetic value, serving authentic Yunnan cuisine
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An unexpected surprise. On the first day in Kunming, we encountered heavy rain and stayed by the Green Lake. We originally planned to eat at Kunming Old Street, but after waiting for Didi for 20 minutes, we still hadn't received an order. So we decided to eat by the Green Lake. We found this restaurant. Four words: highly recommended!
Yunnan cuisine has the unique characteristics of the culinary culture of the 25 ethnic minorities in Yunnan, as well as the significant characteristics of the cooking culture of the Han ethnic group. It is the product of the fusion of the food culture of the ethnic minorities in Yunnan and the food culture of the Han ethnic group.
No.
7
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MUSHROOMS HOT POT
4.4
/5
53 reviews
Hot Pot
From QAR 46.00
Nanping Pedestrian Street | 312m from downtown
Address: 101 Xiangyun Street
Highlights:
Mushroom hotpot with a great reputation
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Here in the pedestrian street, a relatively prosperous commercial street, it is currently the peak season for mushrooms in Yunnan, so eating mushrooms is also the most popular thing for people, and the price is relatively not cheap. However, if you come to Yunnan and don’t eat mushrooms, you will be letting yourself down, because there is only one unique delicacy in the world, and it is natural without any seasoning!
When I came to Guilin, Yunnan for a trip, I also wanted to taste some local specialties, so I had a mushroom feast at this restaurant. The dishes in this restaurant are rich and varied, and the selection and processing of mushrooms require great care. They are really so fresh that they make your eyebrows drop.
No.
8
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1910 LA GARE DU SUD
4.6
/5
99 reviews
Yunnan Cuisine
From QAR 54.00
Dianchi Lake Scenic Area/ Sunac World | 6.2 km from downtown
Address: 前卫西路公园1903香街1栋梦幻联邦乐园附近
Highlights:
Retro decor with the Yunnan-Vietnam Railway theme, serving traditional Yunnan cuisine
81% positive reviews100+ recent views
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Park 1903 is a fashionable business district. Compared with the shopping malls with high-rise buildings, the characteristic buildings here form a fashionable block. In addition to shopping and entertainment, there are many food stores. I had lunch at noon and entered the 1910 South Railway Station Restaurant. I searched and found that it was an old store and a black crown restaurant. It was past lunch time, so the store was relatively quiet. The service staff saw the guests and greeted them warmly. After sitting down, I chose a set meal. When I wanted to add a single item, I was told that the quantity was enough. The store is decorated in Hong Kong style, divided into two floors, the first floor is for individual customers, and the second floor is not up, which should be the view and single room. The meal was served quickly, and the cold rice noodles were very refreshing. The disadvantage was that the quantity was too large, which was enough for 4 people! The stone pot old tofu and Yunnan-style braised pork are the star dishes of the whole venue. The tofu has a bean flavor, and the braised pork is sweet, which goes well with rice. The price-performance ratio is not bad, and I have the opportunity to try other dishes.
I went to this nostalgic Yunnan cuisine restaurant with my friends. The golden bean powder and stir-fried pork were good, and the other dishes were quite satisfactory. I had a good impression of it, but the steamed chicken was too disappointing. It was simply unbearable. To describe it, it smelled fishy when it was served. This was the first time I was scared by steamed chicken. I scooped a bowl and put it in front of me. In the end, I couldn't stand the smell and put the bowl far away. The integrated lunch was ruined by this. It may not be delicious, but it is miserable to lose my appetite.
No.
9
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Ai Ruo Chun (KunMing JinBi Park)
4.3
/5
164 reviews
Yunnan Cuisine
From QAR 41.00
Nanping Pedestrian Street | 214m from downtown
Address: 护国街道同仁街47号(金碧公园旁)
No.7 of Restaurants for Views & Experiences in Kunming
Highlights:
A rustic spot with carved beams and wooden structures, standing for decades with traditional Yunnan cuisine
Saved by 126 users100+ recent views
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[Environment] No one in Kunming doesn't know Aieruochun. The Jinbi Park store has been open for decades. The old-style courtyard is decorated with carved beams and painted buildings, and it is antique. You can dine in the open hall on the first floor, or in the private rooms on the second floor.
[Taste] Here you can eat the "most Yunnan" steamed chicken, truffle matsutake, bamboo worms, patinated tofu, spicy beef jerky, Yiliang roast duck, Tengchong pickled vegetables mixed with big roast, Dajiujia and other local delicacies, with exquisite plating and authentic taste.
[Service] Due to the large number of guests, the serving time will be a little longer.
Every time friends or colleagues from other provinces come over, I always choose this place first.
Every time I am busy talking and trying new things, I don't take pictures of the dishes 😜
Friends' gatherings and business banquets are great!
Steam Pot Chicken is a specialty dish of Yunnan Province and belongs to the Dian cuisine. It is named because it is steamed in a steamer. Its main ingredient is chicken and the main cooking method is steaming. It has the effects of nourishing the body, replenishing the blood, strengthening the spleen and stimulating the appetite.
No.
10
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AI SHANG JUN
5.0
/5
41 reviews
Hot Pot
From QAR 54.00
Nanping Pedestrian Street | 376m from downtown
Address: 宝善街173号（中信银行斜对面）
No.3 of Must-Visit Restaurants in Kunming
Highlights:
The entrance is surrounded by plants like a jungle, and the slow-cooked fresh mushrooms are fragrant
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The golden chicken soup base is particularly rich in aroma and smooth in the mouth. It is much richer and mellower than the usual chicken soup.
Help! I read 100 guides before coming to Kunming Old Street, but after being dragged to these shops by local friends, I realized that all the information on the Internet was just superficial! These Yunnan specialties hidden in the streets and alleys, which locals have been eating since childhood, are cheap and amazing. After eating them, I wanted to become a "nail house" in the old street. Now I will reveal all my secrets of eating and shopping. If anyone comes to Kunming and doesn't try these, I will really cry!
I. Street "God-level snacks" that can be made into gods for 5 yuan
(1) Baba roll: the "roll king" that locals chase after
Who would have thought that a baked bean powder skin could roll out the "Yunnan taste universe"? The skin is made of freshly baked bean powder skin, with a burnt aroma and bean fragrance, and is coated with a thin bean powder paste (so smooth that it feels like drinking a Yunnan version of "thick soup"), and you can add your own toppings! I added grilled bait blocks and fried dough sticks with meat skewers. The moment I took a bite, I was hit with a triple attack of crispy (bait blocks), soft (bean powder skin), and fragrant (meat skewers). It was 5 yuan per portion, and I wanted to come back every day after eating it.
(2) Pounding chicken feet: the "street soul" of sour and spicy chicken feet
In a small stall deep in the old street, the ladies gathered around the stone mortar to pound chicken feet. Lime, chili, garlic... the pounding sound was so loud that the chicken feet were so chewy that they could "dance Dai Di". The sour and spicy taste went straight to the top of the head! The key point is that you can choose the "spicy level" yourself. Those who like it slightly spicy can add a portion of Pao Lu Da (a coconut-flavored artifact to relieve spiciness). Those who love spicy food can go for the "super spicy" one. It was 10 yuan per portion. Locals chatted while pounding. This is the fireworks atmosphere that should be on the streets of Yunnan.
2. Must-try "Yunnan specialties" - if you don't, your trip is a waste of time
(1) Aunt Chen's Big Tangyuan: "Yunnan romance" with Pu'er tea soup
This shop has been open for more than a decade. The tangyuan hides a "Yunnan trick" - Pu'er tea as the soup base! Bite into the tangyuan, and you'll find rose filling, peanut filling... sweet but not greasy, paired with the aroma of tea, instantly shattering the stereotype of "tangyuan = greasy". 3 yuan each, locals will come to visit during the Lantern Festival, and it's a warm and comforting afternoon tea on other days.
(2) Ai Shang Jun Wild Mushroom Hot Pot: A local's private "mushroom paradise"
Don't queue up at the internet-famous mushroom shop! This shop has been open for many years. The mushrooms are all freshly picked on the day. The soup base made with local chicken is "so fresh that it's eyebrow-dropping". After cooking, they cook tricholoma and porcini mushrooms... After cooking, drink three bowls of soup (so fresh that you want to lick the bowl clean), then simmer meat and vegetables. 50 yuan per person, eat until you're full. Locals teach you how to eat: first blanch the mushrooms, then add the chicken, and finally cook the rice noodles. This is the "correct way to open Yunnan hot pot."
III. Hidden "Yunnan cuisine", eat your fill for 20 yuan
(1) Pounding Dai-style pounded vegetables: freshly pounded "rainforest dining table"
The Dai-style pounded vegetable stalls are all about "pounding and eating"! Pounded chicken feet, pounded fish skin, pounded shrimp...even rice noodles can be "pounded". Lime + lemongrass + Dai-style spices, every bite is like having fun in the rainforest of Xishuangbanna. Pounded rice noodles for 15 yuan are sour and spicy, and the rice noodles are coated with spice sauce. After eating, you will want to lick the bottom of the bowl clean. Locals say "this is the soul of Dai flavor."
(2) Thin bean powder fried dough sticks: the "Yunnan CP" underestimated by outsiders
Don't think "thin bean powder + fried dough sticks" are ordinary! At the small stall at the entrance of the old street, the bean powder is made from peas, which is so thick that you can "stick to the spoon". The fried dough sticks are fried until golden and crispy. You can eat it with the dip. The aroma of beans and fried dough sticks is 5 yuan. It is a standard breakfast for locals. You will understand it after trying it once: Yunnan people have turned "simple" into "high-end".
IV. Locals' "hidden way of eating" is fun and delicious
(1) Drinking Pao Lu Da as "Yunnan milk tea"
Buy a bowl of Pao Lu Da (8 yuan) at the pounded chicken feet stall. It has coconut milk + dry bread + tapioca pearls + black rice... Take a sip, the coconut aroma mixed with the crispy dry bread is directly crushing the Internet celebrity milk tea! Locals drink it while walking around, as a "mobile afternoon tea". When you are tired of walking around, have a cup and you will instantly feel refreshed.
(2) Wrapping roasted basil with banana leaves
At the roasted basil stall, ask the owner for a piece of banana leaf, wrap the roasted basil, sauce and side dishes in it, and take a bite. The fragrance of the banana leaf mixed with the burnt aroma of the basil directly unlocks the "hidden street food of Yunnan". It costs 3 yuan per serving, which is fun and delicious. I posted it on my WeChat Moments and was asked "What kind of magical operation is this?"
V. Avoiding pitfalls + saving money, a local's secret
- Avoiding pitfalls: Don't buy the "sky-high flower cakes" at the entrance of the scenic area! There is a handmade flower cake shop deep in the old street (3 for 10 yuan). The rose filling is solid and the cake skin is crispy. It is 10 times more cost-effective than the Internet celebrity shops; and don't touch those "fake Dai-style grilled skewers" that cost "10 yuan a string". The authentic spice flavor is strong, not just spicy.
- Saving money: Many shops have "half-price small items" in the afternoon! For example, at the pounded chicken feet stall, you can get double the toppings for half the price if you visit in the evening (the waitress says, "It's a waste if we can't sell out"). For wild mushroom hotpot, skip the expensive mushrooms and opt for tricholoma or porcini mushrooms (they're fresh and affordable) to savor the essence of Yunnan mushrooms.
The charm of Kunming Old Street lies in these "unassuming" snacks and time-honored shops. Follow this guide, and you'll experience not just "tourist food," but the Yunnan flavors etched into the DNA of locals. Next time you visit Kunming, don't be the "big loser"; these restaurants will help you understand what it means to say, "Yunnan cuisine becomes even more delicious the further you hide it!" #MeishixunFlavor #TrueFlavorSnacks #MyMidnightDiningHall
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