What I Ate in Changsha: Street Food and Local Snacks Worth Trying
China, Changsha
Everything I ate in Changsha with the Chinese names. From stinky tofu to sweets swimming in syrup.
━19.10.2026
Hand-pulled noodles in Changsha. Green beans, pak choi, egg and chili.
Hunan food has a big reputation. Changsha is a great place to dig in. Here is everything I put in my mouth in Changsha, with the Chinese names so you can point at a menu or show a waiter.
Many of these were firsts in my life.
Stinky Tofu (臭豆腐)
The famous one. In Changsha it's black. It smells strong, I won't lie. But the taste is a whole different story. With the sauce poured over it, it's really good.
It was my first time ever and definitely not my last.
Tang You Ba Ba (糖油粑粑)
Shiny round sweets swimming in syrup. Soft, a bit like mochi but warm or room temperature. They're made from glutinous rice and they're a Changsha classic.
Hand-Pulled Noodles
I got to pull these myself in a kitchen half an hour after arriving. The bowl had green beans, pak choi, egg, sprouts, chili and different meats.
A Chinese Burger
Thin flaky crispy bread filled with juicy pork. Crazy good. I had ideas for tweaking it, honestly though the juicy pork already did the job.
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Century Eggs With Silken Tofu (皮蛋)
Pitch-black eggs that have been preserved for a long time. Served with soft tofu and soy sauce. Interesting is the right word. Try it once in your life.
Pork Belly and Dumplings
Super good pork belly. Dumplings and a fresh salad on the side.
Herby Beef and Chili Chicken
At the stick-ordering restaurant we had beef buried under fresh herbs and chicken in a pool of chili. A cabbage and cucumber soup on the side.
Smoked Pork (腊肉)
Hunan has smoked its meat for a very long time. I tasted it at the food expo and fell for it.
Hanging Ducks
You can't walk far in central Changsha without seeing whole ducks hanging over shop counters. The signs said 酱板鸭 (jiang ban ya), a pressed and seasoned duck. I had tasted duck at the expo. Here they hung everywhere.
Milk Tea and Choujiu
The milk teas came from Zoey's favourite spot. Insanely good.
With dinner we drank choujiu (稠酒). A cloudy rice wine, low in alcohol and served cool. Really good.
Hunan Oranges
At a food export event I saw pictures of the orange regions of Hunan. When I finally tasted them they were really juicy and fresh.
Where to Eat
For classic snacks start around Huogongdian (火宫殿), the Fire Temple. The streets near Yuelu Academy have cheap student food. And the city centre is full of snack shops, ducks and milk tea.
Read more: noodles and the food expo, Changsha city days and Yuelu Academy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should you eat in Changsha?
Stinky tofu (臭豆腐), tang you ba ba (糖油粑粑), hand-pulled noodles, the Chinese burger, century eggs with silken tofu, smoked pork (腊肉), jiang ban ya duck, milk tea and choujiu rice wine.
What does stinky tofu taste like in Changsha?
In Changsha it is black and the smell is strong. The taste is a whole different story. With the sauce poured over it, it's really good.
What is tang you ba ba?
Shiny round sweets made from glutinous rice, swimming in syrup. Soft, a bit like mochi but warm. A Changsha classic.
Where is the best street food in Changsha?
Start around Huogongdian (火宫殿). The streets near Yuelu Academy have cheap student food and the city centre is full of snack shops, ducks and milk tea.
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Samuli Makkonen, Pleasure Advisor
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