Introduction: Tai mushrooms from Wutai Mountain are a local specialty with an extremely delicious taste. When the Tai mushrooms are braised together with tofu, the tofu absorbs the delicious flavor of the Tai mushrooms and becomes more flavorful. Once in the mouth, the strong mushroom aroma of the Tai mushrooms spreads in the mouth instantly, while the tofu is smooth and refreshing. The combination of the two complements each other perfectly and is a very distinctive vegetarian dish.
Recommended Restaurants: The vegetarian dining halls in major temples in Wutai Mountain and some restaurants famous for vegetarian cuisine, such as Yizhanmingdeng All-Vegetarian Restaurant, can offer authentic Tai Mushroom Braised Tofu.
Arhat’s Feast
Introduction: It is made by stir-frying or stewing a variety of fresh local vegetables in Wutai Mountain, such as broccoli, carrots, fungus, mushrooms, baby corn, etc. The dish has a rich variety of colors and a balanced nutrition. Each ingredient retains its own unique taste and flavor, and they blend with each other during the cooking process. The taste is light but rich in layers, allowing people to feel the health and purity of vegetarian food while tasting the deliciousness.
Recommended Restaurants: Shifangtang Vegetarian Restaurant, etc.
Special Noodles
Youmian Kaolaolao
Introduction: Youmian (oat flour) is a common raw material for noodles in the Shanxi area. The shape of Youmian Kaolaolao is unique, in the shape of a cylinder, neatly arranged in a steamer one by one. The steamed Youmian Kaolaolao has a chewy texture and a strong aroma of oat flour. It can be eaten with various sauces or dressings. Common ones include meat sauce, tomato sauce, etc. You can also add some Shanxi aged vinegar and chili oil. It is sour, spicy and delicious, with a unique flavor.
Recommended Restaurants: Many farmhouse restaurants at the foot of Wutai Mountain and some Shanxi flavor restaurants in the urban area provide it, such as Tieguomian Youmiancun (Iron Pot Noodles and Oat Flour Village).
Daoxiao Noodles
Introduction: The noodles are thick in the middle and thin at the edges, shaped like willow leaves. They are smooth on the outside and chewy on the inside when eaten, soft but not sticky, and the more you chew, the more fragrant they are. There are a rich variety of sauces for the noodles, including meat sauce, egg and tomato, pickled vegetables, etc. In Wutai Mountain, some stores will add local specialty ingredients into the sauce, such as Tai mushrooms, adding a unique flavor to the traditional Daoxiao Noodles.
Recommended Restaurants: Jinbei Laoxiao Noodles, etc.
Food Streets and Restaurant Recommendations
Inside Wutai Mountain Scenic Area
Near Wuye Temple
Miaojixiang All-Vegetarian Restaurant
Yizhanmingdeng All-Vegetarian Restaurant
Outside Wutai Mountain Scenic Area (Wutai County and Surroundings)
Taihuai Town, Wutai County
Tieguomian Youmiancun (Iron Pot Noodles and Oat Flour Village)
Jinbei Laoxiao Noodles
Diet Tips
Vegetarian Etiquette
When eating vegetarian food in temples or specialized vegetarian restaurants, relevant etiquette should be observed, such as not making loud noises and not wasting food.
Pay Attention to Food Hygiene
Especially when buying food from some small vendors in the scenic area, pay attention to the hygiene condition of the food and avoid eating unclean food that may cause stomach discomfort.
Try Local Special Drinks
There are some special drinks in the Wutai Mountain area, such as sea-buckthorn juice, etc., which can be enjoyed together with the food. The sea-buckthorn juice is sweet and sour, rich in vitamins, which can relieve greasiness and is beneficial to health.
