One of the loves of my life is food, and Kunming has tons of
it. I have done a decent amount of exploring in Kunming and have found new
restaurants and new foods on every excursion. I love snacking through the day
so I am including some of my favorite snacks on the list along with dishes
bought at restaurants or street carts. So let’s get to the
food. These dishes and snacks are the best things I have found in Kunming so
far. Unfortunately, I don’t know the actual names of the dishes.
1.
Deep
Fried Spicy Potatoes: This is the greatest street food around. I first found it
last year when I traveled to Guizhou, a neighboring province to Yunnan. These
potatoes are like French fries in China. These little chunks are deep fried,
then mixed with garlic, 辣椒 (la jiao) – hot chili, salt, scallions, cilantro, and MSG.
2.
Boiled
Chicken with Spicy Chili Oil and Mala: Although the description is a little off
putting, this is one of the nicer dishes I have eaten here. From what I saw in
the kitchen, the chicken is first boiled then sautéed in a pan with red onions,
chili peppers, cilantro, garlic, Mala (a type of pepper that has a slightly
sour taste and renders your mouth numb), scallions, a bit of sesame oil, and
probably MSG. After a quick sauté, hot chili oil is poured over the chicken
before serving. It’s a little spicy.
3.
Spicy
Green Beans: Green beans that are sautéed with soy sauce, chili peppers, tons
of garlic, and probably MSG.
4.
烧烤 (shao kao) – Barbeque : The barbeque here is wonderful. It is usually a
street stand filled with raw meets and things – I can’t identify it all – and
you pick what you want, give it to the cook, lather on some oil and spices, and
after a good thorough cooking on a hot grill you have a meal.
5.
Cucumber
flavored Lays: Yeah, you read that correctly. The Chinese love cucumbers and
what better way to show it than putting the flavor with a potato chip. I bought
a bag with the idea of eating a chip and not liking, but as it turns out
they’re pretty good. In fact, I am eating a bag as I write this post. The
cucumber flavor is not overpowering, but not too subtle, just the right amount
of subtle. There is a sweet flavor and a very small tang that I think goes nice
with salty potato chips.
米线
(mi xian) – Rice Noodles : This dish is a local Yunnan dish. Although rice
noodles aren’t only in Yunnan, the way they prepare it here is what sets it
apart from other rice noodles. A good broth, cilantro, beef, mint leaves,
scallions, and chili peppers is what makes this dish. 
