Chang'an Dapaidang (长安大牌档)
Cháng'ān Dàpáidàng
Shaanxi food staged as a Tang night market
- Typical price
- ¥70–100
- Opening hours
- 11:00–21:30
Chang'an Dapaidang (长安大牌档, Cháng'ān Dàpáidàng) is a local chain that turns Shaanxi food into a show. Its Bell Tower branch on South Street is styled after a Tang-dynasty Lantern Festival market, with red lanterns, costumed staff and, at dinner, traditional performances such as shadow puppetry, so it is a lively first-night meal for visitors. The menu mixes Xi'an classics with playful modern presentation: [gourd chicken](/en/dishes/gourd-chicken), prawn balls disguised as lychees ('Feizi Xiao'), [calligraphy-brush pastries](/en/dishes/calligraphy-brush-pastry) that come with an edible 'ink' dip, and a long list of local snacks. Prices are moderate at around ¥70–100 per person, and it is open from 11:00 until about 21:30–22:00. Book ahead if you want a seat near the stage.
What to order
- Gourd chicken
- Calligraphy-brush pastry (毛笔酥)
- 'Feizi Xiao' prawn balls shaped like lychees
- Bell Tower mousse dessert
The experience
- Tang Lantern Festival décor
- Shadow-puppet and other traditional shows at dinner
- Good for groups and families
Practical tips
- Avoid the 11:30–13:00 and 17:30–19:30 peaks or book
- Photo-friendly dishes — come hungry
- Not halal
Nearby
- Bell Tower and South Gate both on South Street
- Defu Lane and Shuyuanmen for after-dinner drinks
- South Gate (Yongningmen) for the City Wall at night
Who it's for (and who should skip it)
This is dinner as theatre, and it plays best to families, groups of friends and first-night visitors who want a loud, lantern-lit room, costumed staff and camera-ready dishes such as calligraphy-brush pastry. If you have only one meal in Xi'an and want depth rather than show, spend it elsewhere — even the same gourd chicken carries differently in a quiet room. The restaurant is not halal, so Muslim travellers should plan a different dinner. If you hate queues and crowds, avoid the 11:30–13:00 and 17:30–19:30 peaks or book ahead. Solo diners hoping for conversation will find dinner loud once the shows start.
Getting there
Take Metro Line 2 to Zhonglou (钟楼), the Bell Tower stop. The restaurant is on floors 1–2 of the Senyuan Building at 39 South Street — with the Bell Tower behind you, walk a short way south down South Street and look for the lantern-lit entrance. By taxi, say 南大街长安大牌档. Peaks are 11:30–13:00 and 17:30–19:30, and shows run at dinner, so book ahead for a stage-side seat rather than gambling on the queue.
Questions, answered
What is Chang'an Dapaidang famous for?
Theatrical Tang-themed Shaanxi dishes such as brush-shaped pastries, gourd chicken and lychee-shaped prawn balls, plus shows at dinner.
How much does Chang'an Dapaidang cost?
Around ¥70–100 per person.
Where is the Bell Tower branch?
1–2F Senyuan Building, 39 South Street, just south of the Bell Tower.
Do I need to book at Chang'an Dapaidang?
Walk-ins are normal, but stage-side tables at dinner go first and the peaks are 11:30–13:00 and 17:30–19:30 — book or arrive off-peak to skip the wait.