Roujiamo

Roujiamo (肉夹馍, ròu jiā mó) is Xi'an's defining street food: a dense, charred-crust bun split open and stuffed with meat that's been simmering in the same style of spiced master stock for generations. It's cheap, fast, and one of the first things locals will tell you to eat.

How it's made

1. The bread

   Báijí mó (白吉馍), a dense wheat bun pan-seared then finished in a clay oven until the crust is golden and slightly charred — sturdy enough to hold a juicy filling without going soggy.

2. The meat

   Làzhī ròu (腊汁肉), pork simmered for hours in a spiced master stock — a broth that's topped up and reused for years, sometimes generations, rather than thrown out.

3. The chop

   The cook chops the braised meat with two cleavers at once, working in a little of the braising liquid until it's a moist, shredded mess of meat and fat.

4. The stuff

   The bun is split most of the way through (never all the way) and packed full of the chopped meat, pressed shut, and handed over still warm from the oven.

Order it like a local

A few things that separate a tourist meal from a local one:

• Pair it with liangpi — cold, chewy wheat-starch noodles are the classic side dish.
• Add a cold drink — soy milk or a yogurt drink (酸奶) is the traditional third piece of the trio.
• Specify the cut — ask for 肥瘦 (fatty-lean mix, the classic) or 纯瘦 (lean only) if you have a preference.

Frequently asked questions

What is roujiamo?

A Xi'an street food often called 'China's hamburger': a toasted wheat bun (白吉馍) split and stuffed with pork that's been braised for hours in a spiced master stock, then chopped fine. It predates the Western burger by centuries.

Is roujiamo the same as a Chinese hamburger?

The comparison is about shape, not substance — a round bun stuffed with meat. But the bread is denser and more like a savory biscuit, and the braised, fatty-savory pork filling tastes nothing like ground beef.

Is roujiamo spicy?

No, the meat itself isn't spicy — it's savory and rich from the braising spices. Some stalls offer a chili sauce or pickled pepper on the side if you want heat, but the classic version is spice-free.

What should I order with roujiamo?

The classic Xi'an trio: a roujiamo, a plate of cold liangpi noodles, and a cold soy milk or yogurt drink (酸奶). Order all three from a Muslim Quarter stall and you've eaten like a local.

How much does roujiamo cost?

Around ¥6-15 depending on the meat cut and how touristy the stall is — pure lean meat (纯瘦) costs a little more than the classic fatty-lean mix (肥瘦), which most locals actually prefer for flavor.

Verified 2026-07-07. Photo credits: Roujiamo photo: N509FZ, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons · Roujiamo detail photo: Steetsweet, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.