Top 10 Weird Street Food in China

Top 10 Weird Street Foods in China: Turtle Jelly or tortoise jelly is the Number 1 weird street food in China and the most popular most famous street food in China.

China has one of the largest varieties of food in the world. Walk down any street market in China, and you’ll find delicious delicacies, tourist treats, and even the downright disgusting. Some of these dishes are known for their tastes, uniqueness, and others for their medicinal purposes. These delicacies can be made from animals, plants, insects, and just about anything else. The saying must be true, “The Chinese eat everything with four legs, except tables and chairs, and everything that flies, except airplanes.” So, look at the top 10 weird street foods in China and the 10 most popular most famous street foods in China.

No 1. Turtle Shell Jelly

Turtle Jelly or tortoise jelly, also known as Guilin Gao, is a Chinese jelly-like dessert. It is traditionally made from various types of turtle’s bottom shell and several herbal products.

Most turtle jelly comes from commonly available turtle species to keep the price low. Still, some costly options are available and are made using ingredients from the golden coin turtle.
Some turtle jelly on the market today doesn’t even include any ingredients from a turtle. It is the most popular most famous street food in China.

No 2. Fried Seahorse

Seahorse is one of the cutest small marine fish found in the sea, but it is also found on China’s streets as a snack. Seahorse has a squid-like consistency and is very salty.

They are mostly found in soups or on kabobs, common at several street markets.
You must be careful when consuming seahorses because they have sharp pieces that can get caught in your gums or teeth.

No 3. Chicken Testicles

KFC offers several types of chicken on the menu, but you’ll have to search other places in China to find chicken testicles.

These juicy delicacies are said to enhance male prowess and improve a woman’s skin tone.
They are available in pink and black, and their size ranges anywhere from one to two inches long.

No 4. Tuna Eyeballs

Tuna eyeballs are traditionally cooked with soy sauce and herbs. Some prefer them battered and served with vegetables and hot sauce. They can also be eaten raw, although caution should be taken when doing so as they may contain bacteria.

Cooked tuna eye changes color when cooked, with the surrounding muscle and fat considered a tasty treat. People say the eyes have a wonderful umami flavor.
They also provide tremendous health benefits as they are high in proteins and Omega-3 fatty acids.

No 5. Scorpions

These small scorpions are fried and served on a skewer stick. They can be found on the streets of popular cities to lure tourists into trying something local and bizarre.

Since the scorpions are thin, they turn out crispy with a nice seasoning.
It is believed that eating scorpions can cure certain medical conditions and can make the blood hotter in cold conditions.

No 6. Bird Spit Soup

One of the more controversial bizarre foods the Chinese eat is bird’s nest soup. This famous soup is made from a swiftlet’s actual nest.

This small bird is found in Southeast Asia and lives in dark caves like a bat. Their nests are made from their own gummy saliva produced by the glands under their tongue.
The nest of saliva hardens as it is exposed to the air.

No 7. PI Dan

Pi Day, also known as century egg, is a traditional Chinese food that boasts a unique color and fragrance. It is usually a duck or chicken egg preserved in clay, ash, salt, and alkaline material.

The egg yolk may appear yellow, dark green, or brown depending on the processing time, but the center is normally soft in all colors.
Refreshing, smooth, delicious, and salty are words that normally describe this unique food.

No 8. Sheep Penis

Sheep penis and other animal penises and testicles serve as a remedy for that problem. Guolizhuang is dedicated to serving all types of dishes with animal genitalia in China, such as sheep gonads on a bed of curry and steamed sheep penis.

The locals enjoy the dish’s flavor, but they also believe it is good for one’s health.
Many of the customers at the restaurant are males looking to increase potency and sexual prowess.

No 9. Silkworms (Top 10 Weird Street Food in China)

Silkworms can be found in local markets cooked several ways or stocked frozen and canned. Chinese-style silkworms are added to stir-fry with your favorite vegetables, soy sauce, and seasonings.

It’s normally served up with rice or noodles, or the pupae can be deep-fried and served with your choice of dipping sauce.
If you’re not sold on consuming the insect in your stir fry, you can always start with the sweeter and more tourist-friendly version, chocolate-covered silkworms.

No 10. Balut (Top 10 Weird Street Food in China)

Balut is a popular street food that can be found at many roadside markets. It may sound sickening to eat a partially developed duck, but this dish is considered a delicacy in many places such as China.

The fertilized egg is boiled for about 25 minutes and is eaten while the egg is still warm.
The yolk portion is described as rich and creamy with an overall mild taste, and some eggs contain bones and feathers that are edible, which (according to local belief) make the men eating them appear more masculine.