Kunming's cuisine is distinctly Yunnanese & combines fresh ingredients afforded by the moderate climate with mild herbs and spices giving its cooked dishes sufficient flavour but lacking the pungency associated with food from other regions of the country.

The city's climate fosters the growth of literally hundreds of species of mushroom which are consequently a predominant feature of many dishes.

There are other regional Chinese cuisines, with a few upmarket restaurants serving international dishes.

Back lanes running north off Dongfeng Xi Lu or Jinbi Lu have the famous stalls and restaurants where the locals offer specialties such as grilled cheese, hotpots, fired snacks rolled in chilli powder, loaves of excellent meat-stuffed soda bread, and rich duck and chicken casseroles. The special dish of Kunming is guò qiáo mĭxiàn, a boiling, spicy soup with noodles under a layer of oil.

Meat is added to the broth kept hot by the layer of oil.

The legend behind "crossing bridge noodles" involves a student studying for the imperial exam (which was given once per year). He went to study on an island a short ways away from his wife and village. Everyday his wife would bring him food, but because of the distance (she had to cross a bridge) the food would get cold. The student's wife figured out that by layering the broth with oil, she could keep the food hot.

Some of the most famous Kunming food is as follows:

• Over the Bridge Rice Noodles
• Steam Potted Chicken
• Er Kuai (Rice Cake)
• Smoked Smelly Bean Curd - popular night stall snack
• The Eight Treasures of Yunnan - type of stuffed cake

Famous Restaurants

• Qiao Xiangyuan Restaurant - special local food
• Jinbichun Restaurant - has a history of over 100 years
• World Expo Jixing Yuan Restaurant