8 Best Restaurants in Kunming, Southwestern China

Inside a renovated railroad station, this restaurant has outdoor seating and a historic atmosphere that are just as appealing as the menu full of tasty Yunnan dishes. The structure was built in the early 20th century by French colonists, and was once the terminus of the 535-mile railroad linking Hanoi to Kunming. Try some fried rubing (a local goat cheese), a spicy salad of chrysanthemum greens, or grilled tilapia. Don't pass up anything made with Yunnan's prized cured ham. The English portion of the menu is somewhat confusing, though pictures of most of the options help pick up the slack.

Regularly packed to capacity and brewing some of Kunming's best coffee using a custom blend of Yunnan beans, Salvador's also has an extensive food menu. About half of its ingredients are organic, and more are being added regularly, with the goal of becoming one of the few entirely organic eateries in China. Popular main dishes include burritos, quesadillas, and falafel. The place has Wi-Fi and comfy sofas for lounging, along with outdoor seating ideal for people-watching on bustling Wenhua Xiang.

Without a doubt the best organic Chinese restaurant in town, Tusheng Shiguan is a must for anyone who wants to try the finest Yunnan cuisine. Don't miss the erkuai (rice pancakes), the fuzhu (a tofu-skin dish whose misleading name translates to "rotten bamboo") or the ginger beef dish, and ask which vegetables are in season. The inside and outside seating is comfortable, and the service is most hospitable. Make sure to order rice if you're having spicy dishes, and try a small jug of the home-brewed corn liquor.

This often hectic eatery may be the best place in Kunming to enjoy Dai cuisine, which is known for its liberal use of chili peppers. If you want to go straight for the heat, try the gui ji or "ghost chicken," a cold salad that is slightly sour and extremely spicy. Tamer options include pineapple rice, fennel omelets, dried beef, wild mushrooms, fried fish, and tapioca with cookies in coconut milk. Dai cuisine features many dishes and ingredients that are foreign even to coastal Chinese residents. There are other branches of this chain throughout town.

Tucked away in an alley off bustling Wenlin Jie, As You Like is a quaint vegetarian restaurant and deli. The freshly baked bread, healthy salads, and all kinds of pastries will make your mouth water, and the pizzas are some of the best around. It's in an old house, so tall people will have to mind their heads, but the food more than makes up for it.

Popular with locals and expats alike, this place stands for quality pizza and other American-style snacks and fast food, such as meatball sandwiches and a range of salads. Pizza can be ordered per slice or as a whole, with massive sizes for groups. For somewhere with such broad appeal, the drink menu is unsurprisingly extensive, including several craft beers from around the world.

As much a cultural experience as a culinary adventure, Makye Ame is known for its Tibetan and Indian song-and-dance performances. The shows are enjoyable, but can be hard on the eardrums. For a quieter meal, ask for one of the rooms in the back or in the cozy teahouse upstairs. Food-wise, Makye Ame serves a large variety of Tibetan dishes, including stone-cooked yak, malai kafta (large potato and cashew balls in a curried yogurt sauce), and an incomparable platter of xianggu (shiitake mushrooms). A cold Lhasa beer or some homemade yogurt wine rounds out one of the city's more memorable meals.

Run by an interesting lady from New Zealand, Slice of Heaven is an increasingly popular place for Western fare. The bakery-turned-restaurant boasts a tasty breakfast, some great pizzas topped with local ingredients like goat cheese, and all kinds of bread, buns, and sandwiches. The service can be a bit quirky, but don't let that put you off.