post update: Tian Men Jiang, a type of soy sauce, is used to make this Chinese Street Food
The definition of “street food”, according to Wikipedia, is “ready-to-eat food or drink sold in a street or other public place, such as a market or fair, by a hawker or vendor, often from a portable stall”. Eating in the street, in many Western countries, is not popular, and places that serve food on the street are not common. Despite of that, the Food and Agriculture Organization states that approximately 2.5 billion people eat street food every day. One might wonder, where are people eating street food? the answer: China.
In China, it is not only common to eat in the street, but it is also known that the most delicious foods are to be found in the street. Chinese Street Food is often referred to as a snack (小吃), because the food is either ready-to-eat or quickly made on the spot.
The Chinese Street Food : Jian Bing
The price: 3-5 RMB (Less than one US dollar).
Where can you find this Chinese Street Food: Any street corner in Beijing.
Does it worth my time: ABSOLUTELY!
Eating Chinese street snacks (food) is especially popular in Beijing, and Chinese street food can virtually be found in every corner of the city. One of the most unique snacks in Beijing is called Jian Bing. Jian Bing is a type of salty Crêpe that is made on the street. After the Crêpe is made, the vendor usually adds an egg, some chopped onions and coriander, and finally uses a brush to cover it in a special sauce called “Tian Men Jiang”. After the preparation, which takes approximately one minute, the Jian Bing is folded and handed out in a bag.
When in Beijing, don’t be wary of trying Chinese street food: it will undoubtably provide you with an unforgettable culinary experience. Watch this video that shows how Jian Bing is prepared. Enjoy!
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Lior Paritzky is the Editor in Chief and Manager of Laowaiblog, an internet platform that provides opinion and views about social phenomena in modern China. Look for Lior on Twitter: Liorpari 
I believe that “Tian men jiang” is soybean sauce. I’m Chinese Canadian and I have this chinese street food quite often at home for breakfast.
Correction, on top of this Chinese Street Food it’s soybean paste
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tian_mian_jiang
Don’t forget that there’s a crunchy sheet layer that they wrap up inside the Jianbing! That’s why it’s special and tastes so good!
Unbelievable! the “crunchy sheet layer” is identical to the Jewish MATZA, which is eaten during Passover instead of bread. It is tastier in China. . .
Hi Nina, speaking as a Jew who resides in China, there is absolutely no comparison between the Matza and the crunchy sheet layer that is in the Jian Bing. The one in the Jian Bing is so much tastier!!! most probably because it wasn’t aged for thousands of years
i was there in 2010, it was really amazing and the food tasted good.people work hard for the money.They performed different jobs at different time, like the hotel bellboy at night who is the same cook in the morning-
I love chinese food.
Wo hen xihuan zhrun ko fan.
Love Love Love the Jian bing. Gotta bring this stuff to the states. Any idea how I can make it myself???
Ahhh, that savoury omlette/crêpe (the top image) is soooo nice!
All this stuff makes me think of something from Hanzhong (near Xi’an, Shaanxi Province). In English it was called the “Chinese hambuger”. I have no idea of the Chinese name, I was never told it. Hahaha. Anyway, it was so tasy; essentialy a chopped up pattie of pork, or maybe veggies instead (tofu, greens, bean sprouts) and a hardish and flat bread.
Jianbing isn’t a Beijing dish, it’s all over the north east. some of us actually leave the capital once in a while…
That’s a bit too cutting and harsh, don’t you think?
I love chinese street food and i’m not even chinese omg i love it love it. The people are very down to earth, hard working. I love it i love it I love living in china!!!!!!!!!
I’ll come to China more often and visit all its cities and will have 10000 wives and 1000000 children because the girls and soo pretty
))))))
how come the good street food mobile stands only come out around 12 am?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
no. it’s come out every time