Tianshui is not really known for its own specialty cuisine, but you can find many varieties of the cuisine of Gansu here. The best of these include Lanzhou Beef Noodles (Lanzhou lamian), Zhangye Fish Balls (Cuo yuzi) and Dunhuang Saozi Noodles (Saozi mian). Cuisines from further afield are also prevalent and travelers should try the Xi'an Yangrou Paomo, Xinjiang kebabs (Kao yangrou), roast lamb leg (Kao yangtui), stewed lamb (Men yangrou) and beef hotpot (Niurou huoguo), that can be found on most stalls and restaurants about town.

There is one specialty that the Tianshui locals are fairly proud of: a yellowish pastry type substance made almost wholly of flour called Mianpi. These balls are simply made by mixing flour and water, forming the product into a thick pancake structure, and then boiling this. The flavour of these pieces are made by the addition of a variety of seasonings. The best place to sample Mianpi is in Jianchang, a local fair within the city center.

More exotic courses that can be found in town include fried camel hump (Youzha tuofeng) and camel hooves (Silu tuozhang). These animals are fairly rare and also valuable modes of transport, so those with a real hunger for these creatures will have to search. The area around Tianshui is also known for its productive soil, and there is an abundance fo fruits that could take your fancy. These are still all mostly seasonal, and include such exotica as peach, apricot, muskmelon and refreshingly juicy watermelon.

Food stalls and semi decent restaurants can be found scattered about town. For those staying in the Tianshui Hotel, on 5 Yingbin lu, there is probably the best restaurant in town within, and some decent ones in the nearby locale. For those spending a few days in the Maijishan area there are a few restaurants and a scattering of stalls on or near the mountain. The Maiji Hotel also has its own restaurant