Kunming has a history of over 2,000 years as the political. economic and cultural center of Yunnan Province since the Song Dynasty (960-1279). In the late Ming Dynasty (1368- 1644), Kunming cuisine was mainly influenced by Xiajiang cuisine which was popular in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River. Since modern times, it has also borrowed from other cuisines like Sichuan, Shandong, Guangdong and Jiangsu, resulting in its own unique style of cuisine characterized by a variety of local ingredients, delicious taste and freshness. The main characteristics of the Yunnan style dishes are: moderate hot and sour, heavy oil yet mellow with a sweet aftertaste to preserve the ingredient's original taste.

Famous Yunnan style dishes include Qiguo Chicken, Honey Ham, Fresh Mashed Broad Bean, Fried Meat of Barking Deer, Stewed Chicken in Brown Sauce, Fried Pork Slices with Rose and Rutabaga, and Kunming Braised Duck.

Famous restaurants in Kunming include the Huguo Restaurant which specializes in Yunnan flavor cooking,. the Dexinyuan Restaurant and the Shiyan Restaurant that specialize in Guoqiao, or Across the Bridge Rice Noodles, the Dongfeng Restaurant which specializes in Steamed Chicken. the Beijing Restaurant, the Xingheyuan Restaurant which prepares Muslim food, Guanshengyuan Restaurant which specializes in Cantonese flavors and so on. As well as these, a number of star-grade hotels, including the Coho, Kunming and Siouan Hotels also serve authentic Yunnan specialties.