Furong's food scene is small and Tujia in character. The specialty is tofu — in homage to the film, every restaurant in the town sells fried tofu, braised tofu, and tofu preparations of various kinds. The local version uses a sour coagulant that gives it a faintly tangy flavour different from standard doufu. Sour fish soup appears on most menus alongside the standard Hunanese preparations. Prices are very low: a full meal at a family restaurant costs ¥30–50 per person.
The most authentic experience is at the small family restaurants on the back lanes of the ancient street, away from the main tourist-facing shopfronts. Several of these have been in operation for decades and serve the same dishes to local residents and visitors without distinction. Ask your accommodation for recommendations — the town is small enough that everyone knows which kitchen is worth visiting.