The name Dajiujia can be dated back to the Ming Dynasty. Legend has it that Emperor Yongli was starving when he went into exile to Tengchong in Yunnan Province, where a kind local offered him a dish by using some ham, eggs, meat, and tomato to stir fry with Erkuai (sliced rice cake). Unexpectedly, the Emperor greedily devoured the dish, and declared that it had saved his life. Therefore, the simple dish has got its official name “Dajiujia”, which means “the food that rescued the Emperor”.