Best Halal Food in Urumqi: Xinjiang Uyghur Dishes, Hui Muslim Restaurants and Local Food
Reposted from the web
Summary: This Urumqi halal food map highlights Xinjiang dishes, Uyghur food, Hui Muslim restaurants, bazaars, and local food stops for Muslim travelers in the city.
1. International Grand Bazaar
When you come to Urumqi, the International Grand Bazaar is your first stop. If you want to experience local ethnic culture, head to the Tianshan District. Many ethnic minority residents live here, especially around Erdaoqiao. Grab a glass of pomegranate juice to soothe your throat or a slice of watermelon to quench your thirst. Xinjiang fruit is top-tier, and the fresh-pressed pomegranate juice is thick, sweet, and sour with no added water.
You will see fruit stands like this everywhere in Xinjiang. They display cut fruit on the roadside; you just walk up, pick it up, and eat. When you are done, you wipe your mouth and pay. A slice of watermelon is only 2 yuan, and the Hami melon is so sweet you will need water to wash it down.
The Grand Bazaar's ice porridge (muzdog) is a must-have summer cooler for Uyghurs. They use an awl to chip ice off a large block and add yogurt. It is natural and delicious.
2. Shanxi Lane
Shanxi Lane is right next to the Erdaoqiao International Grand Bazaar. You could call it a street of Xinjiang delicacies, and it is a gathering place for Uyghurs.
If you love lamb, you must come here. Lamb skewers are called roasted meat (kaorou) here because the word 'skewer' sounds too small. Xinjiang people are generous, and they eat their meat in big chunks.
Take every chance you get to try Xinjiang yogurt. Tianshan yogurt is only sold in Xinjiang.
This is authentic Xinjiang big plate chicken (dapanji). You can choose a whole or half chicken and add noodles. I heard that in the past, adding noodles was free, but it is rare to find shops that do that now.
I came here for the famous baked buns (kaobaozi). It is best to come during the day because they are often sold out by night.
A famous Xinjiang dish is pilaf (zhuafan). You do not actually have to eat it with your hands. The pilaf here is completely different from what you find in the interior of China.
I have to brag a little: a Kazakh uncle made this pilaf for me at his home. Pilaf must include raisins, dried apricots, green peppers, and carrots.
Let me share another home-cooked meal made by the Kazakh uncle. The most authentic Xinjiang food is what your Xinjiang friends cook at home.
Shanxi Lane is very short. A Uyghur friend brought me to this lamb shop. It is easy to find, and it is the best lamb I have ever eaten. The meat is topped with onions, which are called piyazi in Xinjiang.
3. Hantengri Mijiti Baked Buns
This is a long-standing shop in Urumqi. The owner is from Southern Xinjiang, where most Uyghurs in Erdaoqiao are from. He has been making baked buns for decades. They only make a limited amount each day, and they do not keep leftovers. If you come late, they are gone.
The crust of the baked bun is crispy, and it is filled with lamb. When you bite into it, it is steaming hot and smells amazing. Baked buns are the thing I miss most after leaving Xinjiang.
Address: Inside Yucai Lane, Tianshan District, Urumqi
4. Bogelahan Restaurant
A friend told me this shop closed before I published this. I am still posting it because if you eat at an ethnic restaurant in Urumqi, the authentic Xinjiang food will not taste bad, but you should try some of their specialties.
For spicy chicken (laziji), the quality of Xinjiang chili peppers and the quality of the chicken are both excellent. The two are a perfect match.
This is also a flatbread (nang). It is not just the plain white flour bread you see every day. There are many kinds of flatbread, including some for dipping in milk tea, some that are easy to carry, and this kind which has a filling.
5. Masanyuan Beef Noodles
A very popular Lanzhou beef noodle shop in Urumqi, located near Daximen.
After eating a lot of beef and lamb, sometimes I want some flour-based food to cleanse my stomach.
Address: No. 66 Renmin Road (next to the Industry and Commerce Bureau).
6. Blake Coffee
Next to Hengchang Garden in Dawan, Urumqi, there is a Blake Coffee. The shop has a resident ethnic band, and the lead singer has a unique, charming voice. Almost all the customers here are from ethnic minorities, and you hear Uyghur spoken all around you. If you want to experience local ethnic culture, you have to come to a place like this.
Uyghur people have a natural talent for music. They rarely listen to pop songs from inland China; they prefer ethnic music and Western-style music. Almost every Uyghur can dance, and they start moving as soon as they hear a rhythmic beat.
7. Qia'erbage Restaurant
The scene downstairs is typical of daily life for Uyghur people: a big group of friends and family gathering to eat, drink tea, and chat.
Qia'erbage is a Western-style restaurant opened by a friend of my Uyghur friend. Because the cultures are similar, Western food is easily accepted by Uyghurs. The environment here is quiet with many private booths, and the diners are mostly Uyghur.
This baked bun (kaobaozi) is an improved version, and it looks a bit like bread.
Address: Inside South Park, South Xinhua Road, Tianshan District.
8. Ma's Peppery Chicken (Ma Ji Jiao Ma Ji)
A friend from Turpan took me to eat this peppery chicken, and it tasted amazing. Every meal I had in Urumqi was carefully selected by friends. Actually, I should have written a guide for Han-style food in Urumqi. The Han-style restaurants here are specially marked, but some ethnic restaurants don't even have a halal sign.
Address: No. 134 Cangfanggou Road, Shayibake District, Urumqi, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.
Summary: This Urumqi halal food map highlights Xinjiang dishes, Uyghur food, Hui Muslim restaurants, bazaars, and local food stops for Muslim travelers in the city.
1. International Grand Bazaar
When you come to Urumqi, the International Grand Bazaar is your first stop. If you want to experience local ethnic culture, head to the Tianshan District. Many ethnic minority residents live here, especially around Erdaoqiao. Grab a glass of pomegranate juice to soothe your throat or a slice of watermelon to quench your thirst. Xinjiang fruit is top-tier, and the fresh-pressed pomegranate juice is thick, sweet, and sour with no added water.
You will see fruit stands like this everywhere in Xinjiang. They display cut fruit on the roadside; you just walk up, pick it up, and eat. When you are done, you wipe your mouth and pay. A slice of watermelon is only 2 yuan, and the Hami melon is so sweet you will need water to wash it down.
The Grand Bazaar's ice porridge (muzdog) is a must-have summer cooler for Uyghurs. They use an awl to chip ice off a large block and add yogurt. It is natural and delicious.
2. Shanxi Lane
Shanxi Lane is right next to the Erdaoqiao International Grand Bazaar. You could call it a street of Xinjiang delicacies, and it is a gathering place for Uyghurs.
If you love lamb, you must come here. Lamb skewers are called roasted meat (kaorou) here because the word 'skewer' sounds too small. Xinjiang people are generous, and they eat their meat in big chunks.
Take every chance you get to try Xinjiang yogurt. Tianshan yogurt is only sold in Xinjiang.
This is authentic Xinjiang big plate chicken (dapanji). You can choose a whole or half chicken and add noodles. I heard that in the past, adding noodles was free, but it is rare to find shops that do that now.
I came here for the famous baked buns (kaobaozi). It is best to come during the day because they are often sold out by night.
A famous Xinjiang dish is pilaf (zhuafan). You do not actually have to eat it with your hands. The pilaf here is completely different from what you find in the interior of China.
I have to brag a little: a Kazakh uncle made this pilaf for me at his home. Pilaf must include raisins, dried apricots, green peppers, and carrots.
Let me share another home-cooked meal made by the Kazakh uncle. The most authentic Xinjiang food is what your Xinjiang friends cook at home.
Shanxi Lane is very short. A Uyghur friend brought me to this lamb shop. It is easy to find, and it is the best lamb I have ever eaten. The meat is topped with onions, which are called piyazi in Xinjiang.
3. Hantengri Mijiti Baked Buns
This is a long-standing shop in Urumqi. The owner is from Southern Xinjiang, where most Uyghurs in Erdaoqiao are from. He has been making baked buns for decades. They only make a limited amount each day, and they do not keep leftovers. If you come late, they are gone.
The crust of the baked bun is crispy, and it is filled with lamb. When you bite into it, it is steaming hot and smells amazing. Baked buns are the thing I miss most after leaving Xinjiang.
Address: Inside Yucai Lane, Tianshan District, Urumqi
4. Bogelahan Restaurant
A friend told me this shop closed before I published this. I am still posting it because if you eat at an ethnic restaurant in Urumqi, the authentic Xinjiang food will not taste bad, but you should try some of their specialties.
For spicy chicken (laziji), the quality of Xinjiang chili peppers and the quality of the chicken are both excellent. The two are a perfect match.
This is also a flatbread (nang). It is not just the plain white flour bread you see every day. There are many kinds of flatbread, including some for dipping in milk tea, some that are easy to carry, and this kind which has a filling.
5. Masanyuan Beef Noodles
A very popular Lanzhou beef noodle shop in Urumqi, located near Daximen.
After eating a lot of beef and lamb, sometimes I want some flour-based food to cleanse my stomach.
Address: No. 66 Renmin Road (next to the Industry and Commerce Bureau).
6. Blake Coffee
Next to Hengchang Garden in Dawan, Urumqi, there is a Blake Coffee. The shop has a resident ethnic band, and the lead singer has a unique, charming voice. Almost all the customers here are from ethnic minorities, and you hear Uyghur spoken all around you. If you want to experience local ethnic culture, you have to come to a place like this.
Uyghur people have a natural talent for music. They rarely listen to pop songs from inland China; they prefer ethnic music and Western-style music. Almost every Uyghur can dance, and they start moving as soon as they hear a rhythmic beat.
7. Qia'erbage Restaurant
The scene downstairs is typical of daily life for Uyghur people: a big group of friends and family gathering to eat, drink tea, and chat.
Qia'erbage is a Western-style restaurant opened by a friend of my Uyghur friend. Because the cultures are similar, Western food is easily accepted by Uyghurs. The environment here is quiet with many private booths, and the diners are mostly Uyghur.
This baked bun (kaobaozi) is an improved version, and it looks a bit like bread.
Address: Inside South Park, South Xinhua Road, Tianshan District.
8. Ma's Peppery Chicken (Ma Ji Jiao Ma Ji)
A friend from Turpan took me to eat this peppery chicken, and it tasted amazing. Every meal I had in Urumqi was carefully selected by friends. Actually, I should have written a guide for Han-style food in Urumqi. The Han-style restaurants here are specially marked, but some ethnic restaurants don't even have a halal sign.
Address: No. 134 Cangfanggou Road, Shayibake District, Urumqi, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.
