Ten Must-try Restaurants in Urumqi

Looking for the ten must-try restaurants in Urumqi or planning a Xinjiang food guide? The best way to experience Urumqi food is to start with its breakfast. Here, that idea goes even further—you begin with a hot baked bun and don’t call it a day until the very last stick of sizzling barbecue comes off the charcoal fire late at night.

From the early morning fragrance of freshly baked naan pulled from a traditional clay oven to the smoky flavors of late-night Loulan-style grilled meats, these must-try restaurants in Urumqi take you on a full-day flavorful journey. From the bold, hearty flavors of Xinjiang big-plate chicken to the refreshing, delicate finish of chilled yogurt pudding, this Urumqi food guide brings together the very best of local cuisine.

1. Silk Road's Promise Xinjiang Cuisine Barbecue (丝路有约) (Wanyancheng Branch)—Modern Xinjiang Cuisine With Looks and Flavor

This restaurant innovates on traditional flavors. Their Crayfish Stuffed Baked Buns are a flavor explosion, and the Honey Fig Yogurt Cold Cake is almost too pretty to eat and serves as a refreshing dessert.

Address: 2nd Floor, Wanyancheng, Northeast Corner of Zhongshan Road and Jiefang North Road Intersection

Opening Hours: 13:00–22:30

Price: around 84 RMB per person

Xinjiang Specialties: Salt-only Grilled Lamb Skewers, Crayfish Stuffed Baked Buns, Hotan Braised & Roasted Lamb Leg, Honey Fig Yogurt Cold Cake, Butter Kvass, Special Rice Sausage & Steamed Lung, Borsak with Pickled Beef

2. Haierbag Catering Meidu(海尔巴格餐饮美都)—One-Stop Food Paradise Next to the Grand Bazaar

This restaurant's biggest advantage is its location—less than a ten-minute walk from the Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar. You can finish your bazaar sightseeing and walk straight in. Spread across multiple floors, lavishly decorated and beautifully lit, it's incredibly photogenic. The menu is like a Xinjiang food expo—from Baked Buns to Spicy Sichuan Pepper Chicken, pretty much anything you can think of is here.

Address: No. 4 Yan'an Road

Opening Hours: 12:30–00:30

Price: around 86 RMB per person

Xinjiang Specialties: Mint Tea, Baked Buns, Grilled Lamb Skewers, Lamb Pilaf, Shrimp with French Fries, Xinjiang Big Plate Chicken, Spicy Sichuan Pepper Chicken

3. Xiao Gazi (小尕子) (Mingyuan Branch)—Homemade Flavors of Urumqi

It’s like a neighborhood canteen for Urumqi locals. Shihezi Cold Noodles are thin and chewy, doused in a sour and spicy dressing that instantly awakes the appetite. Braised Eggplant with Tiger-skin Chili is an absolute rice-killer with balanced sweet and savory notes.

Address: 3rd Floor, Mingyuan Huoyanshan, Intersection of Mingyuan West Road and Youhao South Road

Opening Hours: 12:00–23:00

Price: around 70 RMB per person

Xinjiang Specialties: Shihezi Cold Noodles, Homemade Yogurt, Stir-fried Naan with Grilled Meat, Gazi's Braised Tofu, Gazi's Lamb Trotters, Braised Eggplant with Tiger-skin Chili, Spinach with Gluten

4. Shiliu Hongle Xinjiang Cuisine (石榴红了) (Ruihao Branch)—Award-Winning Flavors

Located inside a hotel, this restaurant offers a more refined dining environment than casual street eateries—ideal for tourists craving authentic Xinjiang food in comfort. Its Gold Award-winning Pigeon Noodles(鸽捞面) is legendary: tender, juicy pigeon meat paired with chewy noodles soaked in rich sauce. You’ll want to wipe the plate clean with naan afterward.

Address: 1st Floor, Ruihao International Hotel, No. 89 Henan West Road

Opening Hours: 11:30–24:00

Price: around 78 RMB per person

Xinjiang Specialties: Flaky Crust Baked Buns, Gold Award-winning Pigeon Noodles, Roasted Lamb Leg with Flaky Pastry, Stir-fried Naan with Cabbage, Red Willow Grilled Lamb Skewers, Spicy Meat Noodles, Kvass

5. Ma Feng Hua Xinjiang Cuisine (马风花大盘鸡)—An Iconic Xinjiang Big Plate Chicken Brand

Xinjiang Big Plate Chicken is a dish you can’t miss when you come to Urumqi. The chicken is chopped into large chunks, and the potatoes are simmered until they fall apart at the touch of chopsticks. The real magic lies in the rich, thick sauce—don’t forget to add belt noodles, which soak up every drop of that savory, spicy goodness.

Address: Ground-floor storefronts at Chengji Building, Jianshe Road (near the International Grand Bazaar)

Opening Hours: 12:00–23:00

Price: around 50 RMB per person

Xinjiang Specialties: Xinjiang Big Plate Chicken, Scrambled Eggs with Wild Onion, Frozen Yogurt, Mug-braised Lamb, Milk Tofu, Charcoal-grilled Lamb Skewers, Xinjiang Lamb Pilaf

6. Hotan Rose Pilaf (和阗玫瑰抓饭) (Main Branch)—Loved by Locals & Highly Rated

Pilaf is the "national dish" of Xinjiang, and this main branch is an ideal site for pilaf devotees. Every grain of rice gleams with oil; the red and yellow carrots, cut into thick strips, have cooked their sweetness deep into the rice. The stunner is the lamb leg put on top—braised to such tenderness that a gentle nudge with a spoon separates bone from meat. The hotan rose lamb pilaf is a cut above the rest, the rice carrying a delicate floral fragrance that makes it especially popular with women.

Address: No. 8 Taishan Street, Songshan Road Area

Opening Hours: 12:00–20:30

Price: around 54 RMB per person

Xinjiang Specialties: Hotan Traditional Lamb Pilaf, Hotan Special Thin-Skinned Steamed Buns, Traditional Grilled Meat Skewers, Hotan Handmade Yogurt, Cold Dishes, Lamb Bone Soup, Hotan Rose Lamb Pilaf

7. Xiao Mei Ge Hong Kong Restaurant (小梅鸽香港餐厅) (People's Square Branch)—Authentic Cantonese Flavors

If you're craving refined Cantonese cuisine amidst the bustling city center, this is your go-to spot. Xiao Mei Ge offers a sophisticated dining experience, blending traditional Hong Kong dim sum with elevated, soul-warming main courses. From golden crispy rice rolls to rich fish maw soup, the menu balances comforting flavors with refined presentation. It’s the perfect place for a leisurely lunch or an elegant dinner after exploring the People's Square area.

Address: 5F, Block B, Plaza United Building, No. 462 Zhongshan Road

Opening Hours: 11:30–15:30, 18:00–22:30

Price: around 96 RMB per person

Specialties: Crispy Red Rice Roll, Crispy Roasted Squab, Shrimp Dumplings, Spicy Stir-Fried Beef with Chili, Fish Maw Chicken Soup, Bread Bowl with Chicken Curry, Braised Abalone with Rice

8. Loulan Barbecue (楼兰秘烤) (Qidaowan Branch)—Dine Like an Ancient Loulan Local

From the moment you arrive, the Loulan atmosphere is immersive, with mud walls and ethnic carvings that feel like a reconstructed ancient city. At night, there are song and dance performances, and the sound of meat sizzling on the charcoal grill creates an incredible vibe. It is a late-night go-to spot that stays busy until 3:00 AM.

Address: No. 1247 Qidaowan South Road, in Nanhu Creative Park

Opening Hours: 13:00–15:30, 18:00–03:00

Price: around 84 RMB per person

Xinjiang Specialties: Loulan Mini Grilled Skewers, Yogurt Zongzi with Fig Sauce, Loulan Baked Buns, Rack Roasted Lamb, Loulan Livers Wrapped in Fat, Cumin Lamb Chops, Grilled Lamb Skewers

9. Abula's Naan (阿布拉的馕) (Xibei Road Branch)—Viral Naan Shop

Not eating Abula's naan in Urumqi is like skipping the Terracotta Warriors in Xi'an. There's always a long line out front, and the air is full of that warm, freshly baked bread smell. A sesame naan hot from the oven, crispy on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside, smells so good on its own that you just can't stop eating it. Buy a few as snacks for the road; they even get sweeter the more you chew.

Address: No. 104 Xibei Road

Opening Hours: 10:00–22:00

Price: around 11 RMB per person

Xinjiang Specialties: Sesame Naan, Thin Naan, Rose Naan, Spicy Chili Naan, Onion Naan, Abula Naan, Peanut Naan

10. Zhengfei Fresh Milk (正飞鲜奶) (Nanhu Phase I Branch)—The Gold Standard of Xinjiang Milk

Before you wrap up a food journey that's pushed the limits of richness, finishing with a taste of pure Xinjiang dairy is the perfect move. Xinjiang's sunshine and pastures give its milk an almost unbelievable richness. The Cup Yogurt here is so thick a spoon stands upright in it. The milk skin is dense, creamy, like eating a cloud. And the Fresh Milk Popsicles, with their plain, no-fuss packaging, pack a milky punch so intense your eyes go wide at the first bite.

Address: No. 100, West Second Street, Nanhu South Road

Opening Hours: 10:00–22:00

Price: around 13 RMB per person

Xinjiang Specialties: Fresh Milk, Pasteurized Milk, Cup Yogurt, Zhengfei Yogurt Cheese, Fresh Milk Popsicle, Milk Skin, Milk Curd