What do people eat in Xinjiang?

Quick Guide to Ordering

• For two people in one meal: one pilaf + two skewers of red willow barbecue + a pot of tea, costing 30–50 yuan per person.
• For mixed noodles, you can add extra noodles for free; one portion is enough for a man to be full. For big plate chicken, the medium portion is enough for four people to share with flatbread.
• Night market strategy: order one of each and share — grilled egg, jarred meat, pigeon soup, yogurt shaved ice.
• For breakfast, look for flatbread stalls: freshly baked sesame flatbread with milk tea, the locals’ favorite way to start the day.

Halal Etiquette

Most restaurants operate as halal: do not bring in alcohol or non-halal food; during Ramadan, some daytime stalls take a break, but the evening market becomes lively. Respecting rules regarding the kitchen and tableware is the basic attitude for travelers.

Food Safety

Choose stalls with a high turnover; eat meat grilled on the spot; boil raw milk before drinking (hot milk tea and yogurt are safe); in dry areas, drink plenty of water; spicy and grilled foods together can easily cause heatiness, so schedule fruit (grapes, Hami melon) between meals.