Looking for the best Xinjiang food in Shanghai? We’ve got you covered.

The food from China’s far northwestern province of Xinjiang is culturally unique in the country. The dishes focus mostly on the halal flavors of Muslim cuisine from China’s 10 ethnic minorities who practice Islam. And good versions of the dishes can be hard to come by outside of the province, which is why we’ve compiled this list of the best Xinjiang food in Shanghai.

The Hui minority are the largest group of Muslims in China, and their diaspora reaches well across the country to China’s eastern shores, and especially in Xi’an, the former terminal city of the Silk Road. Uighurs – the second largest ethnic group in Xinjiang – have mostly remained in the region. Uighurs are descendants from the ancient Sogdian traders once observed by Marco Polo, and unlike many of the nomadic tribes of Central Asia, the Uighurs are an urban people whose identity crystallized in the oasis towns of the Silk Road.

A walk through the bazaars of old Uighur centers such as Kashgar or Khotan reveals the physical legacy of a people rooted along the first trans-contintental trade route: an astonishing array of hazel and even blue eyes, with blonde or brown or black hair — typically tucked beneath headscarves or the customary Uighur felt cap.

The cuisine of the Hui and Uighur is halal, meaning that there is no pork (or alcohol – although beer and wine often makes it in to restaurants in Shanghai), and all meats must be butchered halal. The cuisine often feels more Central Asian or Middle Eastern than Chinese food, thanks to the usage of strong spices like cumin and the addition of naan bread to the table.

Here are top Seven Restaurants to find the best Xinjiang food in Shanghai:

1. Yoga's Noodles Restaurant （Yoga´s 粉分子)

2. Authentic Xinjiang Lamb Skewers (新疆正宗羊肉串儿 )

This takeaway-only shop is located at the intersection of Zhejiang Rd and Guangdong Rd – what used to be Shanghai’s famous Muslim food street. While fat-butt sheep are no longer butchered out in the open here, the skewers of lamb (羊肉串儿) grilled to order are as fresh as it comes. And their selection of naan is unparalleled in the city.

Adress: 广东路587号 (587 Guangdong Rd. )

3. Yer-shari 耶里夏丽

Yeshari is the grand dame of Xinjiang cuisine. Their flagship store in Xujiahui opened in 2010, and they have 10 restaurants all over the city. You can catch performances of traditional Xinjiang culture during dinner in the main dining room at most of the restaurants. And we’ve talked about how much we love their kid-friendly menu, plus their lunch sets are a great deal!

Adress:Zhaojiabang Rd. 2F, No. 680 Zhaojiabang Road. 天平路街道肇嘉浜路680号金钟大厦2号楼（近乌鲁木齐南路,停车场在店旁边后院10米）

4. Xin Q – 新Q

Run by a rather hip Uighur family, Xin Q attracts a wide swath of society on their way home after an evening out. Choose from 20+ different cuts of meat chilling on skewers in the refrigerator. In our opinion, the chicken wings are up there with the best in Shanghai.

Address: 688 Xietu Rd. No. 688 Xietu Road. 斜土路688号

5. Xibo 锡箔新疆

As the name suggests, Xibo highlights the food of the Xibonese people from Xinjiang’s northwest hills. The vibe is more modern and higher-end. Think cocktails, English menus, and award-winning wines from the region. They launched in 2009 and now have five stores around Shanghai – a Xinjiang success story you don’t hear about very often.

Original Location: 3F, 83 Changshu Rd. 3F, No. 83 Changshu Road.

Jing'an Location: LG191 100 Fujian North Road, LG191, inside Suhe MixC World

Extra: Guan Guan Ji 贯贯吉