Why is Shenzhen's most authentic Xinjiang food in Luohu?
When it comes to Xinjiang food in Shenzhen, old Shenzheners will point you to Wenjin in Luohu. This area was formerly the site of the Xinjiang subdistrict office. In the early years, wave after wave of Xinjiang people came to Shenzhen to settle and build their lives, gradually forming a small community — shops selling Xinjiang specialities, neighbours speaking Xinjiang dialects, restaurants playing Xinjiang music. The office has moved away, but the flavours stayed.
The most concentrated cluster is around Jinxing Garden on Chunfeng Road, which once had a density of "four Xinjiang restaurants in a row, one every 50 metres" — locals simply call it "Xinjiang Street". The 6 below are all real shops with addresses, opening hours and years of history — not advertorials.
① Lao Yang Jia Yakxi · 20-Year Xinjiang Restaurant (Neighbours' Top Pick)
Open for over 20 years, with the walls covered in exotic Xinjiang paintings. The signature is tandoor-roasted lamb ribs — charred outside, tender inside, bursting with juice in one bite; best dipped in dry spice mix (not spicy, pure aroma). The red willow lamb skewers use red willow wood to skewer the meat, letting the red willow's fragrance seep into the lamb and mellowing the gamey taste considerably. The clear-braised lamb soup uses almost nothing but salt — what you taste is the original flavour.
- Address: Building 3, Jinxing Garden, 1005 Chunfeng Road, Luohu District, Shenzhen
- Hours: 10:30–02:00 (next day)
- Per person: about ¥89
- Getting there: Metro Line 9 to Wenjin Station, Exit B, about 380 metres on foot
② Fifteen Years Yakxi Restaurant (Tandoor-Baked Samsa)
The sign says "Fifteen Years", but old Luohu hands know they've been rooted in this area for over 20 years, with everyone from the boss to the staff hailing from Kashgar in Xinjiang. The signature Xinjiang baked samsa comes out of the oven around 5pm daily, with evenly marbled lamb leg filling cooked in the tandoor in just over ten minutes. The tandoor lamb skewers are brushed with egg wash first, then smothered with residual charcoal heat rather than direct flame, so the juices are well preserved with a faint milky aroma.
- Address: Room 102, Building 4, Jinxing Garden, 1005 Chunfeng Road, Luohu District, Shenzhen
- Hours: 10:00–23:00
- Per person: about ¥91
- Getting there: Metro Line 9 to Wenjin Station, Exit B, about 400 metres on foot
③ Yelimya Western Regions Theme Restaurant (Most Xinjiang Atmosphere)
The decor keeps strong Xinjiang character — wooden dining tables paired with crystal chandeliers, a mix of traditional and modern. The Xinjiang big plate chicken is an enormous portion, with chicken pieces, potatoes and hand-rolled wide noodles soaking in spicy broth; many reckon the potatoes outshine the chicken. The Shihezi cold noodles are thick and silky, served with Xinjiang-grown chilli. The Xinjiang old yoghurt comes with raisins and honey syrup — sweet and tangy together.
- Address: Ground floor, Liancheng Union Building, junction of Chunfeng Road and Wenjin South Road, Luohu District, Shenzhen
- Hours: Weekdays 10:30–14:00, 17:00–22:30; weekends 10:00–14:00, 17:00–22:00
- Per person: about ¥80
- Getting there: Metro Line 9 to Wenjin Station, about 5 minutes on foot
④ Xuelian Food (A Neighbourhood Shop Open 24 Years)
A Luohu friend's secret stash, drawing mainly Xinjiang locals and returning residents from nearby. The signature first-rate naan is fried naan cubes given a second blast in the wok — crisp and crunchy, "no one else does it". Pair it with the Xinjiang speciality drink kvass (fermented honey and hops, fizzy but alcohol-free) — very refreshing.
- Address: 1034 Chunfeng Road, Luohu District, Shenzhen
- Hours: 09:00–22:00
- Per person: about ¥93
- Getting there: Metro Line 9 to Wenjin Station, about 6 minutes on foot
⑤ Gu Li Hand-Grabbed Rice (The Cheapest Meal)
A new face on Xinjiang Street, specialising in Xinjiang hand-grabbed rice and jar soup. The hand-grabbed rice adds Xinjiang yellow carrot — fresh with a hint of sweetness. The jar soup is essentially a mini version of clear-braised lamb soup, with a big chunk of lamb simmered in a jar; it's heavy on the milky lamb flavour, so think twice if you're not used to it.
- Address: 2000-1 Shennan East Road, Luohu District, Shenzhen
- Hours: 10:30–23:30
- Per person: about ¥48
- Getting there: Metro Line 9 to Wenjin Station or Hubei Station, about 8 minutes on foot
⑥ Hua Xiao Xiao Xinjiang Fried Rice Noodles (Fast Food at ¥28 Per Person)
They only do Xinjiang fried rice noodles and fried naan, with four spice levels from mildly spicy to blow-your-head-off. Xinjiang rice noodles cling to the sauce beautifully, slippery and chewy like potato noodles, with crisp celery to cut the heat. ⚠️ A sincere warning: Xinjiang chillies are not to be underestimated — even "mildly spicy" will have you breathing fire, so don't challenge medium or above on your first visit.
- Address: Ground floor, Zhenhua Building, 2102 Shennan East Road, Luohu District, Shenzhen
- Hours: 08:00–23:59
- Per person: about ¥28
- Getting there: Metro Line 9 to Hubei Station, about 5 minutes on foot
Bonus: You Can Eat Xinjiang Food in Futian Too
If you're crossing at Futian Checkpoint and don't want to head into Luohu, Futian has options too. Anaer · Xinjiang Restaurant is on L1 of Wongtee Plaza, 118 Fuhua Third Road, Futian District, serving roast lamb ribs, lamb skewers and big plate chicken; the setting is newer and cleaner than the old shops, good for bringing the family. Zhongfayuan is one of Shenzhen's largest Xinjiang restaurant groups, with its Chunfeng branch in Luohu open for over twenty years, on the more upmarket side.
- Anaer · Xinjiang Restaurant: L1-36, L1, Wongtee Plaza, 118 Fuhua Third Road, Futian District
- Zhongfayuan (Chunfeng branch): around Chunfeng Road, Luohu District
How to Get There from the Three Checkpoints?
- From Luohu Checkpoint: after crossing, take Metro Line 9 to Wenjin Station, then walk 380 metres from Exit B to Jinxing Garden's "Xinjiang Street" — about 15 minutes in total, the smoothest route.
- From Futian Checkpoint: take Line 4 from Futian Checkpoint Station to Convention & Exhibition Center Station, change to Line 1 to Hubei Station, then walk or call a car to Chunfeng Road — about 25 minutes.
- From Shenzhen Bay Checkpoint: take Line 13 to Houhai Station, change to Line 2 to the Hubei Station area — about 35 minutes; if you want to eat and go, just call a car.
Ordering and Practical Tips
- Baked samsa depends on oven timing (around 5pm) — if you want some, ask the staff a little early.
- Xinjiang portions are large; 4 people ordering 3 dishes plus 2 lamb skewers will already be stuffed, so don't over-order.
- Lamb soup and hand-grabbed rice are oily and gamey; if you're not used to lamb, pair with yoghurt or kvass to cut through it.
- Although kvass is called "Xinjiang beer", it's actually alcohol-free — drink with peace of mind.
- Most shops on this street are old establishments taking WeChat Pay / Alipay, so bring your phone; Hongkongers using AlipayHK and WeChat Pay HK are mostly accepted.
- It's busiest after 6pm and at weekends; for a comfortable seat, arrive before 5:30pm.
FAQ
Can I book a table at these shops?
Most old shops don't take reservations — first come, first served. For weekend dinner, arrive before 17:30 or avoid the 19:00–21:00 peak.
Is Xinjiang food spicy?
Big plate chicken and fried rice noodles lean spicy; roast lamb ribs, hand-grabbed rice and lamb soup are not. Just tell the staff "no chilli" when ordering.
Can I bring kids?
Yes. Hand-grabbed rice, baked samsa and yoghurt all suit children; the fried rice noodles are too spicy and not recommended for little ones.
Are the prices really that cheap?
The per-person figures above are references from public review data; the final bill varies with how much you order and drinks. Generally ¥150–¥200 for 2 people is plenty.
Which metro exit is closest to this street?
Exit B of Wenjin Station on Metro Line 9 is closest to Jinxing Garden; if you're heading to Gu Li Hand-Grabbed Rice or Hua Xiao Xiao Fried Rice Noodles, walking from Hubei Station is smoother.
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