Urumqi Restaurants

Ayoulali Xian Niunai Bingqiling Dian
Uighurs seem enjoy the Western tradition of loving good ice cream — as evidenced in the soft-serve machines on street corners everywhere in Xinjiang. Here, ice cream is elevated to haute cuisine (though still at Uighur prices) at this parlor with wooden walls and glass tables. There are only a few flavors on offer — the trademark Avral (a butterscotch with local berries), cherry, and chocolate. It’s become an institution in Ürümqi.
Address Shengli Lu 193, Urumqi, Xinjiang
Cuisine Desserts
Shanghai Yuanyuan Jiudian
After the wilds of Xinjiang, the subtle flavors and genuinely friendly service of this unlikely restaurant may be just what you need. There is a well-translated menu, which is a relief, as Shanghai cuisine has a weakness for euphemistic and flowery names. Those with few cholesterol concerns should try the Yuanyuan hongshao rou (Yuanyuan pork). Vegetarian choices are extensive. The one jarring note is the TV blaring in the corner.
Address Huang He Lu 83, Urumqi, Xinjiang
Phone 0991/583-0777
Taibei Kafeiting
This new restaurant, part of the Taipei Suites Hotel, is representative of the hip, new edge that’s seemed to penetrate Ürümqi in the past few years. The cozy booths with window views of the city, shaded by dark red curtains, are a particularly nice place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. You can try your luck with the entrees, which range from set Japanese meals to pizza, but it’s the rich coffee and mountainous piles of ice and fruit desserts that the Taiwanese call baobing that stand out.
Address Xinhua Bei Lu 108, Urumqi, Xinjiang
Phone 0991/887-8888
Cuisine Chinese
Vine Coffeehouse & English Corner
A West Indian cafe is not something you expect to find in downtown Urumqi, but this oasis in a sea of blandness is a delight. The halal menu was established by the head chef of the Plaza Hotel, Curacao. Try his signature dish, the Jacques Steak, pan-fried with green peppers, tomatoes, and onions, and served with sides of potatoes, coleslaw, and (in a concession to local tastes) rice. Other hits are the soup de jour, chicken a la king, and the cookies under the front counter. “English Corner” is currently held on Thursday and Sunday nights; it’s a nice way to meet locals, and possibly find a guide who isn’t out to bilk you. The restaurant is down a small alley off Minzhu Lu.
Address Minzhu Lu 65, Urumqi, Xinjiang
Phone 0991/230-4831
Cuisine Western