Ainiwaerjiang Fast Food Restaurant: Meatballs
Meatballs are made from minced lamb leg meat mixed with various spices. A bit of fat must be added to the filling to ensure the meatballs are not too dry when grilled, and they will sizzle with oil when freshly taken off the charcoal. The meatballs at Ainiwaerjiang Fast Food Restaurant are very good and definitely worth a try.
Century-old Teahouse: Ganzi Meat
While strolling through the alleys of the old town of Kashgar, if you see a large white enamel jar, don't miss it. Even under the scorching sun of southern Xinjiang, I wouldn't miss this delicious lamb soup. Ganzi meat comes from Kashgar and is the most representative delicacy of southern Xinjiang. Bone-in lamb is placed in an enamel jar, along with onions, tomatoes, ginger slices, salt, and black pepper, and slow-cooked over a charcoal stove. It's ready to drink and take away. There are many places that serve Ganzi meat, and the century-old teahouse's Ganzi meat is also very good.
Kaimailding Blue Pigeon Shop: Pigeon Soup
Compared to the roasted pigeon favored by people in Guangdong, people in Kashgar prefer pigeon soup. Worried about the potential birdy taste, I hesitated until the last day to try it, but my doubts were dispelled with the first sip. The white pigeon is very cleanly prepared, and the soup includes chickpeas, a distinctive feature of southern Xinjiang. The chickpeas are cooked very soft and flavorful. If you feel that the pigeon soup is not enough, you can also add some noodles. Kaimailding Blue Pigeon Shop has the best reputation here, and you need to queue up in advance to get in.
Ailizati Pilaf: Pilaf
In southern Xinjiang, it's pilaf; in northern Xinjiang, it's noodles. Kashgar is the hometown of pilaf. Pilaf is the first delicacy on traditional Uyghur banquets, followed by baked buns or hand-pulled meat, which shows its importance in the hearts of locals. Ailizati Pilaf's pilaf is considered exceptional, with a unique flavor that makes it hard to stop eating, especially when paired with small side dishes.
Xifa Cream Ice Cream: Cream Ice Cream
Ice cream in Xinjiang is divided into southern and northern styles. Southern Xinjiang ice cream is made only with milk and sugar, resulting in a very rich milk flavor. In Yining, eggs are also added, giving it a yellowish color and a sweeter taste. This ice cream from Kashgar is a typical southern Xinjiang flavor and is quite good.
