Ordering Food in Xinjiang: Uyghur & Mandarin Phrases for Travelers
The best meal of my trip was the one where I finally stopped pointing and said “shi ge yang rou chuan, bu la” — “ten lamb skewers, not spicy.” The cook laughed, complied, and threw in an extra. A handful of food phrases unlocks better service and fewer surprises in Xinjiang. The food glossary lists dishes; this is the talking part.
The Core Mandarin You’ll Use Daily
Basics
Wo yao… (I want…), duoshao qian? (how much?), jie zhang (bill, please), xie xie (thank you). At a grill: “yang rou chuan” (lamb skewers), “ji kuai qian” (how many RMB?).
Customizing
“Bu la” (not spicy), “sha la” (less spicy), “duo rou” (extra meat), “qing tang” (clear/light broth for la mian), “re yi dian” (hotter). These five sentences cover 90% of tweaks.
Dietary
“Wo chi su” (I eat vegetarian), “bu chi zhurou” (I don’t eat pork — important in halal spots to signal respect), “you mianhua ma?” (does it have peanuts/nuts?). The halal and veg guide stresses the pork line as courtesy, not just diet.
Useful Uyghur Words
Uyghur is widely spoken south of Urumqi. A few go far: rahmet (thank you), yaqshimusiz (hello), non (bread/naan), kowap (kebab — see the kawap guide), laghman (the noodles), chay (tea), süt (milk, as in milk tea).
| Phrase | Language | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bu la | Mandarin | Not spicy | Any grill |
| Duoshao qian | Mandarin | How much? | Every purchase |
| Bu chi zhurou | Mandarin | No pork | Halal entry |
| Rahmet | Uyghur | Thank you | Always |
| Kowap | Uyghur | Kebab | Ordering grill |
| Non | Uyghur | Bread | Bakery |
Reading a Menu
Menus are usually Chinese + Uyghur Arabic script. Key characters: 羊肉 (lamb), 牛肉 (beef), 鸡 (chicken, as in dapanji), 面 (noodles), 馕 (naan), 茶 (tea), 素 (vegetable). The glossary has 20 words to memorize; even three helps.
Survival Script for a Grill
Walk up: “Yang rou chuan, shi ge, bu la. Laghman, yi wan, qing tang.” (Ten lamb skewers, not spicy. One laghman, light broth.) Hand over the phone with translation if stuck — most young cooks read it. The street-food guide and Urumqi map note which stalls have picture menus.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to speak Uyghur?
No. Mandarin works everywhere tourist-facing; Uyghur phrases are a warm bonus that gets smiles, especially in Kashgar and Hotan (guide, guide).
Will they understand “no spicy”?
Usually yes — bu la is known in every grill. For noodle broth, qing tang signals lighter oil too. Write it down if unsure.
Is it rude to use a translation app?
Not at all; cooks appreciate the effort and it prevents wrong orders. Just show the dish name from the glossary if words fail.
What if there’s no menu in English?
Point at what others are eating, or use the dish names from the laghman, polo, and samsa guides — say the pinyin. Picture menus are common at kebab stalls.
