Xinjiang BBQ Cart
“The skewers come in spicy or non-spicy versions, and you can taste the Xinjiang spices they rub the meat with.”
“Beautifully seasoned, these sticks of lamb meat should be required eating for everyone – vegetarians included.”
“These were deliciously tasty, doused in an assortment of spices with cumin being the predominant flavor.”
Xinjiang BBQ Cart
Take-out: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Good for Kids: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Price range.
$ Price range Under $10
8 reviews
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I love this place but I won't ever return again. I've been a customer of this specific cart outside Chase bank for a few months now. This cart has always been my go-to for a pre-meal or post-meal snack. I love the chicken and squid skewers. Being that this is street food, I've overlooked many things in the past and continued to be a loyal customer. I ignored the fact that they use the same glove to collect my money AND to grab cumin/spicy powder to sprinkle over my food. AND the grimy looking drawers they store the raw skewers in.
I hate to leave a 1-star review for a small family business but I witnessed today can't be ignored. As the lady was handing 4 skewers to a customer, 1 skewer fell to the ground. Without even hesitating, she picked up the skewer, brushed more sauce on it, grilled it for another 10 seconds, and handed it right back to the customer. She did all of that as if it was common practice. That was an act of complete disregard to sanitation and health. If she can act this way when there were at least 10 other customers watching her, what is she doing to our food behind the scenes when nobody's watching?
If you've been to central or western China, and you aren't a vegetarian, you've probably had at least one of the cumin lamb skewers that are sold from carts all around the region. They are particularly famous in Xi'an's Muslim quarter, and once I discovered them there, I ate them pretty much non-stop. After coming back to the States, they were one of the things I missed the most. I live in San Francisco, and it's VERY hard to find these skewers there. But after discovering Flushing (which is one of the most Chinese places I have ever been outside of China), I soon found that these tasty little snacks are *everywhere* around the downtown. If you are looking for a traditional BBQ lamb skewer experience that's just like you would find in China, this cart is the place to eat! Be sure to ask for your skewers "spicy" to get the most traditional flavor: they aren't really all that spicy. The prices can't be beat eaither!
I don't come to Flushing that often but when I do come I make sure to always come and get a Lamb skewer. The cumin here really comes thru here and differentiates this place from others. The price is up to $1.50 per stick which is starting to get expensive but its oh so good.
I tried to speak english to the guy but he didn't understand so good luck if you don't.
Food: 3.5/5.0
Service: 2.5/5.0
Value: 4.0/5.0
Decor: 1.0/5.0
Overall: 3.5/5.0
How can a dirty-ish Asian barbeque cart possibly garner a prestigious four and half stars on Yelp? Well, firstly, yes, it's in large part because it's cheap. And because it's grimy all the Yelpers are freaking out (good job, hipsters).
The food. I had the standard chicken and lamb skewers with hot powder. The chicken was of reasonable quality and juicy, but the lamb was more meh. You can't cook them for the same amount of time regardless of difference in cube sizes. The prices are quite good at $1.50 per standard skewer and more for the fancier ones, but you're obviously getting what you pay for — think at least five skewers to be remotely full off meh quality meat. The cleanliness. Well, it's not very clean. Sorry, but no way around it. My guess given the meat sits right over the coals is that you're probably not going to get food poisoning, but I would not expect much beyond that. Highly variable hours and obviously cash only.
Note that there seem to be some reviews and/or pictures of carts different from the one at this location.
Simply the best. For me, trips through queens often include a detour through Flushing and Xianjing is one of the biggest reasons. Flushing has some of the most delicious, authentic, and CHEAP food, and Xianjing does it best.
Tucked away on 41st street at the corner of Kissena Blvd (near the intersection with Main Street), this BBQ cart offers roughly 15 different skewers including chicken, beef, lamb, squid, and sausage. The skewers are grilled over hot charcoals and dusted with a cumin spice blend and an optional hot chili powder. Very simple, incredibly flavorful. If you can handle some heat, I'd suggest asking for a light amount of the chili powder, but if you can handle the heat ask for it spicy. At $1.50 each, it's easy to try a few of the flavors and find your favorite.
Queens, and flushing in particular, is notorious for traffic. Xianjing serves meat on a stick that is worth every minute of traffic you need to conquer to get it. The cart is also within steps of the LIRR and 7 train flushing stations!
Yes … The food is very tasty & it's a great value but there's no way I'm going back unless I'm without a car & camping next to it. Impossible getting in & around this area.
The chicken was good but I have to say…. The lamb was amazing (I'm a total lamb chop type girl).
But sorry… Not worth the crazy driving
MY LOVE. I would consider relocation just to be closer to this if it were not for fear of possible addiction.
Although prices have gone up over the years, now at mostly $1.50 a pop this place is a total bargain and its taste a total luxury. The meat are melt-in-your-mouth delicious with the perfect char that will leave wanting for more. The flavors are out of this world too – perhaps even better than what I've tasted in northern China. Service is awesome as well. I've tried a couple other places scattered in the city but they all pale in comparison.
Some of my favorites:
– lamb skewer (seriously a must unless you don't eat lamb)
– chicken gizzard
– lamb kidney
– beef tendon
This BBQ cart can take all my money. The only downside is this is cash only and I never carry enough cash to buy out the cart.
Xinjiang BBQ cart brought me back to my summer days in Beijing, where they serve street food literally in a hole in a wall. The meats here are made to order, seasoned to perfection, and cooked over real lump charcoal. This cart is the real deal! I also go to try the Mongolian cart that's a couple blocks away but it isn't nearly as good as this one