XINJIANG BBQ
About
XINJIANG BBQ is listed on FindALoco in San Diego, CA with address, phone, website, hours, and map location. Common services and related keywords include Barbecue Restaurant.
If you're looking for a late-night barbecue spot in San Diego that goes beyond the usual tacos and fast food, XINJIANG BBQ is a destination worth knowing about. Located on Linda Vista Road, this barbecue restaurant specializes in Chinese-style skewers seasoned with bold cumin and chili — flavors inspired by the Xinjiang region of China. With an impressive 4.8-star rating from over 860 reviews, it has built a loyal following among locals who crave flavorful grilled meats well past midnight. The restaurant opens daily at 5 PM and stays open until 2 or 3 AM, making it one of the few sit-down spots in the city where you can enjoy a proper meal late into the evening.
The menu centers around skewers, and that's exactly what regulars come for. Lamb skewers are a standout — tender, generously portioned, and coated in a fragrant spice blend that hits all the right notes. On Saturdays, there's a special on lamb skewers at a price that's hard to beat, drawing in crowds who want quality barbecue without stretching their budget. Beyond lamb, the skewer selection is wide enough to keep groups ordering round after round. Each table is equipped with a built-in food warmer, a thoughtful touch that keeps your skewers at the perfect temperature while you eat and chat with friends.
Beyond the skewers, XINJIANG BBQ offers a handful of sides and small plates that complement the grilled items. The A-choy — grilled lettuce — has earned a surprising number of fans, with diners often commenting that they didn't expect grilled greens to taste so good. Fried tofu, sesame cucumber, and century egg tofu round out the options for those who want to mix in lighter dishes between rounds of meat. The portions are generous and the pricing remains friendly, which is part of why the restaurant works so well for group dining.
The atmosphere at XINJIANG BBQ adds to the overall experience. Projectors cast colorful light shows across the walls, giving the space a lively, almost club-like energy without being overwhelming. It's a fun setting for a casual night out with friends, especially on weekends when the place fills up and the late-night crowd rolls in. While it previously offered karaoke, the current focus is squarely on the food and the vibe. There's plenty of seating, so even during busier hours, wait times tend to be reasonable.
For anyone in the San Diego area searching for a barbecue restaurant that offers authentic Chinese-style skewers, a relaxed late-night atmosphere, and great value, XINJIANG BBQ on Linda Vista Road delivers on all three. It's ideal for friend groups looking for a laid-back dinner spot, night owls who want something more satisfying than drive-through food, and anyone curious about bold, spice-forward Xinjiang-style grilling. With hundreds of enthusiastic reviews backing it up, this is a local favorite that earns its reputation one skewer at a time.
Ratings & Reviews
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Sign in to reviewGreat Chinese BBQ place where you can order dozens of skewers and enjoy with friends. The pricing is so friendly, and the food tastes authentic, with a lot of cumin and chilli. They even have a food warmer on each table to keep the skewers warm, which is a nice touch.
My 2nd time dining in, (3rd if you count a delivery). Skewers are great not only in price but in quality and amount of meat. I didn't know they have a special on Saturday lamb skewer for $1.50 each! My friend her first time here she said 12/10 and she wants to come back. The scenery is beautiful and yes I said scenery, the vibes are great and staff is awesome!
One of the rare places serving late-night snacks that aren’t tacos or fast food. I’ve come here a few times with friends and always had a good time. A-choy is a real hit 😄 I didn’t expect grilled lettuce to taste that good. The tofu with century egg, however, is not recommended. There are a lot of warning signs at the front of the shop 😂 It feels a bit serious at first, but I guess it’s good to make everything clear in advance. One funny note, my husband got a little dizzy from looking at the spinning wall.
Highly recommend this location for all your late night cravings. They are opened till past mid night! Hardly any sit down restaurant is even open past 10 pm. Best part is that they have discounts past 8 pm on lamb skewers!? Plenty of seating and very cool projectors with a light show on the walls
Karaoke restaurant vibe but apparently they stopped doing karaoke. Food was decent. Skewer meats were tasty from the sauce but meat quality was so so. Fried tofu was good but lacking salt. Sesame cucumber was also good but pretty ordinary dish. Overall, I was there because there was no wait at 6pm on a Friday night. Service was great!