Savour the lingering, smoky aromas of charcoal-grilled meats at Xita Lao Tai Tai that is ranked as China’s Number 1 BBQ chain by China Restaurant Industry Awards 2025. Known for its long queues in China, particularly at its Beijing, Hangzhou, and Shanghai outlets, it is proud to open Xita Lao Tai Tai’s first Southeast Asia outpost in Singapore, Bugis+. This joins its chain of over 600 stores across China. The brand is also expanding further into Southeast Asia, with outlets opening soon in Malaysia and Indonesia. Xita Lao Tai Tai Singapore will hold its soft opening on 15 April 2025.
Meaning “Old Lady of Xita”, this barbecue restaurant hails from the vibrant area of Xita in Shenyang, known for its unique Korean-influenced Clay Stove Barbecue that emerged thanks to the district’s bustling trade with Korean merchants in the 1950s. In the deep of winter, this special stove served a dual purpose: it not only shielded the flames from the wind but also imparted a distinct and stronger smoky, charred flavor to the meat as it grilled over the glowing coals. As the heat in the claypot is higher than a normal stove, this also helps to enhance the flavours by imparting the charcoal aromas and smokiness to the meat.
Starting out as a push cart, locals would flock to the store for the delicious food. This popularity among locals and travellers to Shenyang helped her transition to a restaurant, in order to accommodate more customers and provide a memorable dining experience. To further engage with patrons, the Xita Lao Tai Tai began showcasing her cultural heritage by performing graceful traditional Korean dances in the restaurant. Her joyful spirit and enthusiastic interactions transformed dining into a delightful experience for everyone. Today, she is celebrated as a living legend in Shenyang’s Xita barbecue scene.
This April, Xita Lao Tai Tai brings this cherished Shenyang legacy of clay stove grilling and unforgettable harmony of flavours to Singapore shores. Marinated with over 28 unique house-made marinades, look forward to an expanded menu with more premium items. These include the melt-in-the-mouth Xita Fatty Beef, which is specially marinated in-house, using the natural sweetness of apples. There’s also flavoursome Signature Marinated Beef Short Plate, as well as the tender and tangy Pineapple Beef Sirloin with spring onions. To cater to non-beef eaters here, Xita Lao Tai Tai Singapore has also added more pork and seafood dishes to its already extensive menu. These include a fork-tender Signature Marinated Pork Fillet, and Special Marinated Pork Skin that crisps up amazingly when kissed by the flames.
Another time-honoured Xita speciality you will taste at Xita Lao Tai Tai is its signature sesame dip. Made with 10 different ingredients and mixed with onions, coriander and more, this aromatic and creamy sauce is not just a condiment; but symbolises the friendships between the Korean merchants and the locals of Xita, their shared love for barbecued meat. In addition to being known for serving the freshest of meats, and its signature sesame dip, Xita Lao Tai Tai provides free-flow side dishes or banchan/xiao cai – kimchi, mashed potato, tofu skin and more.
