New Late Night Restaurant Opens in Linda Vista With Chinese Barbecue and Karaoke | Eater San Diego

"I discovered a new Chinese barbecue in Linda Vista occupying the former Saigon Restaurant space next to Thuan Phat supermarket; it's the second location of Xinjiang BBQ, which originally opened in Monterey Park in 2017. Inspired by meat dishes from Xinjiang, the menu emphasizes lamb—lamb soup, lamb chops, lamb kidneys, and lamb testicles—and a wide selection of barbecued skewers including beef kabobs, crispy pork, Taiwanese sausage, and chicken gizzards available spicy or mild. The offerings also include seafood snacks like barbecue oysters and spicy clams, staples such as fried rice, sweet sour fries, eggplant with garlic, and fried tofu, plus sweets like grilled buns on skewers lightly dusted with sugar and small desserts filled with yogurt and red bean paste. The 2,800-square-foot space is designed as a 360-degree art installation: an immersive lobby with motion sensors lets customers interact with roving images on the floor, giant screens on every wall display moving scenes including animated Chinese scroll paintings, and each table has an individual screen playing Chinese and Western music videos plus microphones for karaoke. Owner Xun Tong plans to expand the menu to include hot pot, hopes to serve beer and soju once the restaurant secures a liquor license, and, following the Monterey Park location's late-night model, will keep late hours (Mon–Thu 5 p.m.–2 a.m.; Fri–Sat 5 p.m.–3 a.m.; Sun 5 p.m.–midnight) while considering further expansion in San Diego or Las Vegas." - Helen I. Hwang