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Straits Times

Food Picks: Chinese-Korean barbecue restaurant Xita Lao Tai Tai debuts at Bugis+

Xita Lao Tai Tai's pineapple glazed beef rib finger is marinated in pineapple and comes with extra pineapple slices for grilling. PHOTO: XITA LAO TAI TAI SINGAPORE – Marrying both on-trend cuisines from South Korea and China is the Korean-influenced barbecue restaurant Xita Lao Tai Tai. With more than 600 outlets across China, the brand made its debut at Bugis+ with a 120-seat restaurant in April. The 'lao tai tai' (old lady in Chinese) mentioned in the restaurant's name is n ot a fictional character. This Korean matriarch, now in her 80s, is said to have started a clay-stove barbecue stall servi ng grilled meat in the 1950s in Xita, a neighbourhood in Shenyang, known for having the largest Koreatown in north-east China. Since then, her stall has evolved into the popular modernised barbecue chain of today, which still specialises in grilling meat over charcoal in a clay stove. Xita Lao Tai Tai is brought in by Bao Shi F&B Management, the food company behind restaurant chains The Hainan Story and Wee Nam Kee Chicken Rice. I recommend focusing on the menu's tender and juicy beef cuts, as they outshine the pork in the flavour department. Xita Lao Tai Tai's menu focuses on a variety of beef cuts. PHOTO: XITA LAO TAI TAI Highlights include the Xita fatty beef short plate ($27.90), flagship feather blade steak (from $36.90), Xita speciality sliced beef chuck ($30.90) and marbled beef short rib ($44.90). The pineapple glazed beef rib finger ($34.90) is marinated in pineapple for tenderness and comes wit h pineapple slices. Pair the sweet, grilled pineapple with the beef for the perfect bite. To complement the meats, there is free flow of side dishes (at no extra cost), such as kimchi, mashed potato and pumpkin soup. Accompanying condiments include a signature sesame sauce mixed with onions and coriander, a spicy dipping sauce and a Chinese-style savoury dry spice blend. Besides barbecued items, the restaurant offers an array of noodles, rice and cooked dishes – good for solo diners who may want to have just one portion of grilled meat with noodles. Xita Lao Tai Tai's cold buckwheat noodles. PHOTO: XITA LAO TAI TAI I enjoy the refreshing Korean-style cold buckwheat noodles ($16.90) and Korean-style fried chicken (from $12.90), along with the Chinese-style cold dressed chicken ($12.90). Wash everything down with a green apple squash ($6.50), Korean yuzu tea (from $4.80) or go all out with a beer tower ($60) or moutai tower ($68). Sign up as a member to get discounted prices for the dishes and access the set menus priced from $78.90. Where: 04-06 Bugis+, 201 Victoria Street MRT: Bugis Open: Noon to 3pm, 5 to 10pm daily Info: Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.