We Tried China’s Number 1 Claypot BBQ Chain, Now Open At Bugis+

Xita Lao Tai Tai has claypot BBQ at Bugis+

We’re always on the lookout for BBQ places with interesting concepts—like the Korean restaurant SOT, which intrigued us with its use of traditional drum griddles. The latest to catch our attention is Xita Lao Tai Tai, a Chinese restaurant that recently opened at Bugis+.

Originating from Shenyang, China, Xita Lao Tai Tai is known for its charcoal-grilled meats cooked on a “claypot stove”, with Korean influences shaped by the city’s sizable Korean population. It was voted China’s number one BBQ chain by the China Restaurant Industry Awards 2025, with over 600 outlets across the country. This Singapore outpost marks its first in Southeast Asia.

The aforementioned claypot stove is said to intensify the smoky, charred flavours of the meat by retaining more heat than a regular grill. But is that really the case, and does the quality of the ingredients live up to it?

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Food at Xita Lao Tai Tai

During our visit, we were served a varied selection of meats, each said to have its own unique house-made marinade.

The first cut of meat we tried was the Special Marinated Beef Rib Finger ($33.90++). This cut came from between the rib bones, which offered a chewy texture and rich, meaty flavour. The “special marinade” in the name refers to a Korean-inspired glaze that’s both sweet and savoury—and that was plenty apparent in each bite. Even without any of the sauces, this cut of meat was good enough to have on its own.

True enough, the charcoal fire and claypot grill did impart a smoky flavour while retaining the juicy goodness of the meats—be careful not to overcook them, as the intense heat works fast. But honestly, we’re not sure it offers that much of an advantage over other grills, as this level of smokiness seems replicable elsewhere.

Speaking of sauces, Xita Lao Tai Tai has a good number of them. There’s the Signature Sesame Sauce, where onions, coriander, and sesame sauce are mixed together to create an aromatic, creamy, and nutty sauce.

The sesame sauce goes well with almost everything we had here, but if you’d like to spice it up, consider the Signature BBQ Marinade, Spicy Dipping Sauce and Savoury Dry Spice as well.

Next up was the Xita Speciality Sliced Beef Chuck ($30.90++): slices of chuck steak with a sweet marinade. While we preferred the texture and melt-in-your-mouth quality of the rib finger, the meat here was nevertheless succulent and tender, with the smokiness of the grill shining through.  However, we found that the marinade was sweet enough that it got cloying after a slice or two.

This was a problem that continued with the Pineapple Glazed Beef Rib Finger ($34.90++). Here, the use of pineapple in the marinade gave the meat a sweet and tangy edge that, while enticing to some, was a little excessive for us. The savoury or spicy sauces mentioned above did alleviate some of that, however, which allowed the luscious meat to shine through.

The Flagship Featherblade Steak ($36.90++), meanwhile, avoided the aforementioned problem. Its hearty bite, juicy goodness, and beefy flavour meant we enjoyed every second of the meat, which was also the thickest cut of beef yet.

Aside from these cuts of beef, there were pork and chicken options, including the Special Marinated Pork Collar ($35.90++) and Spicy Bulgogi Chicken Wings ($14.90++). While these were decent enough, we reckon you’re better off focusing on the beef instead, which was of a much higher quality.

Thanks to its Korean influences, Xita Lao Tai Tai offers a free flow of banchan, including kimchi, mashed potatoes, tofu skin, pumpkin porridge and more. That, plus the wide range of drinks and desserts available, means that you can really have quite the feast at this restaurant.

Ambience at Xita Lao Tai Tai

Xita Lao Tai Tai occupies a visually striking space, with bright orange juxtaposed against black furnishings throughout much of the space. It’s a comfortable spot to enjoy as much BBQ as you’d like, with the bonus of highly effective smoke vents at each table, so you leave without any lingering smell on your clothes.

The restaurant is a five-minute walk from Bugis MRT Station.

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Xita Lao Tai Tai – Eatbook review

With its charcoal claypot grill and high-quality meats, Xita Lao Tai Tai offers a solid BBQ experience. It’s going to cost you quite a bit, and not all the marinades are perfect, but we think it’s worth a shot for fans of BBQ.

For K-BBQ that uses an automated grill, read our CheongDamChae review. For a $15++ K-BBQ Buffet with free-flow pork belly, fried chicken and more in JB, read our Zen Plus Korean BBQ coverage.

Address: 201 Victoria Street, #04-06, Bugis+, Singapore 188067
Opening hours: Daily 12pm to 3pm, 5pm to 10pm
Tel: 6908 4181
Website
Xita Lao Tai Tai is not a halal-certified eatery.

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Photos taken by Tao Zhi Tan.
This was a media tasting at Xita Lao Tai Tai.