It’s not Korean, it’s not Chinese.. it’s Cháoxiǎn Zú (朝鲜族)

Xita Lao Tai Tai, China’s most popular Korean BBQ chain, has arrived in Singapore, bringing its signature grilled meats to local diners for the first time. The brand traces its roots back over two decades to Xita (西塔), lit “West Stupa, a vibrant district in Shenyang, the capital of Liaoning province. Xita is widely regarded as Shenyang’s “Little Korea,” and is home to a high concentration of Korean restaurants.

With Liaoning sharing a border with North Korea, Shenyang has long served as a key entry point for Korean merchants coming into China. Over time, this has led to the emergence of the 朝鲜族 (Cháoxiǎn Zú) — the ethnic Korean Chinese community.

Many Chaoxianzu are descendants of Koreans who migrated across the border in the 19th and early 20th centuries due to war, famine, and Japanese occupation. Though they are Chinese citizens, they’ve preserved much of their Korean language, food culture, and identity, creating a unique heritage. In many ways, their cultural adaptation mirrors that of the Peranakan community in Southeast Asia, which also has its own culture and culinary style.

It was within this melting pot that one Chaoxianzu matriarch, fondly referred to as the “Lao Tai Tai” (老太太) began peddling her Korean-Chinese grilled meats from a simple pushcart. Her recipe quickly won over the neighbourhood and sparked what would become a nationwide phenomenon. Today, Xita Lao Tai Tai honours her legacy with over 600 outlets across China, and now, its first international outlet at Bugis+.