Chibang: Carnival Cruise Line’s hybrid Chinese language and Mexican restaurant (with menu)

Have you ever ever thought to your self, “I am within the temper for some Mexican meals, however I might additionally actually like some eggrolls”? Yeah, me neither — till I ate at Chibang, Carnival Cruise Line‘s mixture Chinese language and Mexican restaurant.

It appears like an odd idea, however I used to be shocked to find it really works nicely. Here is a primer for every part you may must know — together with the place to seek out it, what’s on the menu and the way a lot you may pay — to find out if this attention-grabbing eatery is value a strive.

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What’s Chibang on Carnival cruises?

Chibang debuted in 2021 on Mardi Gras, the primary ship in Carnival’s Excel Class. It was initially designed to soak up overflow from the principle eating room at peak dinner instances, even providing the MDR menu along with its personal hybrid menu of cuisines. (Chibang not gives the eating room menu.)

The house contains a mix of each Mexican and Chinese language decor, and the vibe is bustling and loud. For those who’re in search of a quiet dinner, this isn’t the venue for you. Tables are set so shut collectively — generally as few as 4 or 5 inches aside — that you simply may discover it troublesome to entry your seat.

Roving drink waiters meander from desk to desk and attempt to upsell you on photographs and different alcoholic drinks. When passengers partake, they’re usually inspired to chant earlier than ingesting, including to the already deafening din.

Throughout meals, a parade winds by way of the house, that includes a dancing Chinese language dragon.

The restaurant is open to everybody. Word that passengers with Your Time Dining — which permits cruisers to dine any time they need between 5 and 9 p.m. — can have dinner at Chibang any time throughout opening hours. Cruisers with set-seating eating are solely allowed to eat there after 7:45 p.m.

Reservations aren’t required, however they’re advisable.

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Chibang menu

On the Chibang dinner menu, Carnival contains appetizers, mains and sides for every kind of delicacies. A number of tasty choices can be found for individuals who do not eat meat. You may persist with dishes from one a part of the world or combine and match nonetheless you want.

Chinese language

Appetizers are quite a few and embody egg drop soup, spring rolls, lettuce wraps and a mandarin honey crunch salad.

For mains, select from beef and broccoli stir-fry, spicy Cantonese pork, candy and bitter shrimp, kung pao rooster and Sichuan-style tofu. For a surcharge of $20 per particular person (minimal of two folks), diners may order a roast duck that is carved proper on the desk.

Sides embody hakka noodles, steamed broccoli in sauce and jasmine rice.

Mexican

For starters, cruisers can choose from loaded nachos, queso fundido, quesadillas and tacos with a selection of pork, beef, shrimp or greens, amongst different gadgets.

Comply with up your appetizers with spicy and crispy fried fish, rooster in mole sauce, slow-cooked pork, spicy striploin steak or extra-spicy shrimp.

Sides embody inexperienced beans, pink beans and yucca.

Extra menu choices

Steakhouse decisions — gadgets like surf and turf, grilled lamb chops and filet mignon — can be found for an extra payment.

Desserts from each cuisines are listed beneath one part and embody coconut tea tres leches, caramelized milk custard, and a chocolate dessert with caramel ice cream and ginger.

The menu additionally contains a wine checklist and a collection of cocktails with each Chinese language and Mexican themes. Examples embody margaritas, inexperienced tea martinis and different drinks involving tequila, mezcal and lychee liqueur.

For youngsters 11 and youthful, Chibang gives a children menu — basically a pared-down model of the grownup menu.

It contains gadgets like quesadillas, steamed shrimp dumplings and rooster spring rolls as appetizers; fried fish, fried shrimp, striploin steak and hakka noodles with greens as mains; and both caramelized milk custard or chocolate cake with ginger ice cream for dessert.

Lunch

Chibang additionally offers a free lunchtime possibility, serving up noodle and burrito bowls. For the previous, select from thick noodles with stir-fried beef and veggies; egg noodles with shredded rooster and veggies in broth; or rice noodles with shrimp, veggies and peanuts. The latter contains pulled pork with rice, veggies and cheese; chipotle rooster with beans, greens and pico de gallo; and lime shrimp with yellow rice, veggies, garlic and cheese sauce.

Diners can customise bowls by selecting mix-ins from an intensive checklist of further meats, greens and sauces. For dessert, two choices can be found: flan with whipped cream and caramel sauce, and cinnamon churros with vanilla ice cream.

Word: Menu gadgets had been correct on the time of publication, however they’re topic to alter with out discover.

Chibang value

It is free for everybody to eat dinner at Chibang on their first go to. Subsequent visits incur a surcharge of $8 per particular person. The one exception is on Carnival Jubilee, the place all meals at Chibang are free for the ship’s inaugural season. After that, solely the primary go to will probably be free.

Choices from the menu’s steakhouse part will incur a $23 per merchandise payment. Alcohol prices additional except you have got a beverage package that covers it. An 18% gratuity will probably be added (besides at no cost meals), and a $5 surcharge will apply for each principal course after the primary two per particular person.

Lunch is at all times freed from cost.

Which Carnival cruise ships have Chibang?

Chibang has an outpost on every ship in Carnival’s Excel Class:

Planning a cruise? Begin with these tales: