Chibang: Carnival Cruise Line's hybrid Chinese and Mexican restaurant (with menu)
Have you ever thought to yourself, “I’m in the mood for some Mexican food, but I’d also really like some eggrolls”? Yeah, me neither — until I ate at Chibang, Carnival Cruise Line's combination Chinese and Mexican restaurant.
It sounds like a strange concept, but I was shocked to discover it works well. Here’s a primer for everything you’ll need to know — including where to find it, what’s on the menu and how much you’ll pay — to determine if this interesting eatery is worth a try.
What is Chibang on Carnival cruises?
Chibang debuted in 2021 on Mardi Gras, the first ship in Carnival's Excel Class. It was initially designed to absorb overflow from the main dining room at peak dinner times, even offering the MDR menu in addition to its own hybrid menu of cuisines. (Chibang no longer offers the dining room menu.)
The space features a blend of both Mexican and Chinese decor, and the vibe is bustling and loud. If you’re looking for a quiet dinner, this is not the venue for you. Tables are set so close together — sometimes as few as 4 or 5 inches apart — that you might find it difficult to access your seat.
Roving drink waiters meander from table to table and try to upsell you on shots and other alcoholic beverages. When passengers partake, they’re often encouraged to chant before drinking, adding to the already deafening din.
During meals, a parade winds through the space, featuring a dancing Chinese dragon.
The restaurant is open to everyone. Note that passengers with Your Time Dining — which allows cruisers to dine any time they wish between 5 and 9 p.m. — can have dinner at Chibang any time during opening hours. Cruisers with set-seating dining are only allowed to eat there after 7:45 p.m.
Reservations aren’t required, but they’re recommended.
Chibang menu
On the Chibang dinner menu, Carnival includes appetizers, mains and sides for each type of cuisine. Several tasty options are available for people who don’t eat meat. You can stick with dishes from one part of the world or mix and match however you like.
Chinese
Appetizers are numerous and include egg drop soup, spring rolls, lettuce wraps and a mandarin honey crunch salad.
For mains, choose from beef and broccoli stir-fry, spicy Cantonese pork, sweet and sour shrimp, kung pao chicken and Sichuan-style tofu. For a surcharge of $20 per person (minimum of two people), diners can also order a roast duck that’s carved right at the table.
Sides include hakka noodles, steamed broccoli in sauce and jasmine rice.
Mexican
For starters, cruisers can pick from loaded nachos, queso fundido, quesadillas and tacos with a choice of pork, beef, shrimp or vegetables, among other items.
Follow up your appetizers with spicy and crispy fried fish, chicken in mole sauce, slow-cooked pork, spicy striploin steak or extra-spicy shrimp.
Sides include green beans, red beans and yucca.
Additional menu options
Steakhouse choices — items like surf and turf, grilled lamb chops and filet mignon — are available for an additional fee.
Desserts from both cuisines are listed under one section and include coconut tea tres leches, caramelized milk custard, and a chocolate dessert with caramel ice cream and ginger.
The menu also features a wine list and a selection of cocktails with both Chinese and Mexican themes. Examples include margaritas, green tea martinis and other drinks involving tequila, mezcal and lychee liqueur.
For children 11 and younger, Chibang offers a kids menu — essentially a pared-down version of the adult menu.
It includes items like quesadillas, steamed shrimp dumplings and chicken spring rolls as appetizers; fried fish, fried shrimp, striploin steak and hakka noodles with vegetables as mains; and either caramelized milk custard or chocolate cake with ginger ice cream for dessert.
Lunch
Chibang also provides a free lunchtime option, serving up noodle and burrito bowls. For the former, choose from thick noodles with stir-fried beef and veggies; egg noodles with shredded chicken and veggies in broth; or rice noodles with shrimp, veggies and peanuts. The latter includes pulled pork with rice, veggies and cheese; chipotle chicken with beans, vegetables and pico de gallo; and lime shrimp with yellow rice, veggies, garlic and cheese sauce.
Diners can customize bowls by choosing mix-ins from an extensive list of additional meats, vegetables and sauces. For dessert, two selections are available: flan with whipped cream and caramel sauce, and cinnamon churros with vanilla ice cream.
Note: Menu items were accurate at the time of publication, but they are subject to change without notice.
Chibang price
It’s free for everyone to eat dinner at Chibang on their first visit. Subsequent visits incur a surcharge of $8 per person. The only exception is on Carnival Jubilee, where all meals at Chibang are free for the ship's inaugural season. After that, only the first visit will be free.
Selections from the menu’s steakhouse section will incur a $23 per item fee. Alcohol costs extra unless you have a beverage package that covers it. An 18% gratuity will be added (except for free meals), and a $5 surcharge will apply for every main course after the first two per person.
Lunch is always free of charge.
Which Carnival cruise ships have Chibang?
Chibang has an outpost on each ship in Carnival’s Excel Class:
- Carnival Celebration
- Carnival Jubilee
- Mardi Gras
Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:
- The ultimate guide to Carnival Cruise Line ships and itineraries
- 43 Carnival Cruise Line tips, tricks and hacks to enhance your vacation at sea
- Best Carnival cruise ships: Here's which ship you should sail, based on your travel style
- Carnival cruise packing list: What to pack for a cruise, Fun Ship style
- The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
- The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
- A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
- 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
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Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.