The Best of Xibo: Xinjiang Classics & Lamb
Xibo is a smart-casual Xinjiang
restaurant in Shanghai. Owned and operated by Xibonese founder Atina
Kuo, Xibo has been serving authentic Xinjiang cuisine in Shanghai since
2009.
About
Xibo
Over
the years, Atina has made countless journeys to her home region to
discover and source new ingredients. I recently joined her on a research
trip to Urumuqi last May.
Atina Kuo, Urumuqi, May 2023
On the road to the grasslands
→ →
After
eating through some of the best restaurants in the city, I appreciate
what Atina is doing at Xibo even more.
Xinjiang food in Xinjiang is more home-style, and portions are MASSIVE. When they serve Big
Plate Chicken, it’s the whole bird. You're stuffed, but you can't try anything else. Xinjiang is a big region—it's one sixth of China in area—and
delicacies are all spread out, making it time consuming if you wanted to try all the different foods.
Dapanji aka Big Plate Chicken in Urumuqi (fist for scale)
Dapanji at Xibo (chopsticks for scale), served with boneless chicken or with bones.
→ →
Xibo is perfect for what Shanghai wants: smaller portions so you can try different dishes, refined plating, balanced flavors, and a curated menu of specialties plucked from multiple areas in the sprawling region. Oh, and a chic dining room to enjoy it in.
My must-order dishes at Xibo...
→ →
New Openings
Xibo Opens Two New Locations
Xibo just opened two new locations, one at Suzhou Creek MixC and another in
Xuhui near the Guilin Lu metro.
Xibo @ Suzhou Creek MixC
Outdoor seating area
Spacious interiors, great for groups
Private room for min. 8, max 10 people
Dog-friendly inside & outside
→ →
Both are dog-friendly, MixC allows dogs inside, and the Xuhui location has an outdoor space that's dog-friendly. Click here to see the other locations.
Xibo @ Xuhui
Cozy interiors
Suitable for groups
Private room for min. 8, max 10 people
→ →
What To Order
The Food
The menu at Xibo is an abridged collection of
refined dishes from Xinjiang. The food takes you on a journey through
Kashgar and Turpan, Huyang Forest in Bachu county and the Gobi Desert.
Ingredients are sourced directly from Xinjiang, from the lamb to the
dessert scallions, and even peppers from Atina’s family garden in
Chabuchaer.
Xibonese Susskind Stew
My ultimate favorite dish is the Xibonese Susskind Stew (¥88).
It’s a hearty tomato-based stew with tender chunks of beef, sweet sun-dried
peppers, cow-peas, carrots, beans, Chinese cabbage, and potatoes.
It’s fantastic and oh-so comforting.
Another one of my favorites is the Mongolian wild
chives.
Slow-Roasted Lamb Leg
Roasted to perfection, served with dipping sauces and spices.
→ →
If it’s a large party, I highly recommend getting the Slow-Roasted Lamb Leg (¥328), which is plenty for a table of 6-8 to share. Otherwise, you can pre-order the whole roasted lamb (¥2,288/medium, ¥2,588/large) three days in advance.
It’s not a proper Xinjiang meal without a couple of skewers,
and Xibo does them expertly. Generous, chunky skewers coated in rich spices and a little heat.
Tamarisk Lamb Skewer (¥18/stick)
Chicken Skewer (¥10/stick)
Beef Skewer (¥15/stick) and more.
→ →
As for fillers, have your pick of noodles, pilaf, and freshly baked flatbreads and naans, the latter of which are made in giant earthen ovens, shipped directly from Xinjiang.
There’s plenty of plain naan, a whole disk is ¥18. Or you can get it topped with braised lamb for ¥88.
Tajiks Brown Pilaf (¥68)
– Nothing beats a good shouzhuafan. Lamb, Xinjiang yellow carrots, carrots, onions,
blackcurrants, cumin, chickpeas.
Xibonese Roasted Bread (¥38) – House made flatbread served with grilled bell peppers, Xinjiang jam, homemade chili-chive sauce.
Ding Ding Chaomian (¥40) – The gnocchi of Xinjiang. Chopped wheat noodles stir-fried in a tomato-pepper sauce with beef.
Deep-Fried Bread (¥72) – Fantastically buttery pastry.
Stuffed with lamb, onion, mushrooms, and mozzarella cheese.
All the carbs → →
Still hungry? Here's more:
For dessert, I gravitate towards the ice cream, which helps after a heavy meal at Xibo. It's a three-scoop serving of yogurt ice cream, raspberry, and Wild
Artemisia, a grassy and earthy herb similar to tarragon.
Homemade Ice Cream (¥45)
Hotan Sticky Rice (¥42) topped with homemade Xinjiang yogurt and fig jam.
→ →
As for drinks, there’s Sinkiang black beer (¥28), cocktails (from ¥48), and a great wine selection with an emphasis on Xinjiang wines. I highly recommend the latter. They also have an on-going special, selected cocktails ¥38. Ask your server for more details.
House wine by the glass from ¥55, bottles from ¥228
Natali Breeze (¥48) – Crimson Pangolin gin, Yakult, lime juice, mint, basil, simple syrup. A refreshing drink inspired by Xinjiang’s rolling grasslands.
Xibo currently has five locations in Shanghai.
Sponsored by Xibo
📍 L1-11b, 1/F, 10 Cangwu Lu 苍梧路10号一层L1-11b/12商铺
📞 64226255
🕒 Daily, 11am-2pm, 5pm-9pm
📍 LG191, MixC Suzhou Creek, 100 Fujian Bei Lu 福建北路100号苏河湾万象天地东里负一层LG191
📞 66288633
🕒 Daily, 11am-2pm, 5pm-9pm
📍 Lot 204, F Block, No. 16, 2/F, 281 Maoming Bei Lu 茂名北路281弄16号F幢204单元
📞 52993983
🕒 Daily, 11am-2pm, 5pm-9:30pm
📍 3/F, Shenzhou Building, 83 Changshu Lu 常熟路83号神州商务大厦3楼
📞 54038330
🕒 Daily, 11:30am-2pm, 5pm-10:30pm
📍 No. 103, 1/F, Bldg 5, 99 Jiang Wan Cheng Lu 江湾城路99号尚浦商务中心5号楼1层103号
📞 55886116
🕒 Daily, 11am-2:30pm, 5pm-9:30pm
Read More:
for Brunch in Shanghai
with Free-Flow!
Tap that LIKE & WOW and share the love!