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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Natali Breeze (¥48) – Crimson Pangolin gin, Yakult, lime juice, mint, basil, simple syrup.
Xibo currently has five locations in Shanghai.
Xibo Restaurant & Bar (Xibo 锡伯 • 新疆)
Address: L1-11b, 1/F, 10 Cangwu Lu 苍梧路10号一层L1-11b/12商铺
Tel: 64226255
Daily, 11am-2pm, 5pm-9pm
Address: 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
Tel: 66288633
Daily, 11am-2pm, 5pm-9pm
Address: 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
Tel: 52993983
Daily, 11am-2pm, 5pm-9:30pm
Address: 3/F, Shenzhou Building, 83 Changshu Lu 常熟路83号神州商务大厦3楼
Tel: 54038330
Daily, 11:30am-2pm, 5pm-10:30pm
Address: 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
Tel: 55886116
Daily, 11am-2:30pm, 5pm-9:30pm
