A few weeks ago, friends suggested we meet for dinner at this new barbecue joint called Xibo. We gamely showed up expecting pulled-pork sandwiches and hamburgers. But what we found was so much better. With a stunning rooftop location, Xibo specializes in modern Xinjiang cuisine. This hearty, comforting food comes from the northwestern reaches of China and features lots of lamb, potatoes and spices. Xinjiang is home to a large population of ethnic Uyghur people, and I think the restaurant does a good job of incorporating their costumes and traditions in the decor.
Servers were constantly opening it to retrieve food.
The dishes we ordered were all outstanding. The cold cucumber dish – a staple of Chinese meals – came doused in a soy-vinegar sauce with hits of chili. The cold noodle dish that came next was probably my favorite of the night. Loaded with shredded chicken and cilantro, it was refreshing and satisfying. I was also a big fan of the baked Xinjiang dumpling stuffed with minced lamb and onion. An order is a single bun so we ordered one for every person at the table – a very wise decision.
A crowd favorite was the fried lamb and bread “salad,” well-seasoned with cumin and onions. Chopstick jabs were being thrown to snatch the last pieces. The steamed pumpkin dumplings lightened things up a bit and the yummy green beans gave us something to snack on while taking a rest from the heavier stuff. We also tried a traditional lamb and potato stew that was well received by some at our table, and I loved the presentation, but I was so full by that point that I barely took more than one bite. Maybe on the next visit I’ll be able to appreciate its charms.
Xibo Address: 83 Changshu Lu, 3rd Floor, Jing'an, Shanghai Pricing: 100-200 RMB for four family-style dishes
The food looked good, although I have never eaten lamb. I bet the view from the roof top was pretty. Mom
I think lamb has a distinctive flavor, but it’s not all that different from beef. It’s very tender. We’ll have you trying all sorts of things by the time we’re done here 🙂
Interesting selection of food…although from the looks of it the only “Xinjiang” thing about it is the use of lamb. Most of those dishes look Chinese to me.
Did it really have the feel of a modern Xinjiang restaurant?
That’s a good question. I was just taking it at face value since we’ve never been to Xinjiang. But we’ve eaten at another Uyghur restaurant in Shanghai and it did seem like a more modern version of that meal. The cucumbers and green beans seem to find their way onto every menu we see.
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I love the pumpkin dumplings at Xibo!
Me too! I’ve been craving them with this cool fall weather!