By Heather Millet
Shanghai is a city that typically gives us everything we ask for—especially when it comes to culinary exploration.
Yet one option that often goes missing is West African food. Kora by Circle is changing that, bringing a taste of Senegal to Shanghai.
Kora sign. Photo courtesy of Kora
Kora by day. Photo by Heather Millet / That’s
Window Seating. Photo by Heather Millet / That’s
The space feels open and airy, with window seating, a fresh breeze, skylights, and earth-toned décor.
Two murals capture the spirit of Kora: one depicting three West African women, and another featuring a large wild cat.
Earth-toned décor. Photo by Heather Millet / That’s
Mural inside Kora by Circle. Photo by Jimmy Jordan / That’s
A cheetah stalks from the foliage. Photo courtesy of Kora
A red fluorescent sign reads, "Lie to me and tell me you love me." Nearby, a DJ booth awaits the night hours, ready to fill the space with Afro-house and relaxed beats, drifting through clouds of hookah smoke.
Interior decoration. Photo by Jimmy Jordan / That’s
Hookah at Kora. Photo Courtesy of Kora
Now located on Xinhua Lu, but originally founded on Wuding Lu, the business was started by Carrie Lo, a Hong Kong native who first envisioned a waffle-shop and bar combo.
She didn't expect that frequent customers would become friends... and that those new friends would come from Senegal (she refers to them affectionately as "the Senegal boys").
"A Senegalese friend said 'Let’s do African events.' So we did African events," explains Lo. "Then they said 'Why not add African food?' and invited me to their home to learn how to make yassa and mafé and fish jollof rice."
Kora bar. Photo by Jimmy Jordan / That’s
Through the influence of these customers-turned-friends, Lo's menu transformed from a waffle base into a unique, home-cooked-style mix of global options.
And she has carried that evolution from the first small shop on Wuding Lu to this beautiful new location, naming the new establishment after the traditional 21-string instrument of West African origin.
The kora, a traditional West African instrument with 21-strings
The Food
'Yassa' is primarily associated with Yassa Poulet, perhaps the most renowned Senegalese chicken dish.
In fact, Yassa refers to the sauce made by caramelizing onions with citrus acids and mustard, then combining the result with fish, beef, or chicken.
Kora Senegal Chicken Rice (RMB68) called Yassa Poulet in Senegal, Photo Courtesy of Kora
The Kora Senegal Chicken Rice (RMB68) is a tangy, vibrant version of the dish.
Kora Mafé Beef Rice (RMB78). Photo by Heather Millet / That’s
Mafé is another West African sauce, made with unsweetened peanut butter. In contrast to the typical use of peanut sauce for dipping in Asia, here the peanut purée becomes the entire base for a thick stew, married with spices and chunks of root vegetables like sweet potato and carrot.
Kora Mafé Beef Rice (RMB78), Photo by Jimmy Jordan / That’s
While in Senegal the dish can often be quite spicy, the Kora Mafé Beef Rice (RMB78) is gentle on the heat.
Though it may look simple in a roughly hewn bowl, its taste is powerful—warm, filling, and offering a savory flavor that cannot be found anywhere else in Shanghai.
Thiebu Dieun (RMB98) a tilapia jollof rice dish. Photo courtesy of Kora
Fish jollof rice, a staple in West Africa, is spiced with fermented fish and salts. At Kora, it is accurately titled by its original name, Thiebu Dieun (RMB98).
This is a deconstructed twist on the classic; in Senegal, 'thieboudienne' is served on a massive platter with huge chunks of vegetables and fish, with diners taking pinches of everything available to single-handedly create a bite-sized ball in their right palm.
Of course, this method of enjoying a meal is uncommon in Shanghai, and some key ingredients are not possible to source here, so Kora's version of thieboudienne comes served as a bountiful fried tilapia—whole and crispy hot—atop a bed of jollof rice.
Cubes of roasted eggplant, carrot, and sweet potato are included on the plate for easy eating with a fork.
That said, Lo still recommends trying the fish with just your hands and offers gloves.
Spicy Char-Grilled Baby Squid with Africa Chili Sauce (RMB88). Photo by Jimmy Jordan / That’s
All sauces are made in-house, and there are a few dishes that come with secret, African-inspired sauces—such as the Spicy Char-Grilled Baby Squid with African Chili Sauce (RMB88), delivering a bright flavor over the tender squid rings.
Adalu Corn and Bean Mash (RMB38). Photo by Jimmy Jordan / That’s
A must-order side dish for those who appreciate fish is the Adalu Corn and Bean Mash (RMB38), which offers an unexpected umami thanks to the addition of small fish morsels.
Kora-Signature Fruit Waffle with Ice Cream (RMB58). Photo by Jimmy Jordan / That’s
Staying true to her original concept on the dessert menu, Lo says her favorite item is still the Kora-Signature Fruit Waffle with Ice Cream (RMB58).
The waffle is absolutely loaded with banana and berries, and topped with a giant scoop of vanilla ice cream.
It will crush any sweet-tooth craving, and—due to its size—may be best shared.
There are various other dishes available across the menu, such as a brunch Shakshuka with Grilled Angus Ribeye and Eggs (RMB138), as well as staples like burgers and pastas.
It goes without saying, however, that the main draw here remains a taste of West Africa.
On Sundays, depending on which friends are able to share their recipes with her staff, Lo says there will be pop-ups featuring food from many African nations.
At the prior location, they included dishes from Cameroon, Morocco, and Congo.
The Drinks
Kora Cocktail (RMB78): rum based, sour & sweet
The cocktail menu currently features a few signature selections, such as the Kora Cocktail (RMB78), made with rum for a balanced sweet-and-sour profile...
Secret Garden (RMB78): gin based floral cocktail
... and the Secret Garden (RMB78), a gin-based cocktail that is lightly floral.
Both are sweet and help offset the bold flavors of the African fare.
Wine selections at Kora. Photo Courtesy of Kora
Classic cocktails, wines, and a full spirits selection—with a particular focus on whisky—are also available.
The Vibe
New sign outside Kora by Circle. Photo Courtesy of Kora
Kora by Circle isn’t just a restaurant—it’s a bridge between Shanghai and West Africa.
Born from a chance friendship between a Hong Kong waffle-shop owner and her Senegalese regulars, it has evolved into a rare haven for flavors like yassa, mafé, and thieboudienne.
The space is warm, open, and effortlessly cool—daylight streaming through skylights by afternoon, hookah smoke and Afro-house beats drifting through the air by night.
Lo's "Senegal boys." Photo Courtesy of Kora
Yes, you can still get a waffle, but the real draw here is the food you can’t find anywhere else in the city: tangy, peanut-rich, fish-spiced, and deeply comforting.
Add in Sunday pop-ups from across Africa and a cocktail menu designed to complement it all, and Kora becomes more than a meal—it’s a cultural conversation.
So, if Shanghai usually gives you everything you ask for, here’s a place that offers something you never knew you were missing.
Price: RMB50–200 per person
Who's Going: Culinary adventurers, homesick West Africans, hookah enthusiasts, Sunday pop-up chasers, the "Senegal boys" visiting their Hong Kong waffle queen
Good For: Your first taste of yassa poulet, hand-eating thieboudienne with gloves, daytime window seating with a breeze, Afro-house beats after dark, pop-ups, sharing a giant waffle with ice cream
Reservations: +86 181 1645 8951
Daily, 11am-2am
Kora by Circle, 200 Xinhua Lu, by Dingxi Lu, Changning District 新华路200号, 近定西路
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