Its been a long time since I was wowed by western food in China, but that is exactly what happened in a back alley in Shenzhen when we found New Yobo Burger.
On first look it appeared to be like most “local” burger joints in China, in that it would probably serve something sub-par and nothing like the photos! Instead what we received were frankly artisanal meaty and in some cases quite weird burgers!
What the New Yobo Burger?
New Yobo Burger is one of China’s more intriguing fast-food ventures, blending local innovation with clear inspiration from New York’s iconic Yobo Burger. While the Chinese chain borrows its name, it has developed its own distinct identity, catering to local tastes while maintaining an international flair.
Founded in Guangdong province, New Yobo Burger has rapidly expanded to around 30 branches, although this number fluctuates as the brand adjusts its footprint. Major cities such as Beijing, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen are home to its outlets, making it accessible to both urban foodies and curious travelers.
Despite its nod to its New York counterpart, New Yobo Burger is unmistakably a product of China’s vibrant culinary scene, and from what we saw at least is blazing its own trail. Will we see one on very corner within 5 years? Well that depends just how into real burgers, as opposed to McDonalds ones the country becomes.
The Luo Hu Food Scene
The one New Yobo Burger joint that we discovered was in the Luo Hu district of Shenzhen. For the unitized this is both the business district, as well as the border area with Hong Kong. Therefore it is a popular place to have your office, which is why YPT are located here!
Despite being a concrete jungle though there is a real cool street food and restaurant scene that not only represents Guangdong cuisine, but being Shenzhen also pretty much every cuisine of the land from Shaanxi to Hunan. And they even have some western food. This is mostly represented by by places like McDonalds and KFC, which are usually pretty bad, KFC Wagyu Burger not withstanding.
They also tend to have a crack at doing things like burgers, sandwiches and pizzas, but again not always that well, as anyone who has a had a sandwich in sweet bread can attest to. New Yobo Burger though is different….
The New Yobo Burger Menu
New Yobo Burger keeps things simple but interesting, offering a menu that covers the basics while throwing in a few surprises. You’ll find all the classics—cheeseburgers, double patties, and even a solid bacon option for purists. But it’s the local-inspired creations that stand out, featuring regional ingredients and flavors you wouldn’t expect in a burger.
Prices are refreshingly reasonable, with the smallest burgers starting at just $3. If you’re hungry, the bigger, meatier options go up to about $7, and they’re well worth it. Combo deals, which include various offerings with a drink, make it easy to get a complete meal without breaking the bank. You can of course just order burgers on their own too, but honestly the menu was that epic it made it hard to pick one.
The New Yobo Burgers
There was a diet in option, but as they had but t=4 chairs in two tables we went for take away. The three burgers were got consisted of one that used two fried eggs as the bun, a triple cheese burger and a standard double.
Amazingly not only did we see these prepared well in the open plan kitchen, but they came out (almost) like they looked in the photos, rather unlike most foods, or hotels in China. And while I did not have recourse to test the level of meat in the burger they tasted like 100%ers.
So, if you’re strolling down a back alley in China and either hungover, or hankering for a real burger then New Yobo has got you covered.