Xiaonanji Xili Shahe Restaurant

With a history dating back to around 1992, Xiaonanji has been part of Shenzhen's street dining scene for more than three decades. Its earlier venues were mainly open-air dai pai dong beneath canopies, where dining tables, food counters, and the street sat in close proximity. Gathering beneath a shared canopy became part of the brand's familiar setting.

The Xili Shahe branch is the brand's first indoor restaurant. Within a permanent building, the design carries familiar street-side relationships inside by reorganising the overhead canopy, the scale of communal dining, and the food-service interfaces.

The unfinished shell had about 3.5 metres of clear height beneath the beams, with restaurant equipment and services occupying much of the upper space. We organised the dense services towards the perimeter where possible, then used lightweight wood-grain frames and segmented canvas to shape the central ceiling. Canvas drapes between the frames; beams and some services remain visible, keeping the ceiling layered rather than fully sealed.

Cream-coloured canvas and wood-grain frames repeat above the tables. Strings of bulbs follow the frames, while shaded pendant lights hang lower and direct light onto the tabletops. Against the dark ceiling, the pale canopy stands out; fabric, bulbs, and pendants make the different heights legible.

The repeated frames establish a rhythm above the tables, while the drape of the canvas softens the grid. Aisles separate table groups, yet the continuous canopy and lighting hold them beneath a shared roof. The interior is clearly organised while retaining the communal scale of dining around tables.

Beneath this shared canopy, columns and door frames define a sequence of bays. Reception, the tea counter, and the open preparation counter line the main aisle, each marked by its own counter, opening, and frame. The tea counter's green frontage and illuminated sign stand out, while nearby tables remain within view. The counters remain distinct and contribute to the restaurant's depth.

The open preparation counter faces the dining area, keeping its working edge in view. Glass panels, door openings, and operable partitions mark the boundaries between nearby table groups, while views continue across several bays. The proximity among tables, counter openings, and aisles carries forward the close relationship between dining and food counters found in a dai pai dong.

This arrangement continues along the street frontage. Outdoor tables sit beneath the canopy, and openings between columns connect views of the restaurant and the street. The takeaway window faces the street, bringing food service into the facade. Warm interior light, signage, and tables beneath the canopy together shape the shopfront seen from outside.

The “Xiao” in the brand name reflects owner Nan Ge's wish for himself, the brand, and its products to remain young. The Xili Shahe restaurant responds through a new indoor arrangement: it carries forward the communal scale of dining around tables, keeps food preparation in view, and maintains a close relationship between the tables and the street. More than three decades of dai pai dong experience takes on a new order indoors.

Project Name: Xiaonanji Xili Shahe Restaurant Location: Shenzhen, Guangdong, China Type: Restaurant Interior Project Area: Interior 427 sqm + Outdoor 110 sqm Completion: January 2026 Design Firm: WANDER STUDIO Design Team: Wang Jianhui, Guo Junying, Lai Yi Photography: Xian Space