Shanghai Food

The sensation of slow cooked, melt-in-your-mouth pork is what you get with what is perhaps the most beloved pork dish in China: red braised pork belly. What’s special about Shanghai’s version? Apart from its legendary tenderness, and the perfect balance of flavors, this iconic dish features squared chunks of pork belly slowly braised in a richly flavorsome red-brown colored sauce that permeates the meat until it is meltingly tender. This dish is the perfect example of “red cooking”, a technique that is quintessentially Chinese, combining as it does, dark soy sauce and caramelized sugar to create the signature red-brown color.

For travel food adventurers seeking an authentic taste of Shanghai’s heartier fare, red braised pork belly offers an unforgettable experience of how simple ingredients are transformed into the extraordinary through the art of slow cooking and balanced seasoning.

Where red braised pork belly may be heavier, crystal shrimp – or shui jing xia ren – is a delicate seafood dish that showcases Shanghai’s light touch with premium ingredients. Named for the translucent, almost crystal-like appearance of the perfectly cooked shrimp, this dish highlights natural flavors and the precise cooking techniques typical of Shanghai cuisine.

What makes this dish special is its pure, clean flavors and the meticulous method that prevents the shrimp from becoming tough or rubbery. The result is a dish that is at once both delicate and satisfying, showcasing the premium seafood for which Shanghai, as a coastal city, is famous. For visitors seeking lighter fare representative of Shanghai’s culinary finesse, look no further than crystal shrimp. It really does make the perfect lighter dining option.

We love a good literal Chinese descriptor for just about anything, and eight treasure duck certainly ticks that box. The good news is you’re not left wondering what you’re eating. Eight treasure duck is just that. As one of Shanghai’s revered dishes for – it is de rigueur for most special occasions. Think weddings, New Year celebrations, and important family gatherings. This doesn’t mean, however, you can’t order this dish while on your China tour. In fact, we recommend ensuring that it is on the must eat list. A spectacular creation, eight treasure duck is a whole duck stuffed with eight ingredients, each holding significant meaning. The dish is then slow roasted to perfection.

Preparation of eight treasure duck is itself a culinary art form that requires considerable skill and patience. The duck is first marinated with ginger, garlic, soy sauce, and Shaoxing wine to enhance its flavor. The ‘eight treasures’ stuffing typically includes ingredients like Chinese mushrooms, bamboo shoots, chestnuts, lotus seeds, dried shrimp, pork, and glutinous rice – each component adding its own texture and flavor to the final dish. The kind of dish to save for a final night in Shanghai, be sure to check with your guide for their recommendation of where to order.

Braised lion’s head pork meatballs is one of Shanghai’s most famous and visually impressive dishes. Conjuring up an edible vision of a lion’s head, this dish features oversized flavoursome meatballs seasoned with ginger, soy sauce, Shaoxing wine, and green onions, which are then either deep-fried or baked until golden. Following stage one preparations, the meatballs are braised with Napa cabbage (wombok), mushrooms, and bamboo shoots in a savory sauce until everything melds into a harmoniously flavored dish. Traditionally prepared for special occasions, we ask why wait for ‘special’ when you can have hong shao shi zi tou on tour today.

Having described to this point dishes that are predominantly meat based, you could be forgiven for thinking that’s all there is when it comes to famous Shanghai dishes. Not true! Tofu is a staple throughout China, and in Shanghai, there is also an abundance of seafood. One authentic traditional Shanghai dish for seafood lovers is crab meat tofu. Renowned in the Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai regions, this delicate dish combines the sweet flesh of hairy crab meat and rich crab roe with silky soft tofu. Together, they harmonise to create a flavor balance reflecting Shanghai’s refined culinary style.

As for preparation, this involves gently cooking the tofu with fresh crab meat and roe, flavoring to perfection with garlic, salt, and a touch of chicken seasoning. What makes this dish special is the contrasting textures – the velvety smoothness of the tofu against the sweet tenderness of the crab meat – creating a dish that’s both luxurious and comforting. Delish!

Sweet and sour anything is one of the most well known Chinese flavors for Westerners, and sweet and sour pork ribs is among the top dishes enjoyed by diners at home and travelers to China. For those curious about the sweet / sour combination, it’s important to realise this is part and parcel of the unique combination of flavors in Chinese dishes generally (you can read more here ). Sweet and sour describes the taste, while the Chinese name mentions two key ingredients – sugar and vinegar – which together create the flavor. Surprisingly easy to make, tang cu pai gu is a definite inclusion on your must eat list while visiting Shanghai.

A signature spring soup that captures the essence of Shanghai’s culinary heritage, yan du xian is a celebrated dish that combines salted pork, fresh meat, and tender bamboo shoots in a rich, flavorsome broth locals claim is ‘so delicious it will make your eyebrows fall off’. While that might not be the recommendation you’re looking for to compile a list of must try Shanghai dishes, it’s hard to go past.

Traditionally associated with spring and its seasonal flavors, yan du xian offers a window into the significance given to ingredients, seasons, and the meaning of traditional dishes. Yan du xian holds such cultural significance that many Shanghai natives insist spring hasn’t truly arrived until they’ve consumed their first bowl of this beloved soup.

Sizzling Stir Fried Shredded Eel is a dish that celebrates Shanghai’s mastery of freshwater seafood. A distinctive dish for its ingredients, flavors, and color, xiang you shan si highlights Shanghai’s proximity to the Yangtze River Delta, and of course, its rich aquatic resources, with eel being one of the most prized ingredients in Shanghai cuisine.

What makes this dish special is the eel’s unique texture – tender yet slightly chewy – and its ability to absorb the complex flavors of the seasonings. Traditionally garnished with yellow chives and chili for color and flavor contrast, xiang you shan si is a fine example of local seafood culinary art. For foodies seeking an authentic taste of Shanghai’s culinary heritage, sizzling stir fried shredded eel offers a memorable experience while on tour in Shanghai .

As a perennial staple in Shanghai households at Chinese New Year, Shanghai smoked fish – Shanghai xun yu – is the unrivalled “must have” appetizer included in local Shanghainese family feasts. Deliciously simple, fried fish is braised in sweet soy sauce, leaving it with a crispy outer layer while the fish inside is tender, sweet and salty to taste. The dish is cooked in the most traditional homemade manner among Shanghai families, and although it is called smoked fish, this does not accurately describe the way the fish is cooked. In fact, the fish is first soaked in cold sauces after being deep fried, enriching the flavors of the crispy, golden fish. A variety of Chinese seasonings used to enhance the fish – star anise, fennel, cinnamon and many other spices among them.

From this list it would be easy to assume all must eat Shanghai dishes are served hot, but that’s not so. Shanghai-style poached chicken – directly translated as ‘white cut chicken” – is a signature cold dish found at any local authentic Shanghai cuisine restaurant. Originating in Guangdong and later introduced to Shanghai as the Cantonese migrated to Shanghai, bai zhan ji is tender and succulent. Served with a number of side dishes, it is the special dipping sauces of scallion oil and soy sauce flavored with sugar and ginger that make this a memorable dish, day or night.

Si xi kao fu is an immensely popular vegetarian dish in Shanghai cuisine. Kao Fu is the fermented and steamed wheat gluten, brownish in color with a soft and elastic texture. Si xi, translates as ‘Four Happiness” and refers to the four main ingredients that are braised together with kao fu; namely, peanuts, daylilies, black fungus and mushrooms. Served with a rich salty and sweet sauce, Shanghai braised wheat gluten is a chewy and tasty dish and an essential inclusion in Chinese New Year banquets, not least because of its name – Four Happiness. Shanghai locals, like their counterparts across all of China, revere dishes for their auspiciousness, and si xi kao fu is no exception.

A much loved dessert in Shanghai, eight-treasure rice is an essential dish for Shanghai locals. Typically made of sticky rice, lard and eight “treasures”, including sweetened red bean paste, lotus seeds, walnut, candied fruit, jujube, raisins, dried longan, and plum, ba bao fan represents good luck, a peaceful reunion, sweet happiness and endless prosperity. Not only in Shanghai, ba bao fan is considered the traditional happy ending to a family’s Chinese New Year celebrations.

With the original restaurant opening all the way back in 1862, Lao Zheng Xing is the oldest restaurant in the city for traditional Shanghai cuisine. With a colorful history that has spanned across three centuries, Lao Zheng Xing gained its status as the ‘inventor’ of many famous local Shanghainese dishes. And although copycat restaurants have come and gone, Lao Zheng Xing has stood the test of time and palate of demanding diners. Although taken over by the state in the 1950’s, the restaurant and its band of loyal, hard working chefs have maintained true to traditional Shanghai dishes. Among the signature dishes sought after by dedicated locales are fried river shrimps and braised pig intestines. Lao Zheng Xing hasn’t let the Michelin one star awarded in 2019 go to its head, keeping traditional dishes at the heart of what it does.

With a history spanning 200 years, Ren He Guan provides authentic Shanghainese dishes that evoke the old Shanghai of the 1930’s. And while the decor holds great appeal with its old Shanghai memorabilia, it is barely a match for the classic Shanghai dishes presented with a contemporary twist that paved the way for Ren He Guan to make Michelin, Black Pearl and Dianping’s annual must eat lists. Signature fare? Well, you’ll find it here. Among those favoured by connoisseurs and casual diners alike are cooked drunken crab, yellow croaker soup with mini wontons, and stir fried baby bok choy with chicken oil.

Although it has not enjoyed the same longevity as Shanghai restaurants with a 100 plus year history, regardless, Rui Fu Yuan is loved by locals for its authentic Shanghainese flavors and home cooked dishes. A reputation built on the house specialty of yellow croaker soup with mini wontons – and a dedication to Shanghainese cuisine is what keeps locals returning. If it’s a down to earth, rustic vibe you seek, Rui Fu Yuan is your place.

Originally named Rong Shun Guan, Shanghai Lao Fan Dian, which literally means Shanghai Old Restaurant, was established in 1875 by Zhang Huanying, a local Shanghainese from Pudong. Located in the famous Yuyuan Garden area, this century-old restaurant specialises in traditional Benbang cuisine and is renowned for authentic Shanghai cuisine. It is always busy, remaining popular with locals and visitors who want an authentic experience of Shanghai cuisine and service. Shanghai’s famous Eight Treasure Duck originated here, so if that’s on your list, be sure to book a table.

Lan Xin Restaurant is a tiny homestyle Shanghai eatery locals love for its authentic traditional Shanghai cuisine. Located on Jinxian Road and with unassuming decor, Lan Xin is always bustling with a long queue of food lovers waiting outside for a table. Visit here for the highly favored fried river shrimps, braised duck, braised pork in brown sauce, and dry-braised pomfret.

First opening in 1999 as a small humble restaurant, Heji Xiaocai is now a successful business with many locations in Shanghai and Jiangsu. As a proudly local restaurant offering Shanghainese cuisine (Benbangcai), Heji Xiaocai is the ‘go to’ for Shanghainese wanting to dine out. Heji Xiaocai remains true to authentic Shanghainese flavors and prides itself on providing diners with dishes that take them back to an old Shanghai found only in memories. Signature dishes of braised pork, fried shrimps, crystal chicken (Shanghai-style poached chicken), sweet & sour squirrel shaped fish are what keep bringing loyal diners back.

An iconic landmark near Yuyuan Garden and Chenghuangmiao, Lu Bo Lang is located by Nine Twist Bridge at Old City God Temple and regarded as the home of quintessentially ‘Shanghai Taste’. For decades, Lu Bo Lang has been popular with foreign leaders, 80 of whom have made it their mission to stop by during state trips to Shanghai. Lu Bo Lang is the ideal place to enjoy a tea break after visiting Yuyuan Garden. While you can enjoy various local Shanghai food and snacks, Shanghainese dim sum is still the main attraction. Expect turnip pastry, osmanthus glutinous rice cake, and ‘eyebrow’ pastry are the must-try items, each of which is a signature specialty.

If dim sum is your thing, you can’t go past Guang Ming Cun, one of the best and most famous restaurants for traditional Shanghai food. Appealing for its authentic flavors, relaxed atmosphere, and excellent service, Guang Ming Cun is everything you’d look for in a quality food establishment. And while dim sum is what Guang Ming Cun built its name on, there is a feast of other snacks to indulge in. Try meat filled moon cake, braised duck with soy sauce, chicken wonton soup, fried crab meat stuffed bun, and their steamed pork stuffed bun for snacks that make a visit here memorable. Now open at multiple locations around Shanghai, you’ll find yourself competing with locals looking for the same quality food and experience. Expect to queue. What’s the best time to visit? We suggest timing your Shanghai tour with the mid-Autumn Festival period. Established as a modern tradition with locals, a meal here is considered a must do by locals as part of marking the festival.

Like so many Shanghai snack food restaurants, Shen Da CHeng enjoys a long history. The founder – a character by the name of Shen Ajin – combined the best of dim sum and traditional snacks. It is said he went to great lengths when selecting ingredients and preparing his now famous snacks. Even back in the day regarded as Shanghai’s ‘king of dim sum’, Shen’s legacy lives on today with countless Shen Da Cheng outlets open all around Shanghai. With so many options, it can be difficult to choose, but our team has done the hard yards for you and created this list. Try either the sweet or savory sticky rice cake like the striped red bean cake (tiaotou gao), soybean-filled golden rice cake (jin tuan), green rice ball stuffed with salted egg yolk, pork floss (dan huang rou song qing tuan), rice cake with red bean paste filling and black sesame (shuang niang tuan).

Taking the experience of dining to an inspired level of zen, Fu He Hui is created for the committed vegan or vegetarian, but can in fact, be enjoyed by those who understand there is more to a meal than simply consuming. The restaurant’s name is derived from the concept of cultivating both blessings (fu) and wisdom (hui), gently encouraging guests to eat simple, natural vegetarian food and feel peace of mind and body.

Fu He Hui is one of three other ‘sibling’ restaurants. Distinctive for its visual aesthetic and borderline austerity in ambience, guests are invited to look beyond this to the meticulous artisan-like crafting of exquisite dishes based on only the finest ingredients. Exuding zen-inspired serenity, discrete dining rooms reflect a philosophy that veganism isn’t just about the food, but a way of life. Here you’ll find set menus only that change with the seasons to make best use of locally sourced ingredients. With tea a natural complement to Fu He Hui’s offering, guests can match their menu choosing from the extensive list of teas available.

Travel as a vegetarian in Shanghai and you could be forgiven for wondering if there are indeed any vegetarian establishments. The good news is there are, and Wu Guan Tang stands tall among them. Established in 2004 and located in the former French concession area, this vegetarian restaurant can be found in an unassuming house hidden down one of the many lanes in the area. Wu Guan Tang is committed to providing diners with meals free of MSG, imitation meats, deep frying, and carbonated drinks. Based on the premise of a monk’s observations during meals, the menu is inventive, seasonal, freshly made using vegetables (many are organic), bean products, and mushrooms. Light, healthy, yet still flavorsome. A far cry from the heavier flavors of Shanghainese meat dishes, visit Wu Guan Tang for a break from tradition while on tour.

It seems vegetarianism was a thing in Shanghai well before the west decided it was cool. Gong De Lin is living proof this is true, having opened its doors in 1922 as Shanghai’s first vegetarian restaurant. Affectionately named “Godly”, many of the dishes on offer include ‘mock meat’, that is, beef, fish, or pork made from other ingredients. Choose from a menu that lists sweet and sour spareribs and stir fried shredded eel as signature dishes, but don’t be alarmed. All dishes are vegetarian, made with tofu and mushrooms. Gong De Lin also operates a takeaway stall next to the main restaurant where diners can enjoy the vegetarian buns and noodles on the go.

Jade Buddha Temple Vegetarian Restaurant has gained its place among Shanghai’s best vegetarian restaurants for its simple yet delicious food. Set away from an otherwise bustling, hustling Shanghai, this oasis provides culinary respite for weary travelers who can experience just a little of a monk’s life. Visit the canteen Yu Fo Si Su Zhai when we recommend the soup noodles, wontons and a handful of side dishes. Satisfying, simple, and hearty, this is vegetarian food that will keep you coming back for more.

Originally founded in 1910, Chunfeng Songyue Lou is government run and among the oldest vegetarian restaurants in Shanghai with a long history and tradition in classic Chinese recipes like steamed buns, noodles, dumplings and vegetarian buns (actually considered Shanghai’s number one). Although dishes are advertised as chicken, duck, fish, and seafood, all are vegetarian and made of bamboo shoots, mushrooms, bean sprouts, coriander, bean curd, and dried tofu. The signature steamed vegetarian buns at Chunfeng Songyue Lou are made of fresh bok choy, mushrooms and bean curd and are highly rated by locals.

Located in the busy Xintiandi area, this modern and stylish vegan restaurant offers an unusual mix of Chinese dishes and pastas, pizza, even vegan Swiss rolls that seems to work. Come prepared because the menu is extensive. VegeGood owners are committed to providing premium quality food hand made with delicious sauces. What to expect? Well no meat of course, and no imitation meat either, but also no eggs, milk, alcohol, or the five pungent roots – the five forbidden vegetables in Buddhist cuisine. There are Buddhist influences along with a desire to appeal to an audience beyond vegetarians. Very contemporary and definitely a shining light among the vegetarian restaurants in Shanghai.