Shanghai, situated at the mouth of the Huangpu River and south of the Yangtze, boasts a unique culinary scene influenced by neighboring regions like Hangzhou and Zhejiang. This blend creates a rich and diverse gastronomic experience. This article highlights some of Shanghai’s must-try dishes, offering a glimpse into the city’s vibrant food culture.

Shanghai cuisine showcases a delightful mix of flavors and textures.

Shanghai’s street food scene is equally captivating, offering a wide array of affordable and delicious options.

Shanghai’s culinary landscape is vast and varied, reflecting the city’s unique history and location.

Dishes from other regions of China are also prevalent in Shanghai, enriching the culinary experience.

Explore Shanghai’s diverse culinary offerings for an unforgettable gastronomic adventure.

Xiao Long Bao: Shanghai’s Iconic Soup Dumplings

Xiao Long Bao, originating in nearby Changzhou, are Shanghai’s most famous dish. These delicate soup dumplings feature a thin, translucent wrapper enclosing a flavorful meat filling and a rich, flavorful broth.

The careful preparation of Xiao Long Bao is key to its unique culinary experience.

The perfect Xiao Long Bao offers a delightful burst of flavor and texture.

The art of making Xiao Long Bao is a testament to the culinary expertise of Shanghai chefs.

Xiao Long Bao is often enjoyed as part of a larger meal.

To fully appreciate Xiao Long Bao, gently pierce the top, sip the broth, and then enjoy the dumpling itself, perhaps with a dipping sauce of vinegar and ginger. Jia Jia Tang Bao on Huanghe Street offers authentic Xiao Long Bao at a reasonable price, while Din Tai Fung provides a more upscale experience.

Sheng Jian Bao: Pan-Fried Dumplings for a Delicious Breakfast

Sheng Jian Bao, originating in Suzhou, are pan-fried dumplings offering a unique textural contrast.

The unique cooking method yields a crispy bottom and a soft, juicy interior.

These small, savory treats are pan-fried until golden brown on the bottom, then steamed with added water, resulting in a delightfully crispy exterior and a soft, flavorful interior. Often topped with sesame seeds and scallions, they’re a popular breakfast choice. Xiao Yang Sheng Jian on Nanjing Road is a popular spot to try them.

Guo Tie: A Classic Pan-Fried Dumpling Snack

Guo Tie, also known as potstickers, are pan-fried Jiaozi dumplings with a thin, elongated shape. Filled with minced meat, vegetables, and seasonings like ginger and Shaoxing wine, they represent a quintessential Shanghai street food.

Sold by the hundreds from large pans, Guo Tie offers a crispy, savory experience.

Cooked in large batches, their enticing aroma draws in passersby. Often enjoyed on the spot, their crispy exterior and flavorful filling are a satisfying experience. Consider enjoying them with beef soup for a lighter meal. Peng Yuan Guo Tie is a well-regarded establishment to try these delicious dumplings.

Must-Try Shanghai Dishes: A Culinary Journey

Shanghai offers a vibrant food scene, with diverse noodle dishes, rich braised meats, and flavorful street food. Here are some must-try specialties:

Cold Eel Noodles with Ginger Sauce

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This Shanghai specialty, known as Shansi Leng Mian, features a unique combination of textures and flavors. Thin, chewy noodles, lightly coated in vinegar and sesame sauce, are served separately from stir-fried eel in a sweet soy sauce and ginger-based marinade. Enjoy them mixed or separately for a truly unique culinary experience. Lao Difang, open 11am-2pm, is a popular spot to try this dish (approximately 40-50 CNY). Due to limited seating, arrive early.

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| Must eat in Shanghai

Shanghai-Style Scallion Oil Noodles (Cong You Ban Mian)

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Hand-pulled noodles are the star of this dish. Boiled and cooled, they’re tossed in a shimmering sauce of fragrant scallion oil, soy sauce, and brown sugar. The crispy, caramelized fried scallions provide a delicious textural contrast. A dash of black vinegar adds a pleasant tang. Try Shanghainese Jianguo restaurant, or find it as a course in many upscale restaurants (approximately 30-40 CNY).

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Shanghai-Style Braised Pork Belly (Hong Shao Rou)

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This iconic dish features pork belly braised in soy sauce, rice wine, and spices until it achieves a rich, glossy color and incredibly tender texture. The long cooking time allows the flavors to deeply penetrate the meat, resulting in a melt-in-your-mouth experience. It’s often served with rice, boiled eggs, or vegetables. Jesse restaurant offers an authentic version (approximately 270 CNY per person).

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Eight Treasures Stewed Duck

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This traditional Shanghai dish symbolizes wealth and luck. A whole duck is stuffed with eight ingredients (bamboo shoots, dried scallops, glutinous rice, minced pork, Mandarin mushrooms, nuts, chestnuts, and duck gizzards), then fried and stewed until tender in a rich broth. The result is a flavorful and aromatic dish with incredibly tender meat. Try Lao Beijing Restaurant or Jade Garden (approximately 180-250 CNY).

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Shanghai-Style Shaokao Skewers

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Shanghai’s take on shaokao (grilled skewers) offers a variety of meats, seafood, and vegetables grilled over charcoal. The signature spicy flavor comes from chilies, pepper, and dill. Xinjiang-style lamb skewers (yangrou chuan) are particularly popular, featuring tender, flavorful meat seasoned with spices. Explore night markets or the Changde Lu area for numerous options (5-15 CNY per skewer).

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These are just a few examples of the delicious food Shanghai has to offer. Be sure to explore and discover your own favorites!

Must-Try Shanghai Dishes: A Culinary Adventure

Shanghai offers a diverse culinary landscape, blending traditional Chinese flavors with modern influences. Here are some must-try dishes that showcase the city’s rich gastronomic heritage:

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Malatang: A Spicy and Numbing Hot Pot Experience

Originating in Sichuan province, Malatang (“spicy and numbing”) hot pot has conquered Shanghai’s food scene. This intensely flavorful hot pot features a unique blend of Sichuan peppercorns and chili peppers, creating a signature numbing spiciness. Diners construct their own bowls, selecting from an array of ingredients including noodles, tofu, meatballs, vegetables, and seafood. Numerous restaurants throughout Shanghai offer authentic Malatang, with prices typically ranging from 20 to 50 yuan per bowl.

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Steamed Hairy Crab: A Seasonal Indulgence

Late autumn and early winter witness the arrival of Shanghai’s famous steamed hairy crab (Da Zha Xie). Prized for their delicate flavor and rich texture, these crabs, primarily sourced from Yangcheng Lake in Jiangsu Province, are a seasonal delicacy. Simply steamed and served with black vinegar and ginger, the crabs require minimal seasoning to highlight their natural sweetness. Male crabs offer a firmer, plumper meat, while females boast a creamy, orange roe. Expect to pay 300-400 CNY for a portion, with restaurants like Xinguang Jiu Jia providing an upscale experience.

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Hairy Crab Shanghai. Credit: nomfluence | must eat food in shanghai

| must eat food in shanghai

Shanghai-Style Spicy Smoked Fish: A Unique Flavor Profile

Despite its name, Shanghai smoked fish (xūn yú) isn’t traditionally smoked. Instead, fresh carp is marinated with special spices and pan-fried to crispy perfection, resulting in a tender, subtly sweet interior. The dish’s distinctive character comes from its lightly spicy seasoning and unique aroma. This dish is a great option for those who enjoy a blend of sweet and spicy flavors. Fu 1039 restaurant on Yuyuan Road offers this dish for approximately 300 CNY.

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Shanghai-Style Scallion Pancakes: A Simple Yet Satisfying Staple

These simple yet addictive scallion pancakes (Cong You Bing) are a mainstay of Shanghai street food. Their golden-brown exterior encases layers of soft, spongy dough infused with the savory aroma of scallions and rich oil. The preparation involves layering dough, scallions, and oil, then pan-frying until perfectly crisp on the outside and soft within. Enjoy these with a side of soy sauce and vinegar or a dash of chili. Xiao Yang Zhou (644 Fengyang Lu) and Tilanqiao (328 Xikang Lu) are two places offering this treat for approximately 7 CNY per pancake.

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Shanghai-Style Crab Yellow Shell Pastry: A Sweet and Savory Delight

These visually appealing pastries boast a bright yellow crust reminiscent of a crab shell, offering a deliciously crunchy texture and the fragrant aroma of sesame. The filling varies, with sweet versions incorporating amaranth, chive oil, sugar, bean powder, rose, and jujube, while savory options often include pork, crab powder, and shrimp. These pastries, available in both sweet and savory varieties, can be found at snack shops on Chenghuangmiao Street and Yuyuan Market for 10-15 yuan each.

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Shanghai Street Food: Two Must-Try Dishes

Shanghai offers a vibrant culinary scene, and two dishes stand out as quintessential examples of its street food: Sticky Rice Cake with Pork Chop and Shanghai-style Tangyuan.

Sticky Rice Cake with Pork Chop: A Shanghai Staple

This popular Shanghai street food boasts a history exceeding 50 years. Thinly sliced, chewy rice cakes are combined with crispy fried pork ribs, all enveloped in a rich, sweet, and spicy sauce. The dish is known for its unique flavor profile and satisfying texture. Beyond its deliciousness, it’s also nutritionally valuable, believed to promote blood health. The pork ribs are typically marinated in traditional Shanghai spices like sesame oil, fish sauce, and ginger before stir-frying with the rice cakes. It’s a common dish served in family meals and at gatherings.

For an authentic experience, try Shuguang or Xian De Lai, two well-known restaurants specializing in this classic dish. Expect to pay around 40-60 yuan per serving.

Shanghai-Style Tangyuan: A Festive Treat with a Twist

Tangyuan, glutinous rice balls, are a traditional Chinese treat, particularly associated with the Lantern Festival. Their round shape symbolizes family unity and happiness. The traditional dish features chewy glutinous rice balls filled with sweet black sesame or peanuts, served in a light, sweet broth. However, Shanghai has put its own spin on this classic.

The Shanghai variation offers savory options with meat fillings, providing a unique twist for Lunar New Year celebrations and beyond. Regardless of the filling, the chewy texture of the rice balls and flavorful broth create a comforting and delicious experience. Shengxing and Dian Shi Zhai offer excellent versions, costing approximately 15-25 yuan per bowl.

Exploring the Diversity of Shanghai Cuisine

Shanghai’s culinary landscape is diverse, encompassing everything from delicate dim sum to hearty street food. Each dish reflects the city’s unique cultural heritage, showcasing a blend of tradition and innovative culinary techniques.

Shanghai cuisine

This article was originally published on Klook Vietnam and translated and edited by VisitFamousPlaces.com. Please contact us if you believe any images or text belong to you.