great places to eaT in shanghai :P
Not in any particular order, here is a selection of interesting restaurants in Shanghai, along with a very brief description and links to addresses on 点评 or SMSH. If you come across anymore you think I should add then please do click on the e-mail button at the top of the page to send me a message. Happy exploring...! :)
Legend Taste
Legend Taste
滇道云南特色料理(康定路店)
Legendary mashed potatoes and a superb place to sit outside in spring and autumn if you want to savour great Yunnan cuisine... Not overpriced like Lost Heaven and the food is proper hearty!
There's another offshoot restaurant in Soho on Fuxing Lu, though the atmosphere is not as good as Kangding.
Legend Taste
滇道云南特色料理(康定路店)
Legendary mashed potatoes and a superb place to sit outside in spring and autumn if you want to savour great Yunnan cuisine... Not overpriced like Lost Heaven and the food is proper hearty!
There's another offshoot restaurant in Soho on Fuxing Lu, though the atmosphere is not as good as Kangding.
Di Shui Dong
滴水洞(茂名南路店) Di Shui Dong (Maoming Lu)
滴水洞(东平店) Di Shui Dong (Dongping Lu)
Clichéd maybe, but they still do the best ribs known to man and also the best deep fried aubergine you'll ever taste. We had some deep fried aubergine in Yangshuo recently and it wasn't even in the same league...
滴水洞(茂名南路店) Di Shui Dong (Maoming Lu)
滴水洞(东平店) Di Shui Dong (Dongping Lu)
Clichéd maybe, but they still do the best ribs known to man and also the best deep fried aubergine you'll ever taste. We had some deep fried aubergine in Yangshuo recently and it wasn't even in the same league...
Xiang Cui
湘粹(南京西路店)
Fish head to die for...... :) loads of meat and it's absolutely covered in chillies, but which is hotter - the red or the green? You'll have to go and find out! Also recommend the green beans and the 湘式腊肉。This place is rustic but has a loyal customer base, and for good reason.
湘粹(南京西路店)
Fish head to die for...... :) loads of meat and it's absolutely covered in chillies, but which is hotter - the red or the green? You'll have to go and find out! Also recommend the green beans and the 湘式腊肉。This place is rustic but has a loyal customer base, and for good reason.
Benlai
本来精品川菜
A sensationally tasty Sichuan place specialising in all sorts of things to warm your cockles. Particularly recommended is the 自贡大麻鱼, pictured here, which is jam-packed full of numbing peppercorns that make your mouth tingle away. Also make sure you try the ribs and the 红油抄手, a kind of Sichuan-style wanton dish. The owner has recently also opened a new restaurant, Benzhen, which serves a similar fare, is already extremely popular, and has a nice balcony view in Xintiandi. Expect to queue at both of these places - we always go late to avoid the crowds.
本来精品川菜
A sensationally tasty Sichuan place specialising in all sorts of things to warm your cockles. Particularly recommended is the 自贡大麻鱼, pictured here, which is jam-packed full of numbing peppercorns that make your mouth tingle away. Also make sure you try the ribs and the 红油抄手, a kind of Sichuan-style wanton dish. The owner has recently also opened a new restaurant, Benzhen, which serves a similar fare, is already extremely popular, and has a nice balcony view in Xintiandi. Expect to queue at both of these places - we always go late to avoid the crowds.
新疆伊宁远征餐厅
Great Xinjiang food in a recently renovated spot in Jing'an. Beautiful lamb kebabs and lamb everything really. Good naan, and 囊包肉 or 囊炒肉 if you prefer it fried. Not one for vegetarians...
Great Xinjiang food in a recently renovated spot in Jing'an. Beautiful lamb kebabs and lamb everything really. Good naan, and 囊包肉 or 囊炒肉 if you prefer it fried. Not one for vegetarians...
Masala Art
Arguably the best Indian in town, divine tandoori and a superb aubergine curry. Black dahl to die for, and delicious naan to dunk in all those curries!
Arguably the best Indian in town, divine tandoori and a superb aubergine curry. Black dahl to die for, and delicious naan to dunk in all those curries!
El Willy
This place does one of my favourite Shanghai brunch deals. An excellent take on tapas in a luxurious setting, and they have even started doing a Night Brunch. Yes!
This place does one of my favourite Shanghai brunch deals. An excellent take on tapas in a luxurious setting, and they have even started doing a Night Brunch. Yes!
'The Wolf Has Come' Grilled Leg of Lamb
狼来了食膳碳烤羊腿
Not quite as atmospheric as equivalent places in Beijing but finally there is a place where you can barbecue and carve your own leg of lamb on the table in front of you :) A great eating experience and good fun for small groups.
狼来了食膳碳烤羊腿
Not quite as atmospheric as equivalent places in Beijing but finally there is a place where you can barbecue and carve your own leg of lamb on the table in front of you :) A great eating experience and good fun for small groups.
Yeshari Restaurant
耶里夏丽新疆餐厅(东方店)
Good, solid Xinjiang cuisine, and they do traditional XJ dancing performances at this one of the chain as well sometimes, I believe.
耶里夏丽新疆餐厅(东方店)
Good, solid Xinjiang cuisine, and they do traditional XJ dancing performances at this one of the chain as well sometimes, I believe.
Hai Di Lao Hotpot
海底捞火锅店(北京西路店)
A good option for hotpot, and with lots of branches all over the city, even in Pudong! This one's on Beijing Xi Lu. They all do Kung Fu Noodles (see photo!), and there is usually a selection of games at the entrance in case you have to wait for a table.
海底捞火锅店(北京西路店)
A good option for hotpot, and with lots of branches all over the city, even in Pudong! This one's on Beijing Xi Lu. They all do Kung Fu Noodles (see photo!), and there is usually a selection of games at the entrance in case you have to wait for a table.
Huang Chen Northeastern Restaurant
皇晨东北菜馆
Cheap and cheerful, love this place. Went there with my parents once and devoured a cumin potato dish so quickly that the boss brought us out another one free of charge! It wasn't small, it was just very tasty :) Good dumplings too, as you would expect.
皇晨东北菜馆
Cheap and cheerful, love this place. Went there with my parents once and devoured a cumin potato dish so quickly that the boss brought us out another one free of charge! It wasn't small, it was just very tasty :) Good dumplings too, as you would expect.
XiaoYang's Fried Dumplings
小杨生煎(吴江路店)
Fantastic shengjian, utterly delicious! Loads of branches although this one is on WuJiang Lu near Nanjing West. Make sure you go and fill your face, but be careful if you've never eaten them before as there is an art to this experience, and it can go horribly wrong if you don't take them seriously!
小杨生煎(吴江路店)
Fantastic shengjian, utterly delicious! Loads of branches although this one is on WuJiang Lu near Nanjing West. Make sure you go and fill your face, but be careful if you've never eaten them before as there is an art to this experience, and it can go horribly wrong if you don't take them seriously!
Chiang Mai
清迈府泰国料理(康定路店) 别名：Chiang Mai Thai Cuisine
A great place to sit outside and eat in spring and autumn, just down from Legend Taste. Solid Thai food at reasonable prices - not the best you'll ever eat, for sure, but unpretentious, no-nonsense stuff in a great location.
清迈府泰国料理(康定路店) 别名：Chiang Mai Thai Cuisine
A great place to sit outside and eat in spring and autumn, just down from Legend Taste. Solid Thai food at reasonable prices - not the best you'll ever eat, for sure, but unpretentious, no-nonsense stuff in a great location.
Sichuan Citizen
If you walked down Donghu Lu and panicked because Sichuan Citizen is no longer there, fear not: it has moved to Wukang Lu. Hearty chuan cai with a cocktail menu, this is a reliable establishment that does everything pretty well, and as such it's long been a popular restaurant. All the classic Sichuan dishes come recommended in particular 水煮鱼 - fish cooked in water, well, kind of... And of course it would be remiss of me not to mention the infamous Basil Drops which have to be tried to be believed.
If you walked down Donghu Lu and panicked because Sichuan Citizen is no longer there, fear not: it has moved to Wukang Lu. Hearty chuan cai with a cocktail menu, this is a reliable establishment that does everything pretty well, and as such it's long been a popular restaurant. All the classic Sichuan dishes come recommended in particular 水煮鱼 - fish cooked in water, well, kind of... And of course it would be remiss of me not to mention the infamous Basil Drops which have to be tried to be believed.
Napa
If you want to splurge a bit of cash and go for something special then this is a genuinely excellent option. Bund view with a carefully crafted menu, explained dish by dish as it is brought out to you, and a wine pairing to match. If you want to order your own wine rather than go for the pairing, then there is a menu by region which is probably hundreds of pages long. Outstanding stuff, everyone should try it.
If you want to splurge a bit of cash and go for something special then this is a genuinely excellent option. Bund view with a carefully crafted menu, explained dish by dish as it is brought out to you, and a wine pairing to match. If you want to order your own wine rather than go for the pairing, then there is a menu by region which is probably hundreds of pages long. Outstanding stuff, everyone should try it.
Lotus Eatery
云之缘云南餐厅(中山公园店) 别名：Lotus Eatery
A nice Yunnan place on DingXi Lu. They do magnificent beef roasted with potatoes, as well as lots of other interesting dishes from the southwestern province.
云之缘云南餐厅(中山公园店) 别名：Lotus Eatery
A nice Yunnan place on DingXi Lu. They do magnificent beef roasted with potatoes, as well as lots of other interesting dishes from the southwestern province.
Nepali Kitchen
Good curries, samosas, lentils, naan, parathas... all in a really nice atmosphere. This place has been around for a long time and has a loyal customer base.
Good curries, samosas, lentils, naan, parathas... all in a really nice atmosphere. This place has been around for a long time and has a loyal customer base.
QuanJuDe Beijing Roast Duck
全聚德(浦东店)
Large, expensive and lacking in personality, but totally worth it for the amazing duck!
全聚德(浦东店)
Large, expensive and lacking in personality, but totally worth it for the amazing duck!
Bella Napoli
One of three, there's a nice buzz about this place, and the fare is hearty and sensibly priced. Probably my favourite Italian option in Shanghai.
One of three, there's a nice buzz about this place, and the fare is hearty and sensibly priced. Probably my favourite Italian option in Shanghai.
Namhae Hoiztip
I'm not sure if this restaurant is still open, but if it is, it serves the weirdest thing I think I have ever eaten, and whilst I wouldn't go back and eat it a second time, it was one hell of an experience! When we read this article on SMSH, well we simply had to go and give it a try... If rotten skate sashimi floats your boat then this is your place!
I'm not sure if this restaurant is still open, but if it is, it serves the weirdest thing I think I have ever eaten, and whilst I wouldn't go back and eat it a second time, it was one hell of an experience! When we read this article on SMSH, well we simply had to go and give it a try... If rotten skate sashimi floats your boat then this is your place!
Niu Xin Ting
牛信亭(紫藤路店)
Great Korean BBQ out in Gubei, with amazing kimchi and other free bits and bobs, then a wonderful selection of meat. Try the wu hua rou, which is killer! Probably my favourite Korean restaurant in Shanghai, though lots more around here still to be tested...
牛信亭(紫藤路店)
Great Korean BBQ out in Gubei, with amazing kimchi and other free bits and bobs, then a wonderful selection of meat. Try the wu hua rou, which is killer! Probably my favourite Korean restaurant in Shanghai, though lots more around here still to be tested...
Lao Yu's Family Northeastern Restaurant
老于家东北人家(徐家汇店)
Fantastic restaurant that does all the DongBei classics like Guo Bao Rou. You MUST try the fishhead pancakes, which come in a wonderful sauce absolutely bursting with flavour. Super cheap place too - we ordered an absolute feast, with drinks, and it came to under RMB60 per head.
老于家东北人家(徐家汇店)
Fantastic restaurant that does all the DongBei classics like Guo Bao Rou. You MUST try the fishhead pancakes, which come in a wonderful sauce absolutely bursting with flavour. Super cheap place too - we ordered an absolute feast, with drinks, and it came to under RMB60 per head.
Slurp!
云南小市(茂名北路店)
Great little café that does small but yummy Yunnanese dishes, some of them with a kick. When I asked them to make it spicy the waitress said 'they are all spicy!'
云南小市(茂名北路店)
Great little café that does small but yummy Yunnanese dishes, some of them with a kick. When I asked them to make it spicy the waitress said 'they are all spicy!'
Qing Mai Heaven
Nice little cheap and cheerful Thai restaurant, worth a visit! The red curry went down very well :)
Nice little cheap and cheerful Thai restaurant, worth a visit! The red curry went down very well :)
Tomatito
Nice selection of tapas just off Nanjing West from the guys at El Willy. Restaurant is really nicely decked out, and just opposite the Tap House. We had about 8 or 9 tapas between 4 of us and they ranged from reasonably tasty to outstanding - no duffs in there. Service wasn't great - friendly, just not very switched on - and the restaurant felt a little too confident of itself for my liking. Would definitely go back again, however. Worth popping up for an expensive cocktail at el Ocho too if you want to splurge a bit of cash!
Nice selection of tapas just off Nanjing West from the guys at El Willy. Restaurant is really nicely decked out, and just opposite the Tap House. We had about 8 or 9 tapas between 4 of us and they ranged from reasonably tasty to outstanding - no duffs in there. Service wasn't great - friendly, just not very switched on - and the restaurant felt a little too confident of itself for my liking. Would definitely go back again, however. Worth popping up for an expensive cocktail at el Ocho too if you want to splurge a bit of cash!
Hei Fang Sushi
黑方日本料理(茂名北路店)
Near Slurp! on Maoming Bei Lu, there are two of these restaurants serving a nice selection of sushi and sashimi, one on either side of the road. Prices are good, food is good, beer is reasonable, so this is probably our new local now Cui Sushi has been shut down... They also do a good all-you-can-eat buffet deal which can make for a fun evening.
黑方日本料理(茂名北路店)
Near Slurp! on Maoming Bei Lu, there are two of these restaurants serving a nice selection of sushi and sashimi, one on either side of the road. Prices are good, food is good, beer is reasonable, so this is probably our new local now Cui Sushi has been shut down... They also do a good all-you-can-eat buffet deal which can make for a fun evening.
Urban Thai
妈咪泰料(大沽路店)
This Dagu Lu addition to their original restaurant is a nice option for Thai food. I use it for takeaway on quite a regular basis - love the red curry duck.
妈咪泰料(大沽路店)
This Dagu Lu addition to their original restaurant is a nice option for Thai food. I use it for takeaway on quite a regular basis - love the red curry duck.
重庆高老九火锅
Great Chongqing hotpot - a large and popular joint that caters to those who like their hotpot to have a bit of a kick. Extremely tasty and a lot of fun!
Great Chongqing hotpot - a large and popular joint that caters to those who like their hotpot to have a bit of a kick. Extremely tasty and a lot of fun!
百乐餐厅
Hunan food. Lots of chillies and lots of flavour. The spicy scrambled eggs have a real kick, and the 腊牛肉 is superb as well. This is a place to stop at if you are looking for a hearty meal at a good price.
Hunan food. Lots of chillies and lots of flavour. The spicy scrambled eggs have a real kick, and the 腊牛肉 is superb as well. This is a place to stop at if you are looking for a hearty meal at a good price.
Fushan Korean BBQ
The perfect place to come after a few beers in The Brew - excellent food, nice atmosphere, not too sanitised and the staff were good too. Highly recommended for Pudongers.
The perfect place to come after a few beers in The Brew - excellent food, nice atmosphere, not too sanitised and the staff were good too. Highly recommended for Pudongers.
Liu Dao Men
六道门川面
Excellent dan dan mian, some of the best I've ever had - really, really tasty! Ask for them spicy though, otherwise they make them for Shanghainese taste buds...
六道门川面
Excellent dan dan mian, some of the best I've ever had - really, really tasty! Ask for them spicy though, otherwise they make them for Shanghainese taste buds...
四川香天下火锅
This place is somewhere you simply have to visit if you haven't already. Amazingly tasty Sichuan hotpot, with the added novelty value of getting to watch a teddy bear melt into the pot... They also do great metres of beef - a metre-long board of beef. Very tasty and a lot of fun! It is a chain, but this one is on Huaihai Lu.
This place is somewhere you simply have to visit if you haven't already. Amazingly tasty Sichuan hotpot, with the added novelty value of getting to watch a teddy bear melt into the pot... They also do great metres of beef - a metre-long board of beef. Very tasty and a lot of fun! It is a chain, but this one is on Huaihai Lu.
Black Pepper
Excellent Turkish set menu in a really handy location. Food is very high quality and the only thing that lets it down is the cost of the drinks. Still definitely worth a visit if you've not already been though.
Excellent Turkish set menu in a really handy location. Food is very high quality and the only thing that lets it down is the cost of the drinks. Still definitely worth a visit if you've not already been though.
Home is in the Grasslands
家在塔啦蒙古特色餐厅(天钥桥路店)
Okay, so there's not many places in central Shanghai where you can eat inside your own yurt and be serenaded in Mongolian while you eat tasty chunks of lamb. But don't worry, we've found one! And this place is epic. Much fun to be had indeed. Make sure you try a selection of lamb, or book in advance and go for the whole lamb if you've got a big group. All this can be washed down with the sweet taste of 奶酒, a spirit made from milk that is actually more palatable than you might imagine.
家在塔啦蒙古特色餐厅(天钥桥路店)
Okay, so there's not many places in central Shanghai where you can eat inside your own yurt and be serenaded in Mongolian while you eat tasty chunks of lamb. But don't worry, we've found one! And this place is epic. Much fun to be had indeed. Make sure you try a selection of lamb, or book in advance and go for the whole lamb if you've got a big group. All this can be washed down with the sweet taste of 奶酒, a spirit made from milk that is actually more palatable than you might imagine.
Chiba Sushi
千叶寿司
Excellent little sushi place on Dagu Lu - reasonably priced and very tasty. The foie gras is excellent, and along with the tuna rolls and grilled salmon makes for a very filling meal.
千叶寿司
Excellent little sushi place on Dagu Lu - reasonably priced and very tasty. The foie gras is excellent, and along with the tuna rolls and grilled salmon makes for a very filling meal.
Olá
OLA Bar & Restaurant
Nice Portuguese-inspired restaurant with a café vibe, turning into a livelier bar in the evenings with a Brazilian crowd. Food well worth exploring - all seems reliable. Nice to sit outside in the autumn/spring but also a good place to get some hearty winter food on those cold Sunday afternoons in January and February.
OLA Bar & Restaurant
Nice Portuguese-inspired restaurant with a café vibe, turning into a livelier bar in the evenings with a Brazilian crowd. Food well worth exploring - all seems reliable. Nice to sit outside in the autumn/spring but also a good place to get some hearty winter food on those cold Sunday afternoons in January and February.
Jiang Bian Cheng Wai Grilled Fish
江边城外烤全鱼(浦东新梅店)
Fantastic 'strange taste' grilled fish - brought out whole on a hotplate and you choose the accompaniments you want to go with it. There are lots of flavours to choose from but none have compared to the 怪味鱼... Also make sure you have the KouShui Ji (口水鸡) starter as they do it very well here. Best not to go till about 8:30 as you have to queue before that... which is a good sign!
江边城外烤全鱼(浦东新梅店)
Fantastic 'strange taste' grilled fish - brought out whole on a hotplate and you choose the accompaniments you want to go with it. There are lots of flavours to choose from but none have compared to the 怪味鱼... Also make sure you have the KouShui Ji (口水鸡) starter as they do it very well here. Best not to go till about 8:30 as you have to queue before that... which is a good sign!
The Hop Project
The Hop Project(大沽路店)
New bar that does mega cheese toasties for hen you just need that fix of home. Or for when you want a bit of fusion try the Hunan varieties, probably my favourite. All come with a super selection of chilli sauces and your choice of IPA, ale or cider. What more could you ask for? If only it was a little closer to my home.......
The Hop Project(大沽路店)
New bar that does mega cheese toasties for hen you just need that fix of home. Or for when you want a bit of fusion try the Hunan varieties, probably my favourite. All come with a super selection of chilli sauces and your choice of IPA, ale or cider. What more could you ask for? If only it was a little closer to my home.......
Xilaixirou
喜来稀肉(吴江路店)
Very good Korean bbq place just near Nanjing West tube station, on the corner with Shimen Yi Lu. They specialise in pork but have a good selection of beef, as you would expect, and it all comes on a hotplate where they pour a load of omelette mix around the edge so you can have your eggy fix alongside your meat. All the usual dishes available, including a good seafood pancake, and Asahi to wash it down. Gets very busy and you often have to queue so best coming slightly later on rather than at 6pm.
喜来稀肉(吴江路店)
Very good Korean bbq place just near Nanjing West tube station, on the corner with Shimen Yi Lu. They specialise in pork but have a good selection of beef, as you would expect, and it all comes on a hotplate where they pour a load of omelette mix around the edge so you can have your eggy fix alongside your meat. All the usual dishes available, including a good seafood pancake, and Asahi to wash it down. Gets very busy and you often have to queue so best coming slightly later on rather than at 6pm.
Liquid Laundry
Not everyone's cup of tea, but LL has a selection of solid food that is nicely washed down with draught beer from BCB and decent cocktails and wine. A nice one for groups where you can get a selection of plates and share. Pizzas good, chicken good, bacon good... a good place for an occasional visit. Also check out LL's little brother Lil' Laundry.
Not everyone's cup of tea, but LL has a selection of solid food that is nicely washed down with draught beer from BCB and decent cocktails and wine. A nice one for groups where you can get a selection of plates and share. Pizzas good, chicken good, bacon good... a good place for an occasional visit. Also check out LL's little brother Lil' Laundry.
遵义虾子卢四羊肉粉
Excellent lamb noodles - they come spicy if you like it that way, and you can add extra meat or veg. You can have them dry or in a broth. Nomnomnomnom....
Excellent lamb noodles - they come spicy if you like it that way, and you can add extra meat or veg. You can have them dry or in a broth. Nomnomnomnom....
Southern Barbarian
I prefer Legend Taste, if I'm totally honest, but this place is worth checking out nonetheless. A good range of interesting Yunnan dishes, and kebabs, with a spectacular beer menu. It's a nice setting, too.
I prefer Legend Taste, if I'm totally honest, but this place is worth checking out nonetheless. A good range of interesting Yunnan dishes, and kebabs, with a spectacular beer menu. It's a nice setting, too.
Rastaco
Tucked into a little lane off Ruijin Lu, this place is cheap and cheerful. Mongolian lamb tacos at 20RMB are a great snack, and beer is also 20RMB which is better value than a lot of places. Owners seem friendly, and I hope they can make enough to not have to shut down in a few months time as this place has character.
Tucked into a little lane off Ruijin Lu, this place is cheap and cheerful. Mongolian lamb tacos at 20RMB are a great snack, and beer is also 20RMB which is better value than a lot of places. Owners seem friendly, and I hope they can make enough to not have to shut down in a few months time as this place has character.
Pelikan
An excellent brunch here, with a really thoughtfully prepared Scandinavian menu that is full of flavour. Not the cheapest, but definitely worth a splurge!
An excellent brunch here, with a really thoughtfully prepared Scandinavian menu that is full of flavour. Not the cheapest, but definitely worth a splurge!
yet to be tasted...
These places are all on my to-do list of Shanghai restaurants. Let us know if you particularly recommend any of them, or any others for that matter!
And here's a nice bit of street food photography and info on other Shanghai eats, just in case you're still hungry:
- Pilipala
- EQ Nordic Eatery
- Heat French Rotisserie & Bistro
- Comma
- Tartine
- Together
- MBD
- Bird
- RAC Coffee
- Oha
- 粋寿司(中兴路店)
- 郭记内蒙古海拉尔烤羊腿(志丹路店)
- 元世祖涮羊肉(金汇路店)
- 丰盛胡同(金汇店)
- 西安印象(芳甸路店)
- 敦煌小亭(静安寺店)
- 小白桦酒家
- 望湘园(潍坊店)
- 红辣椒(张杨路店)
And here's a nice bit of street food photography and info on other Shanghai eats, just in case you're still hungry: