[SHANGHAI] Top 10 Foods Must Eat in Shanghai, China

I never thought that Shanghai 上海 China has so much to offer, and I fell in love with their food. As you may have heard, Shanghai is a vast cosmopolitan metropolis, much more modern and fascinating in terms of transportation, futuristic buildings, technology-wise, and more than what we have in Jakarta (Indonesia). Although most of the street food has been moved to the shopping malls, it was fun to find them and to get a taste of local delights while we’re in Shanghai.

Well, of course, there are a few facts that you should know before you come to Shanghai (Click here to read more about it). I’ve shared my experience of the people in Shanghai, my accommodation in Shanghai, tips how to unlock and use your favorite social media (Instagram, Facebook, Google, etc) in Shanghai, and how to ride the bus and bicycle like a local people when in Shanghai, in a separate post. Scroll down to the end of the article to find more tips and trick traveling to Shanghai.

1. Jia Jia Tang Bao

It’s no doubt that Jia Jia Tang Bao is a must visit when you go to Shanghai. We’re lucky because Jia Jia Tang Bao‘s outlet is strategically located on Huang He street (黄河路) which is not far from our hotel, and we quickly walked to this place right after we checked-in to the Hotel. Their Xiao Long Bao is loved by the locals, and also known as the best steamed Xiao Long Bao in town. I totally recommend you try the Crab & Pork Xiao Long Bao for 30RMB (equal to IDR 60K), but if you want, you can also order Full Crab Xiao Long Bao for 99RMB (equal to IDR 198K).

For the full review: click here.

Recommended Stall:

Jia Jia Tang Bao

90 Huanghe Rd, Huangpu Qu, Shanghai

Operation Hours: 07:30 – 20:00 (everyday)

Phone: +86 21 6327 6878

2. Yang’s Dumpling

The reason why I suggest you visit Jia Jia Tang Bao’s outlet on Huang He road was that, Yang’s Dumpling, the famous fried-style Xiao Long Bao in Shanghai, located just across the street. Hooray! People usually refer this food as Sheng Jian Bao 生煎包 (the pan-fried version of xiao long bao). Our top favorite was the Shrimp Dumpling (16RMB for 4 pieces – equal to IDR 32K), followed by the original Yang’s Dumpling (pork meat). The crisp and nice skin texture made these Xiao Long Bao like Kuo Tieh that we used to eat in Jakarta. The soup tasted great, and we fell in love with the delights of xiao long bao made by Yang’s Dumpling (8RMB for 4 pieces – equal to IDR 16K).

For the full review: click here.

Recommended Stall:

Yang’s Dumpling

97 Huanghe Rd, Huangpu Qu, Shanghai

Operation Hours: 06:30 – 20:00 (everyday)

Phone: +86 21 5375 1793

3. Shandong Jian Bing (Egg Pancake)

I want this again!! This simple comfort food is called Jian Bing (also known as Shandong Jian Bing), made of a crispy layer crepe, with an egg cracked on top. It’s stuffed with a choice of savory toppings (I opted for chicken, with chili flakes for 7.50RMB – equal to IDR 15K). The crepe is made fresh upon every order on a flat griddle, wrapped, and folded into half, and are usually available as breakfast takeaway for people in Shanghai. The brown sauce tasted like a sweet hoisin sauce, and what I liked most was the fried beancurd skin, that gives a crunchy kick in every bite. Must try!

Recommended Stall:

Shandong Jian Bing 煎饼

247 Wulumuqi Middle Road, near Wuyuan Lu, Shanghai

(at the intersection – across Little Catch Cafe / walk left from Wuji Dept Store – in between Fuxing Lu and Wuyuan Lu)

Closest Metro Stop: Changshu Road / Shanghai Library

4. A Gan Guo Kui (Jingzhou Style Baked Filling Pastry)

As good as it is, Jingzhou Style Baked Filling Pastry is another must-try street food when in Shanghai. We stumbled into this shop several times at different malls and finally decided to try it while in Cloud Nine Mall, one of the busiest malls in Shanghai. People called it as Guo Kui, a thin meat-stuffed flatbread cooked in the oven. The way they kneaded the dough in their open kitchen, formed it into a ball, and then shaped it into a flatbread, stealing our attention who passed by their store. They fill it with various fillings; option available: Beef, Preserved Vegetable, Fresh Pork, Dark Brown Sugar fillings. I opted for the Beef fillings (10RMB, equal to IDR 20K) and pretty much loved it! The texture of this flatbread was not too thick, but very crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside, and so delicious, we’ve never had anything like it before.

Recommended Stall:

A Gan Guo Kui

Cloud Nine Mall – Zhongshan Park

1018 Changning Rd, ZhongShan GongYuan, Shanghai

Operation Hours: 10am – 10pm

5. Wai Po Jia (Grandma’s Kitchen)

Wai Po Jia (The Grandma’s House) is very popular among locals, not only because of its delicious taste but also because the price is incredibly cheap! The menu comprises mostly Chinese comfort food dishes, but you’ll find huge crowds and long waits at peak hours. The signature Chicken pot with flavored tea (45RMB, equal to IDR 90K), and Steamed Prawn with generous minced garlic and glass noodles (35RMB, equal to IDR 70K), both were fantastic! Wai Po Jia is definitely a must visit when in Shanghai, China!

For the full review: click here.

Recommended Outlet:

Wai Po Jia / The Grandma’s House

3rd Floor – Bailian Xuhui Shopping Center 百联徐汇商业广场, 2038 Huashan Lu,

near Guangyuan Lu 华山路2038号, 近广元路

Opening Hour: 11:00am – 10pm

Phone: +86 21 5418 6115

Price: starts from IDR 50K

6. Xinjiapo Paobing

We also tried one of the local street food in front of Yuyuan Garden station in Shanghai, and we pretty much enjoyed it! I’m not sure how they call this food, but there’s a label “Xinjiapo Paobing” from the paper. Like everyone else, I chose the bacon as the filling (7RMB, equal to IDR 14K). Then he put sliced cucumber, eggs, mayonnaise, tomato & spicy sauce, then rolled and wrapped with Prata bread. It’s quite similar to Jian Bing, but different in terms of the skin that they use, the sauce, and the ingredients. I wish I could find this as well in Jakarta for my snack time!

Recommended Stall:

Xinjiapo Paobing

Yuyuan Garden Station, Huangpu Qu, Shanghai

Price: starts from IDR 10K

7. Cifan Tuan 糍饭团 – NON HALAL

After we visited World’s Largest Uniqlo Flagship store located at Huaihai Road in Shanghai, we spend some time to find some of the local snacks by looking from the crowds in front of the shops. If you ever eat Bakchang, you’ll recognize the flavor of this Rice Ball, another favorite street food among the locals in Shanghai. A ball of fragrant sticky rice, colored dark purple a bit red, known as Cifantuan, and usually eaten as breakfast in Shanghai. Available in two versions, with sweet or savory fillings, but I decided to try the Complete version (6.5RMB, equal to IDR 13K). All the combination of flavors was really good; from the sweetness of soy-glazed pork meat, pork floss, the salty sourness of the pickled vegetable, salty duck egg, and crispy crunch of the fried youtiao (deep-fried dough sticks), and crispy Bak You Pok (deep fried pork fat). But because the outside texture was too dry, I did not finish it. However, you should give it a try, and you can find them in most breakfast street food spots.

Recommended Stall:

Zhen Yuan Rice Ball

one of the shops along Huaihai Middle Road (opposite the World’s Largest Flagship Store – Uniqlo), Shanghai

Price: starts from IDR 13K

8. Glutinous Rice Dough with Fried Fritters & Sesame

I don’t know why people in Shanghai really like youtiao and crab so much. Well, for this food, it’s called Ci Fan! The guy from this kiosk made this on the spot based on order. The white part is the glutinous rice dough which wrapped around the youtiao (dough fritter). He asked me whether I wanted this, and that (while showing me all the available fillings options), and I said yes to the black sesame, finely chopped pickled vegetables, salted egg, and pork floss, and the total price was 9RMB (equal to IDR 18K). The outside was chewy and sticky, but inside was crunchy and tasty, balancing each other. Taste best when it’s still hot. Recommended!

Recommended Stall:

Shanghai Hongkou Sticky Rice Cake

one of the shops along Huaihai Middle Road (opposite the World’s Largest Flagship storeshop – Uniqlo), Shanghai

Price: starts from IDR 15K

9. Bon Matin Paris 早安巴黎

Right when we’re on our way to Tianzifang (the old Shanghai) by bicycle, we spotted the famous Bon Matin Paris and stop by for a while. If you love cheesecake, I highly recommend you to visit Bon Matin Paris, a French bakery chain that is very popular among the locals in Shanghai. We tried the popular Bon Matin Cheesecake (38RMB, equal to IDR 76K), Green Tea Matcha (18RMB, equal to IDR 36K) and Matcha Roll (16RMB, equal to IDR 32K). The appearance of the cheesecake was not fancy but its creamy and rich texture of cheese, smooth, with brown and crisp edge made this American style cheesecake a favorite of mine! The other two was delish as well, must try when in Shanghai.

Recommended Stall:

Bon Matin Paris

outside Dapuqiao Station

Price: starts from IDR 40K

10. Shao Kao (BBQ Skewers) & Crawfish (Xiao Long Xia)

When in Shanghai, don’t forget to eat Crawfish/Crayfish (Xiaolong Xia) as many as you can, Scallops in Garlic sauce, and Shao Kao (Chinese style of BBQ Skewers). Shouning Lu is a popular road for those of you who are looking for seafood and shaokao to satisfies your late-night cravings. I was recommended by Bob who frequently travels to Shanghai for his business, to try one of his favorite restaurants which is also a favorite among the locals. I also found from the internet, the Crayfish House (number 17 and 23) by far is the most popular outlet for crayfish, and when we came that evening, this restaurant was quite crowded with locals even though it was on the weekday, so we decided to try it.

Of course, we ordered some of their specialty dishes, from the bright red Crayfish (69RMB/bowl, equal to IDR 138K), Oyster/Scallop/Axe Clams with minced Garlic sauce (10RMB/piece, equal to IDR 20K each), Spicy Clams with Ginger Onion sauce (38RMB, equal to IDR 76K), and a bottle of Suntory beer (12RMB, equal to IDR 24K). The crayfish was slightly spicy yet tasted sweet, boiled in chili oil in large vats outside the restaurant.

Overall, all the seafood was really tasty, including the Spicy Clams, Oyster, Scallop, and Axe Clams; we can’t stop munching and drinking beer that night. We also ordered some BBQ skewers (shaokao) from the restaurant, from chicken wings, enoki, and chicken meat. I will share a video of our experience at this restaurant, stay tuned!

Recommended Stall:

The Crayfish House

Shouning Lu Number 17, between Renmin Lu and Liulin Lu, Huangpu district (Shanghai)

Opening hours: 5pm – midnite

Closest Metro Stop: Dashijie

Price: starts from IDR 20K

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Author: myfunfoodiary

Myfunfoodiary as Indonesian Food and Travel Blog was born in July 2012 and has become one of the valuable online source for locals, tourists, food enthusiasts and industry professionals. It is a Jakarta based Food and Travel Blog managed by Mullie Marlina, a young, lovely, cheerful and blessed wife who loves to share her culinary and travel experiences through her writing. You’ll find her honest reviews, valuable suggestions, objective ratings and recommendation of eateries in Jakarta and selected cities in Indonesia and abroad. Her curated restaurant reviews are based on her meticulous inquiries and her rich dining experience in various restaurants in Jakarta. She has also traveled to different cities and countries where she finds interesting and inspiring dishes, cuisines and excellent dining ambience which she also included in the list. From recommendations, restaurant experiences, events, travel destinations, and recipes, readers will find anything food related in this website. She would really appreciate your feedback, and would love to hear about any suggestions, events regarding food, or just to drop in to say "Hi". Again, thank you so much for dropping by, and she hopes you enjoy reading her journal. Thank you so much for all your supports! God bless you! ^_^

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