Shanghai Local Cuisine
Explore the authentic flavors and must-try dishes of Shanghai
Dim Sum
Xiaolongbao
Shanghai's famous soup dumplings with hot broth inside delicate wrapper
¥25-60
Lunch or dinner
Very common
Best Places:
- Din Tai Fung
- Nanxiang Steamed Bun Restaurant
- Jia Jia Tang Bao
Pro Tip:
Bite carefully to avoid burning your tongue with hot soup
Dim Sum
Shengjianbao
Pan-fried pork buns with crispy bottom and juicy filling
¥15-30
Breakfast or lunch
Common
Best Places:
- Yang's Fry Dumpling
- Street vendors
- Local breakfast shops
Pro Tip:
Best eaten hot, sprinkle with black vinegar and ginger
Seafood
Hairy Crab
Seasonal delicacy from Yangcheng Lake, available September to December
¥100-500 per crab
Autumn dinner
Seasonal specialty
Best Places:
- Wang Bao He
- Lao Zheng Xing
- High-end restaurants
Pro Tip:
Eat with ginger tea to balance the cold nature of crab
Main Dish
Red-braised Pork
Sweet and savory Shanghai classic with tender pork belly in soy sauce
¥40-80
Lunch or dinner
Common
Best Places:
- Jesse Restaurant
- Local Shanghai restaurants
- Home-style eateries
Pro Tip:
Pairs perfectly with steamed rice to absorb the rich sauce
Noodles
Scallion Oil Noodles
Simple but flavorful local dish with hand-pulled noodles and aromatic scallion oil
¥15-30
Lunch or light dinner
Common
Best Places:
- A Niang Mian
- Local noodle shops
- Traditional restaurants
Pro Tip:
The quality depends on the scallion oil - look for golden, fragrant oil
Shanghai Food Culture Guide
Dining Etiquette
- • Use chopsticks properly, don't stick them upright in rice
- • Try a little of everything when dining with others
- • It's polite to serve others before yourself
- • Slurping noodles is acceptable and shows appreciation
Ordering Tips
- • Point at menu pictures if language is a barrier
- • Ask for "bu la" (not spicy) if you can't handle heat
- • Street food is generally safe from busy vendors
- • Don't tip - it's not customary in China