Shanghai · China
The Shanghai food cheat sheet
One page from Chef Amazing · November 2026
The dish to eat
Delicate steamed dumplings filled with pork and hot soup, eaten with black vinegar and ginger.
Best at Jia Jia Tang Bao, Huanghe Road, Huangpu. Get: Pork xiaolongbao, and the pork and crab if they still have it
Five places, and what to order
- Yunhe Noodlecounter · Huangpu (Changle Road)Get: House-made noodles topped with crabmeat and roe, or the seasonal shrimp trio; add the seaweed-crusted yellow…
- De Xing Guan (Guangdong Road)institution · HuangpuGet: The three-treasure soup noodles (fried eel, fried fish, pork hock); upstairs has a wider Shanghainese menu
- Yong Xingfamily-run · Huangpu (Middle Fuxing Road alley)Get: Jiangdong-style steamed perch with shredded ginger
- Yang's Fry-Dumplingfor shengjianbao · CitywideGet: Pork, shrimp or vegetable shengjianbao
- Old Jessefor shanghainese braised dishes · XuhuiGet: Red-braised pork, eight-treasure duck or trotter
In season this November
Yangcheng Lake hairy crab · Roasted chestnuts, sweet osmanthus desserts, roasted sweet…
How it works here
Tip: No tipping; it can confuse people. Hotels may add service.
Book: Book the famous names a few days out through your hotel; noodle and dumpling shops are walk-in.
When locals eat: Lunch 11:30am-1pm, dinner 5:30-8pm; late night is for hotpot and skewers.