The best places to eat in Shanghai

Cong's Kitchen

Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality · Casual Dining

Chef-owner Cong is a retiree in his 70s. Passionate about cooking, he returned to Shanghai and opened this restaurant after stints in Hong Kong. Although his food is largely Shanghainese, the menu includes his own creations in addition to the…

Slab Town Coffee on Fumin Road

Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality · Specialty Coffee

A small specialty coffee shop on Fumin Road with dark-green details, metal surfaces and regulars gathering outside. Stop for a pour-over or latte while exploring the neighbourhood; a spare seat, especially outdoors, can be hard to find.

La Scene Ronde

Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality · Casual Dining

As the name suggests, the open kitchen is dramatically lit, like a stage with front-row seats at the semi-circular counter. The single tasting menu changes every season, alongside options of wine, tea or non-alcoholic drink pairings. Well versed in…

Wei Xiang Zhai (Yandang Road)

Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality · Casual Dining

For over 80 years customers have been flocking here for its noodles. No one seems to mind the congested, somewhat tired room – just as long as the flavour in the bowl remains unchanged. The menu is set in two frames: noodles on one side, toppings on…

Chun

Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality · Casual Dining

After a hiatus of a few years, this famous joint re-opened at the same address and former regulars flocked back for the sorely missed classics. The room has few bells and whistles to steal the spotlight from the food, and the friendly owner always…

Hong Yu Fang

Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality · Casual Dining

A household name in Huangpu district, this place has been around for 10-plus years. Regulars keep flocking to its new shop since it moved into a shopping mall. Open in the morning only, it always attracts a queue of customers coming for a hearty…

Stonesal

Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality · Steakhouse

The owner-chef is a culinary veteran with 20 years of experience. He opened Stonesal in 2017 specialising in quality U.S. and Australian steaks house-aged in the Himalayan salt chamber next to the kitchen. Top picks include USDA prime T-bone from…

Easeful Cuisine (Jingan)

Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality · Casual Dining

The owner-chef has over 10 years of experience working in upmarket establishments in Chinese cities and advocates a back-to-basics approach to home-style cooking that brings out natural flavours of the ingredients. His boneless smoked fish boasts…

Yunhe Noodle (Huangpu)

Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality · Casual Dining

Tucked inside a residential neighbourhood, this noodle shop with a subtle sign may not draw much attention from the outside. But the interior is a different world – where neon signs and graffiti murals subvert your expectations. House-made spinach…

Shanghai Club

Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality · Casual Dining

A premium brand from the Jardin de Jade Group, the restaurant serves old Shanghai classics with an emphasis on finesse and attention to detail. Walnut-crusted duck fillet square in bean paste is a rare gem that is painstaking to make. Live seafood…

Lin Jiang Yan

Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality · Casual Dining

Remodelled from a heritage building (c 1902), this restaurant is perfect for banquets and entertainment. The main area and private rooms all share the same river views. The young head chef, who used to work for a hotel in Shanghai, updates…

Hakkasan

Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality · Casual Dining

Though its name means Hakka people, this chic restaurant on the Bund serves modern Cantonese fare with Western influences, but not necessarily of Hakka origin. The must-try Peking duck with caviar boasts interesting layers of flavours. Top-notch…

Kanpai Classic (Huangpu)

Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality · Casual Dining

Chaimen Hui (Pudong)

Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality · Casual Dining

This outpost of its famed namesake in Chengdu operates in a sleekly furnished space – the centrepiece is no doubt the oversized starburst sculpture over the circular counter. The kitchen is run by a team from the parent restaurant, and their Sichuan…

Nuits

Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality · Casual Dining

The bistro may not have a big shopfront, but its bright orange sign and full-height windows more than compensate in terms of impact. Named after Côte de Nuits in Burgundy, it serves a nice selection from that wine region. Head to the cellar to talk…

1515 West Chophouse

Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality · Steakhouse

They’ve certainly nailed the classic American look at this nicely styled chophouse. Start with a cocktail in the masculine, wood panelled bar before passing by the inviting bakery into the restaurant. All the favourite steakhouse dishes are here…

Numata Sou

Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality · Casual Dining

The famed tempura institution in Osaka, Japan, opened its first overseas outpost in Shanghai. Chef Numata checks in every couple of months on Chef Sakata, his protégé for 15 years, who is in charge of the kitchen. Changing every month, the single…

Xuji Seafood (Xuhui)

Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality · Casual Dining

Since 1999, the Hunan brand has been expanding its footprint across the nation, and this multi-storey branch is its Shanghai flagship. Thanks to close ties with fishermen and farms, locally and globally, it secures sources for the best-quality and…

Legend Taste (Jingan)

Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality · Casual Dining

The no-frills space is dotted with photos of Yunnan and blue tie-dyed tablecloths; the style of service is equally simple. The team use mushrooms and herbs extensively in cooking inspired by ethnic Dai tradition. Slow-cooked for at least five hours…

Mercado 505

Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality · Casual Dining

Judging by its name, this restaurant on a corner strives to create the buzzing vibe of a market; judging by the blue and white stripes on its sign, it has a nautical theme. Yes and yes. Imported seafood such as live oysters, scampi, carabinero…

Wan Yan (Changning)

Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality · Casual Dining

Brace yourself for nostalgia aplenty: velvet tufted chairs, walls covered in vintage blue bricks, art pieces from around the world…Most ingredients are shipped from Anhui, including mouldy tofu – a speciality you can’t miss. Wine-scented fermented…

Shaughnessy

Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality · Steakhouse

Sitting atop a skyscraper, this American-style steakhouse commands vistas of the Bund and the Huangpu skyline. The menu stars premium cuts of suitably marbled Black Angus beef, all dry-aged in-house for 28 to 180 days. The steaks are artfully carved…

Polux

Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality · Casual Dining

Don’t be perplexed if certain items on the menu seem familiar – this all-day dining bistro is from Paul Pairet of Ultraviolet and Mr & Mrs Bund fame. Some dishes echo the signatures from those establishments, albeit rendered in simpler forms. Onion…

Wang Lu (Pudong)

Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality · Casual Dining

The room sports a modern Chinese vibe, dotted with framed orange scarves and table mats in matching equestrian motifs. To suit the local palate, the kitchen dials down the heat slightly, but the food still packs an authentic Jiangxi kick. Rich…

Dong Ping Chao

Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality · Casual Dining

This restaurant in a century-old heritage building reinterprets Chaozhou fare with refined touches and local twists. Quality ingredients, especially seafood, are shipped from Chaoshan region twice a day to ensure freshness. Menus are tailor-made at…