Visitors to Shanghai find this city bursting with delightful restaurants. There are food choices for the budget traveler, for the health-conscious, for the trendy, as well as for gourmet visitors to the city. The only difficult thing is figuring out where, among so many choices, to begin. Here are a few good places to start.
Shanghai Street Food
On many Shanghai street corners, local vendors hawk delicious and oh-so-unhealthy street fare. Stroll along the Bund as you nibble on fried octopus tentacle skewers, or take the edge off your hunger with a delicious rou jia mo, a gyro-like sandwich filled with meat roasted on a spit. For just a few yuan, street hawkers regale passerby with flatbread baked in a tandoor style oven, and various fried delights involving batter, eggs, fillings of pork and vegetables, and mounds of chili sauce. Eat at your own risk - many a lao wai (literally, "old foreigner") has come down with a severe stomachache, while others, inexplicably, are unharmed.
Element Fresh
On the opposite end of the spectrum from oily street food is the aptly named Element Fresh, serving - you guessed it - fresh salads, sandwiches, and a selection of modern fusion dishes as well as healthy fresh-squeezed juices and smoothies. Several locations mean that a dependable, healthy Western meal is available anytime, at reasonable prices (expect to pay 45-100 RMB per person). They also serve an excellent Western breakfast.
Ground Floor, Northwest corner, Superbrand Mall (Lu Jia Zui) and other locations.
M on the Bund
For the high rolling, or simply those in quest of fine food, M on the Bund is a landmark among Shanghai restaurants. The menu is mostly French (foie gras, anyone?), with dishes from the Middle East and North Africa as well. Dine on the excellent food while gazing at the iconic view of the Bund and the Pudong skyline across the river. Main courses for dinner will set you back around 200 RMB. They do have a set menu for lunch with 3 courses for about 200 RMB.
7/F, No. 5 The Bund (at Guangdong Lu)
Azul
The Peruvian chef at this Latin American tapas restaurant serves up excellent dishes to share. Seared tuna, sauce-laden meatballs, and mango salsa, are just a few of the not-to-be-missed dishes on the menu. A cozy, romantic atmosphere makes it that much better. Try the sangria - it is just delicious. Dishes start at around 40 RMB.
18 Dongping Lu (by Urumuqi Lu)
New York City Deli
This hole-in-the-wall deli is one of the few places in Shanghai where you can get a real (and gigantic) burrito, and that only Friday afternoons through Sundays. On every other day of the week, NYC Deli offers up a selection of New York style sandwiches, such as the corned-beef reuben, Philly cheese-steak, and various cold cuts and pastrami. Sandwiches are priced at 20-50 RMB.
103 Fujian Nan Lu / Jing Ling Dong Lu
Xiao Long Bao
Xiao Long Bao, the little soup filled dumplings available in dozens of local restaurants in Shanghai, are one of Shanghai's most famous specialties. The Nanxiang Bun Shop located in the Yu Yuan Gardens complex claims to have invented xiao long bao, but be prepared for a long wait as there is always a line to get in. Besides, the Nanxiang Bun Shop seems to be resting too much on its laurels, resulting in a dumpling that is a bit tough and thick-skinned. For excellent xiao long bao with thin skins and flavorful fillings, try Din Tai Fung in the award-winning Xintiandi district. Albeit a bit pricey, Din Tai Fung has a reputation for the best xiao long bao in Shanghai. Expect to shell out 40 RMB for a basket of 10 dumplings.
Shop 1, Xintiandi, South Block, No. 6, F2, 11A
Whisk
For chocoholics, Whisk is the answer. This cozy restaurant serves good Italian main courses at 55-100 RMB, but their specialty is chocolate. The dark, icy granita is chock-full of cocoa, and their chocolate cakes are decadent in the extreme. Despite the irritating habit of charging guests for water, Whisk is worth a visit for lovers of chocolate.
1250 Huaihai Lu, near Huating Lu
People 7
This chic restaurant housed in an ultra-modern concrete warehouse is also known as the "spy restaurant". A reservation will get you the password to punch in at the door (if you can figure out how the mysterious keypad works), and more mysteries await you inside. The food is good, with lunches from 50-60 RMB, but the fun is in the adventure.
805 Julu Road, near Fumin Road
Excellent Chinese restaurants can also be found on every Shanghai street corner. Be adventurous, and try something new!
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