During their Shanghai tours, many tourists are deeply impressed by the local food and the service of the restaurants.Shanghai's cuisine, like its people and culture, is primarily a blend of the most appealing aspects of those surrounding Jiangnan regional styles of food, with influences sprinkled in more recently from the farther reaches of China and elsewhere. Characterized by some as sweet and oily, the method of preparation used in Shanghai, it emphasizes freshness and balance, with particular attention to the richness that sweet and sour characteristics can often bring to dishes that are otherwise generally savoury.

 

Some famous Shanghai Food:

Signature Shanghai Dishes:

(shuǐ jīng xiā rén) Sautéed Shelled Shrimps/Cyrstal Shrimps
(kòu sān sī) Steamed mixed shreds of chicken, ham and pork

(qīng zhēng shí yú) Steamed shad
(bīng táng jiǎ yú) Candy soft-shelled turtle
(bái zhǎn jī) Plain boiled chicken
(táng cù xiǎo pái) Sweet and sour spareribs

 

Soups:

(dà tāng huáng yú) Braised large yellow croaker soup
(jì cài dòu fu gēng) Shepherd's-purse and bean curd soup
(suān là huáng yú gēng) Sour and hot yellow croaker soup
(xiǎo pái dōng guā tāng) Sparerib and white gourd soup

 

Staple Food:

(mǐ fàn) Rice
(chǎo fàn) Stir-fried rice
(mán tou) Steamed bun

(yáng chūn miàn) Yangchun noodles

Local Snacks:

(nán xiáng xiǎo lóng bāo) Nanxiang steamed stuffed bun
(shēng jiān mán tou) Fried steamed bun

(xiè ké huáng) Crab-yellow pastry
(jiǔ niàng yuán zi) Glutinous rice dumplings in fermented glutinous wine
(guì huā táng ǒu) Sliced lotus root with sweet sauce
(bǎi guǒ sōng gāo) Fruit sponge cake

(nǎi yóu wǔ xiāng dòu) Cream spiced beans

 

Local Snacks Streets:

For cheap Chinese eats, head for the alley known as Wujiang Road.

For fancier food in nicer surroundings, try the upmarket restaurants of Xintiandi.

The Old Town God Temple Snack Street is an ideal dining place during your compact sightseeing schedule.

 

South Yunnan Road is an old food street located at the intersection of Yan'an Road and Xizang Road

Vegetarians should not miss Vegetarian Life Style (258, Fengxian Road and 77, Songshan Road) where you can experience nice, affordable and organic vegetarian food resembling real meat or fish dishes in a fancy atmosphere.

Special Touring Regions:

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