상하이 is China's most international city and a culinary capital of Jiangnan cuisine. Known for its 'red cooking' technique — braising with dark soy sauce and sugar — Shanghai's food ranges from delicate xiaolongbao to hearty hongshao rou, from seasonal hairy crab to bustling street food.
Delicate steamed soup dumplings with a thin, translucent wrapper and a burst of hot pork broth inside.
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Pan-fried pork buns with a crispy golden bottom, juicy filling, and sprinkled with sesame and scallions.
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Melt-in-your-mouth pork belly braised in soy sauce, caramelized sugar, and Shaoxing wine — the soul of Shanghai home cooking.
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A seasonal delicacy — steamed female crabs prized for their golden roe and sweet, delicate meat.
더 보기 →A hearty spring soup of cured pork, fresh pork, tender bamboo shoots, and tofu knots — pure Shanghai umami.
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A whole duck deboned, stuffed with glutinous rice and eight treasures, then braised to perfection — a banquet showstopper.
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A deceptively simple dish — chewy noodles tossed in fragrant scallion-infused oil and soy sauce.
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Tender pork spare ribs glazed in a sweet-sour sauce — a Shanghainese banquet classic.
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A cold appetizer of wheat gluten, wood ear mushrooms, and peanuts in a savory-sweet soy glaze.
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Silky tofu with fresh crab meat and roe in a delicate, golden sauce — a taste of Shanghai luxury.
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Whole river shrimp quickly deep-fried and wok-tossed in a sweet-savory glaze — crispy shells, tender meat.
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The original xiaolongbao from Nanxiang — smaller, thinner-skinned, and even more delicate.
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Crispy deep-fried pork chop paired with soft, chewy rice cakes in a sweet soy glaze — Shanghai street food at its best.
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Sweet fermented rice soup with tiny chewy glutinous rice balls — a warm, comforting Shanghai dessert.
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Pork trotters slowly braised in soy sauce until impossibly tender — a specialty of Shanghai's Fengjing water town.
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Poached whole chicken served cold with ginger-scallion oil — simplicity elevated to an art.
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Thick Shanghai-style noodles stir-fried with shredded pork, bok choy, and dark soy sauce — hearty, satisfying, and deeply savory.
더 보기 →The area around Yu Garden in the Old City is Shanghai's most famous food destination. Nanxiang Steamed Bun Restaurant draws long queues for xiaolongbao, and the surrounding bazaar is packed with snack stalls.
Yunnan Road is Shanghai's most famous food street, lined with restaurants and food stalls that have been serving locals for decades. It's the best place to try Shanghai street food classics.
The historic heart of old Shanghai, Fuzhou Road is home to many of the city's most famous traditional restaurants, including the legendary Wang Bao He (crab) and Lao Zheng Xing.
No. Shanghainese cuisine is known for 'heavy oil, red sauce' (nong you chi jiang) — sweet and savory flavors from soy sauce, sugar, and Shaoxing wine. Unlike Sichuan or Hunan food, Shanghai dishes rarely use chili.
Xiaolongbao has a thin, delicate wrapper and is steamed. Shengjianbao has a thick, yeasted dough and is pan-fried — giving it a crispy bottom. Both have soup inside, but shengjian is more robust.
September to December. Female crabs (with golden roe) are best in September-October. Male crabs (with white cream) peak in October-November. The traditional saying is 'September for females, October for males'.
Each season has its specialties: spring (March-April) for Yanduxian and bamboo shoots, autumn (September-November) for hairy crab and seasonal seafood. Summer has excellent cold noodles and desserts.
Shanghai has food at every price point. Street food like shengjianbao costs just a few yuan. A proper Shanghainese meal at a mid-range restaurant costs 80-150 yuan per person. High-end dining can be 500+ yuan.