41
Check out other travel tips for Shanghai:
As someone who grew up with Chinese culture, I’ve always been familiar with Chinese food. But after living in Shanghai for about 1.5 years, I’ve come to truly appreciate how amazing it is.
Let’s not dive too deep into what Chinese food is or the variety it offers, because that could take a while to explain.
If you’re visiting Shanghai, here are some food you should try.
Classic Shanghai Dishes
Starter
- 熏魚 (Xun Yu) —
Smoked fish with a savory flavor, often served as an appetizer. - 糖藕 (Tang Ou) —
Lotus root stuffed with rice, cooked in sweet syrup. - 烤麩 (Kao Fu) —
A dish made from gluten and vegetables, often braised. - 干絲 (Gan Si) —
Dried tofu skin, often served in a savory broth or stir-fried with vegetables.
Main Dish
- 松鼠魚 (Song Shu Yu) —
Sweet and sour fish dish, shaped like a squirrel. - 紅燒肉 (Hong Shao Rou) —
Braised pork belly in a rich, sweet soy-based sauce. - 蔥烤鯽魚 (Cong Kao Ji Yu) —
Grilled carp with scallions. - 菜飯 (Cai Fan) —
Rice with a mix of vegetables, sometimes including preserved meats, a traditional home-style dish. - 蔥油拌麵 (Cong You Ban Mian) —
Scallion oil noodles, a simple and flavorful dish.
Dim Sum
- 小籠包 (Xiao Long Bao) —
Soup dumplings filled with hot broth and pork. - 蟹黃湯包 (Xie Huang Tang Bao) —
Soup dumplings filled with a crab roe-based broth, aka a luxurious version of Xiao Long Bao. - 生煎包 (Sheng Jian Bao) —
Pan-fried pork buns, with a crispy bottom and juicy filling. - 蟹殼黃 (Xie Ke Huang) —
A type of crab-shaped pastry with a sweet and savory filling, often served as a snack.
Dishes from the Area/Region
- 紅燒獅子頭 (Hong Shao Shi Zi Tou) —
Braised pork meatballs in a savory and slightly sweet soy-based sauce. - 醃篤鮮 (Yan Du Xian) —
A flavorful soup made with pork, bamboo shoots, and salted vegetables. - 炒年糕 (Chao Nian Gao) —
Stir-fried rice cakes, often with vegetables and pork or beef. - 蟹粉麵 (Xie Fen Mian) —
Noodles with crab roe in a savory broth. - 酒釀圓子 (Jiu Niang Yuanzi) —
Glutinous rice balls in sweet rice wine, typically served as a dessert or snack.
General Chinese Food to Try
- 火鍋 (Huo Guo) —
Aka hot pot, where you cook meats, veggies, and more in a hot broth at the table. There are various kinds, with spicy Sichuan hot pot being a popular choice. - 烤串 (Kao Chuan) —
Grilled skewers of meat, seafood, and veggies, typically served with seasonings. It can be enjoyed as a full meal or a late-night snack. - 麻辣燙 (Ma La Tang) / 麻辣香鍋 (Ma La Xiang Guo) —
A spicy, numbing hot pot where you pick ingredients to cook in a bold broth. Ma La Xiang Guo is the dry stir-fried version. - 餃子 (Jiao Zi) / 餛飩 (Hun Tun) —
Dumplings stuffed with pork, beef, or veggies. These can be boiled (水餃 Shui Jiao), steamed (蒸餃 Zheng Jiao), pan-fried (鍋貼 Guo Tie / 煎餃 Jian Jiao), or served in broth as soup dumplings (餛飩 Hun Tun / 湯餃 Tang Jiao). - 麵 (Mian) —
Noodles served all sorts of ways, in soups, stir-fries, or cold dishes. Often paired with meats, vegetables, and sauces. Some famous varieties include:
+ 蘭州牛肉麵 (Lanzhou Beef Noodles) —
Clear broth with tender beef and hand-pulled noodles.
+ 重慶小麵 (Chongqing Xiao Mian) —
A spicy, numbing noodle dish with chili oil and Sichuan peppercorns.
+ 炸醬麵 (Zha Jiang Mian) —
Noodles served with a savory pork and soybean paste sauce.
Of course, there are so many more delicious foods to try in Shanghai. This list is just the beginning.
The best way to discover your favorites is to explore, taste, and enjoy what the city has to offer.
Happy eating!