Shanghai spots loved by locals. Includes Chinese names, addresses and ready-to-use ordering phrases — copy directly into Amap, Didi or show to your waiter.
Every spot has a Chinese name you can copy, an address a driver will recognise, and what locals actually order.
Formerly A Niang
Near Near Sinan Mansions; small storefront on the street
Metro Line 13, Middle Huaihai Road Station, Exit 1, ~240m walk
The signature is the yellow croaker noodle soup — locals order it as 「黄鱼面加咸菜」 (with pickled greens). The topping is cooked to order and often sells out after...
Read the entry →
Editor's pick
Near On South Yunnan Road food street; easy to miss
Metro Line 8, Dashijie Station, Exit 2, ~500m walk
Shanghai's "dry-style" shengjian bao house — no aspic in the filling, so less soup but a deeply crisp bottom. The local order is 「二两鲜肉生煎」 (100g pork buns) wi...
Read the entry →
Easy first stop
Near In the People's Square / Nanjing Road area; look for the yellow sign
Metro Line 1/2/8, People's Square Station, Exit 8, ~290m walk
The "soup-filled" school — aspic mixed into the pork filling bursts when you bite. First-timers: take a small bite first or you'll wear the soup. Locals pair...
Read the entry →
Stay downstairs
Near Inside Yuyuan Garden Mall, next to the Zigzag Bridge
Metro Lines 10/14, Yuyuan Garden Station, Exit 1, ~400m walk
Two dining areas share the building: the ground-floor takeaway counter (cheap, standing, locals queue here) and the upstairs restaurant (3-5x pricier, servic...
Read the entry →
Spider-Man noodles
Near At the lane entrance off Yandang Road; 11 tables, tiny storefront
Metro Line 1, South Huangpi Road Station, Exit 1, ~340m walk
Order the combo every Shanghainese uncle gets: 麻酱拌面 (sesame-paste noodles) plus 炸猪排 (fried pork chop) and a small beef soup. The sesame paste is a peanut-ses...
Read the entry →
40% foreign regulars
Near On Tianjin Road, the back street behind Nanjing East Road — look for the queue
Metro Line 1/2/8, People's Square Station, Exit 19, ~580m walk
The move: order 蟹粉鲜肉小笼 (crab-and-pork xiaolongbao), eat the first one plain — no vinegar — then dip the rest in the ginger vinegar that arrives with the bask...
Read the entry →
Six tables only
Near Mid-block on Jinxián Road; smallest door, longest queue
Metro Line 13, Middle Huaihai Road Station, Exit 3, ~540m walk
The 红烧肉 (red-braised pork) here is the benchmark version — lacquered, sweet, falling apart. Order it with 草头 (stir-fried alfalfa greens) and 油爆虾 (flash-fried...
Read the entry →
Cash only — arrive at 10
Near North end of Huanghe Road food street, the lane made famous by Blossoms Shanghai
Metro Line 1/2/8, People's Square Station, Exit 8, ~340m walk
Every English-language Shanghai guide says the same three things about this shop — "cash only", "line starts at 10AM", "¥25 for 12 dumplings" — because they'...
Read the entry →
Since 1878
Near The old Guangdong Road storefront; ~10 minutes' walk from the Bund
Metro Line 2/10, East Nanjing Road Station, Exit 4, ~590m walk
The dish that built the reputation is 焖蹄雪菜大面 — braised pork hock with pickled-greens noodles, ¥30-odd and unchanged in spirit since the Qing dynasty. Go at 7...
Read the entry →
The mooncake queue
Near Street-front on Middle Huaihai Road; the permanent mooncake queue is the landmark
Metro Line 13, Middle Huaihai Road Station, Exit 1, ~320m walk
Two different reasons to come. The street window sells 鲜肉月饼 (fresh pork mooncakes) — eat one immediately, paper bag and all. Upstairs is a proper benbang din...
Read the entry →
Since 1875
Near On the Nanjing East Road pedestrian street, near Zhejiang Middle Road
Metro Line 1/2/8, People's Square Station, Exit 14, ~500m walk
A takeaway counter, not a teahouse. Regulars come for the 糕团 (sticky-rice sweets) sold by the piece — 双酿团 and 条头糕 are the old-Shanghai standards. In spring t...
Read the entry →
Since 1921
Near Beside the South Yunnan Road food street, near Dashijie
Metro Line 8, Dashijie Station, Exit 1, ~20m walk
One dish made this shop famous: 排骨年糕 — a fried pork chop on chewy rice cakes, doused in sweet-and-sour sauce. Eat it with a bowl of 单档汤 (tofu- skin and glute...
Read the entry →
White-cut chicken since 1943
Near On the South Yunnan Road food street
Metro Line 14, Dashijie Station, Exit 5, ~100m walk
Shanghai's benchmark 白斩鸡 (poached chicken served cold) — order by weight, 三黄鸡 is the cleaner-tasting bird. Dip in the soy-ginger sauce and wash it down with ...
Read the entry →
Benbang since 1875
Near Inside the Yu Garden / City God Temple area
Metro Line 14, Yu Garden Station, Exit 7, ~420m walk
A proper benbang dining room for the classics: 八宝鸭 (eight-treasure duck), 油爆虾 (flash-fried river shrimp) and 清炒鳝糊 (stir-fried eel). Book ahead for dinner; th...
Read the entry →
State-banquet dim sum
Near Beside the Zigzag Bridge inside Yu Garden
Metro Line 14, Yu Garden Station, Exit 7, ~680m walk
Famous for hosting world leaders over dim sum — go upstairs for the view of the Zigzag Bridge. Order the 桂花拉糕 (osmanthus rice cake) and 蟹粉小笼 (crab- and-pork ...
Read the entry →
Since 1862
Near On Fuzhou Road near Zhejiang Middle Road
Metro Line 1, People's Square Station, ~470m walk
One of the oldest benbang kitchens in the city. Come for 响油鳝糊 (sizzling eel with hot oil) and 草头圈子 (pork intestine with alfalfa). It is an old- fashioned din...
Read the entry →
The butterfly queue
Near At the Park Hotel, by People's Square, at the Huanghe Road corner
Metro Line 1/2/8, People's Square Station, Exit 8, ~130m walk
The 蝴蝶酥 (palmier / butterfly pastry) here is the benchmark of the city. Buy the 甜 (sweet) original and a bag of the 咸 (savoury cheese) version to compare. It...
Read the entry →
Since 1917
Near On the Nanjing East Road pedestrian street
Metro Line 1/2/8, People's Square Station, Exit 19, ~300m walk
An old state-run food hall: preserved meats, biscuits and the crowd- favourite 鲜肉月饼 (fresh pork mooncake) at the front window. A good one-stop shop for edibl...
Read the entry →
Since 1854
Near On the Nanjing East Road pedestrian street, near Zhejiang Middle Road
Metro Line 2/10, Nanjing East Road Station, Exit 4, ~360m walk
A 1854 shop best known for 鲜肉月饼 — flaky pastry around a juicy pork patty, eaten hot. The 熏鱼 (smoked fish) counter is the other reason locals queue.
Read the entry →
Nanjing-style duck
Near On Shanxi South Road near Nanjing East Road
Metro Line 2/10, Nanjing East Road Station, Exit 1, ~160m walk
Nanjing-style 盐水鸭 (salted duck), served cold — buy it cut and eat it with 老鸭粉丝汤 (duck-broth vermicelli). It is a hole-in-the-wall order-at-the- counter kind ...
Read the entry →
Vegetarian since 1910
Near At the Yu Garden Gate 5 entrance
Metro Line 10, Yu Garden Station, Exit 3, ~370m walk
A century-old vegetarian kitchen in the middle of the meat-heavy Yu Garden. The 净素菜包 (vegetable bun) and 素蟹粉 (mock crab roe) are the orders — it is the one s...
Read the entry →
Old-lane atmosphere
Near Opposite the Jinjiang Hotel, upstairs on the 2nd floor
Metro Line 13, Middle Huaihai Road Station, Exit 3, ~50m walk
A second-floor room styled like an old lane house. Order 转角红烧肉 (house braised pork) and 响油鳝丝 (sizzling eel); the atmosphere is half the reason to come.
Read the entry →
Crab xiaolong
Near 1F of Siyuan Mansion on Tibet Middle Road, by People's Square
Metro Line 1/2/8, People's Square Station, ~410m walk
Crab-roe soup dumplings, made to order. The 头牌蟹粉小笼 is the reason to come; add 蟹粉拌面 (crab-roe noodles) if you want both in one sitting.
Read the entry →
The Bund view
Near 2F of Bund 22, facing the river and the Pudong skyline
Metro Line 14, Yu Garden Station, Exit 7, ~430m walk
A benbang dining room with a river view — 桂花红烧肉 (osmanthus braised pork) and 松鼠鲈鱼 (sweet-and-sour perch) are the showpieces. Come for the view as much as the...
Read the entry →
From the TV drama
Near On Tianjin Road by Nanjing East Road station
Metro Line 2/10, Nanjing East Road Station, Exit 3, ~70m walk
A century-old noodle house that got a second life from the TV drama 'Blossoms'. The 蟹黄金捞面 (crab-roe noodles) and 纯蟹粉小笼 are the orders — rich and very Shanghai.
Read the entry →
Shanghai Western since 1897
Near On Nanjing West Road near Tibet Middle Road
Metro Line 1/2/8, People's Square Station, Exit 11, ~370m walk
'Shanghai Western' food — the local interpretation of European cooking, developed since 1897. Order 罗宋汤 (borscht) and 炸猪排 (fried pork chop), the canonical ol...
Read the entry →
Crab-roe specialist
Near Basement level of the Silk Mansion on Nanjing East Road
Metro Line 2/10, Nanjing East Road Station, Exit 4, ~480m walk
A crab-roe specialist in a basement food hall. The 蟹粉黄金拌面 (crab-roe dry noodles) and 蟹黄灌汤包 (crab soup dumplings) are the orders; it is a cleaner, modern take...
Read the entry →
Mall benbang
Near 4F of Shimao Plaza East, on Nanjing East Road
Metro Line 1/2/8, People's Square Station, Exit 14, ~320m walk
Convenient benbang inside a mall on Nanjing East Road. The 响油鳝丝 and 红烧肉配菜饭 are the orders; the menu is broad and easier for groups than the old dining rooms.
Read the entry →
Open all hours
Near On Chongqing North Road near Dagu Road
Metro Line 14, Site of the First CPC Congress Station, Exit 4, ~490m walk
A 24-hour 生煎 (pan-fried pork bun) shop. The 特色生煎 has a crisp bottom and a juicy filling; add 开洋葱油拌面 (scallion-oil noodles) for the full old-Shanghai breakfast.
Read the entry →
Russian-influenced bakery
Near On Middle Huaihai Road near Sinan Road
Metro Line 13, Middle Huaihai Road Station, Exit 1, ~320m walk
An old Shanghai bakery with Russian roots — the 蝴蝶酥 (palmier) and 杏仁排 (almond bar) are the classics. A good stop on a Huaihai Road walk; buy by the bag.
Read the entry →
Pork chop rice cake
Near On Yandang Road near Middle Huaihai Road
Metro Line 1, Site of the First CPC Congress Station, Exit 1, ~320m walk
A no-frills 排骨年糕 (pork chop with rice cakes) shop on Yandang Road. Order the set with 双档汤 (double-ingredient soup) — it is the same old-Shanghai craving as t...
Read the entry →
Shengjian king
Near On Zhejiang Middle Road near Nanjing East Road
Metro Line 1/2/8, People's Square Station, Exit 19, ~650m walk
A 生煎 (pan-fried bun) specialist within walking distance of Nanjing Road but away from the worst crowds. The 鲜肉生煎 is the baseline; the 蟹黄鲜肉生煎 is the richer ve...
Read the entry →
Big buns, cheap
Near B2 of the SML Center, Taikang section
Metro Line 9, Dapuqiao Station, ~300m walk
Known for oversized 大肉包 (pork buns) and 大烧卖 (big shumai) at low prices. A quick, filling snack stop in the SML Center food basement near Dapuqiao.
Read the entry →
Cash only
Near A street-window shop; the queue is all locals
Metro Lines 3/4, Baoshan Road Station, ~600m walk
An old-school sticky-rice cake window. The signatures are 「条头糕」 (red bean roll) and 「双酿团」 (double-filled ball). Sweet and savoury both — locals grab these fo...
Read the entry →
Toppings, not broth
Near Near the Zhapu Road / Wuchang Road junction
Metro Line 10/12, Tiantong Road Station, ~850m walk
Shanghai noodle bowls are about the 浇头 (toppings), and Fuhe does the offal ones well — 猪肝腰花拌面 (liver and kidney dry noodles) is the order. Stir it all togeth...
Read the entry →
Beef toppings
Near In the North Bund area, near the Waibaidu Bridge
Metro Line 4, Yangshupu Road Station, Exit 4, ~550m walk
A beef-noodle shop near the North Bund. The 牛舌拌面 (beef-tongue dry noodles) and 牛腩牛蹄筋拌面 are the orders; there is a self-serve 小料台 for pickles and sauces.
Read the entry →
Top taste score (4.6)
Near On the Dingxi Road food strip; the busiest queue at meal times
Metro Line 3/4, West Yan'an Road Station, Exit 2, ~900m walk
The signature is 蛤蜊猪肝面 — clam and pork-liver noodles. Order it and you'll be eating what the highest-rated bowl in this entire guide tastes like: taste 4.6 o...
Read the entry →
Open all hours
Near On Dingxi Road near Yan'an West Road
Metro Line 2/3/4, Zhongshan Park Station, ~600m walk
A round-the-clock neighbourhood noodle shop. The 辣肉面 (spicy pork noodles) is the house order and the 炸猪排 (fried pork chop) makes it a full meal. Cheap, fast,...
Read the entry →
Since 1945
Near Street-facing on West Nanjing Road, opposite Meilongzhen Plaza
Metro Line 2/12/13, West Nanjing Road Station, Exit 2, ~220m walk
Order at the glass counters like a local: 蟹粉汤团 (crab-roe glutinous balls) in winter, 虾仁两面黄 (crisp-fried noodles with shrimp) any time, and 素菜包 (vegetable bun...
Read the entry →
Sichuan-Shanghai since 1938
Near Off Nanjing West Road, by Westgate Mall
Metro Line 12, West Nanjing Road Station, Exit 14, ~440m walk
A 1938 institution that blends Shanghainese and Sichuan cooking. Order 生爆鳝背 (flash-fried eel) and 干烧明虾 (dry-braised prawns), and finish with 豆沙锅饼 (red-bean p...
Read the entry →
Bakery-counter sweets
Near B1 of the Jiu Guang department store
Metro Line 2/7, Jing'an Temple Station, Exit 2, ~120m walk
A modern 糕团 (sticky-rice cake) counter in the Jiu Guang basement. The 开运方糕 and 奶黄流心方糕 (custard-filled square cakes) are the orders; cheaper and easier than t...
Read the entry →
Chicken and noodles
Near On Xinzha Road near Xikang Road
Metro Line 7, Changping Road Station, Exit 2, ~920m walk
A 白斩鸡 (white-cut chicken) chain that also does 鸡汤面 (chicken-broth noodles). Order 三黄鸡 with the soy-ginger dip and a bowl of noodles for a filling, cheap meal.
Read the entry →
Top-rated benbang
Near Near Tianzifang and Jianyeli
Metro Line 9, Jiashan Road Station, Exit 5, ~220m walk
One of the highest-rated benbang rooms in the city. The 招牌红烧肉 (braised pork belly) and 蟹粉捞饭 (crab-roe rice) are the reasons to book — it fills up, so reserve...
Read the entry →
Home-style benbang
Near On Xinle Road near Xiangyang Park
Metro Line 1/10/12, South Shaanxi Road Station, Exit 10, ~480m walk
Home-style benbang done with care — the 特色红烧肉 (braised pork) and 本帮熏鲳鱼 (smoked pomfret) are the orders. A relaxed, modern room rather than an old state dinin...
Read the entry →
Suzhou-style noodles
Near On Fenyang Road near Middle Huaihai Road
Metro Line 1/10/12, South Shaanxi Road Station, ~290m walk
Suzhou-style 苏式 noodle house rather than a Shanghai one — the 苏式红汤面 (red- broth noodles) and 蟹黄面 are the orders. Lighter and more delicate than Shanghai's no...
Read the entry →
Near Wukang Mansion
Near On Middle Huaihai Road near the Wukang Mansion
Metro Line 10, Shanghai Library Station, Exit 3, ~510m walk
A casual benbang eatery a few steps from the Wukang Mansion. The 排骨年糕 and 本帮辣肉面 are the quick orders; useful while you're doing the Huaihai Road photo walk.
Read the entry →
Neighbourhood favourite
Near 3rd floor of Manle City, in the Shangnan area
Metro Near the Yunlian Road / Qihe Road junction
A neighbourhood benbang spot a metro ride from downtown, and the trade-off is quality without the tourist markup. The 响油鳝丝 and 熟醉大头虾 (drunken prawns) are the...
Read the entry →
Since 1960s
Near On Xinhui Road near Changshou Road
Metro Line 7/13, Changshou Road Station, Exit 5, ~100m walk
A neighbourhood 点心店 known for 鲜肉锅贴 (pan-fried pork dumplings) and 咖喱牛肉汤 (curry beef soup). Locals eat it standing or perched at the few tables — the queue te...
Read the entry →
Opens at 5am
Near On Wanhangdu Road near Wuding Road
Metro Line 14, Wuding Road Station, Exit 2, ~470m walk
A neighbourhood 锅贴 (potsticker) shop that opens at 5am for breakfast. The 锅贴 have a crisp browned base; pair them with 咖喱牛肉粉丝汤 (curry beef vermicelli).
Read the entry →
Park-side xiaolong
Near North of Shangyuan Bridge in Pujiang Country Park
Metro Near Shanghai Miracle Garden, ~980m walk
Xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) in the middle of Pujiang Country Park — the 经典小笼三拼 (three-flavour sampler) is the easy order. A good food stop if you're spendin...
Read the entry →Nothing matches that filter yet — .
The long version — what to eat, when to go, and how to order it.
Food
The Bund's own restaurants speak fluent English and take every card. Walk fifteen minutes inland and you're in a different Shanghai: older, cheaper, better. A walking loop with five stops and a total budget under ¥150.
Read the guide →
Food
Nothing at an old-school Shanghai shop is sold by "a portion". Noodles come in liang, buns come in liang, dumplings come in long, pancakes come in zhang. The unit system nobody translates — decoded.
Read the guide →
Food
Hard noodles or soft. Soup on the side or in the bowl. Scallions held back or doubled. The words that change what arrives at your table — and the ones that just get you fed.
Read the guide →
Food
Not the ten fanciest, not the ten most famous — the ten places where the food is genuinely good, the price is genuinely small, and the experience is genuinely Shanghai. Ranked, mapped, and ordered in Chinese.
Read the guide →
Food
Yu Garden Bazaar is where the invention of the soup dumpling is genuinely worth seeing — and where the worst meal of your trip is genuinely possible to buy. Telling the two apart requires exactly one rule: look at who is eating.
Read the guide →
How-to
You don't need to speak Chinese. You need to copy, paste and point. The exact five moves that get food in front of you — plus the sentences that fix things when it goes wrong.
Read the guide →
Food
One bursts with scalding soup. One has almost none. Locals have been arguing about which is correct for a century — and most visitors only ever meet the wrong one.
Read the guide →
Food
Four breakfasts, four street windows you would walk straight past. What locals eat before nine, what it costs, and the Chinese words that get it in front of you.
Read the guide →Copyable Chinese names, address cards, and what to order — downloadable to your phone.
