Eat well in Shanghai without overpaying: the locals'-budget edition.
Eat well in Shanghai for under €15 a plate: the places locals on a budget actually use.
Huxi Laolongtang Noodle Shop on Dingxi Road in Shanghai is known for chewy scallion oil noodles heaped with dried shrimp, and for clam and pork liver noodles.
TryScallion oil noodles with dried shrimp
TipWeekday lunch queues run past 30 minutes; on weekends arrive before 11:00, and ask for extra scallion oil.
Wei Xiang Zhai on Yandang Road in Shanghai is an old noodle house famous for sesame paste noodles with chili oil, served in a congested, well-worn room.
TrySesame paste noodles with chili oil
TipPay at the front desk, then hand your ticket to the server; the spicy pork noodles are best ordered dry, as ban mian.
Pojeong in Shanghai's Hongqiao Koreatown makes its Korean-style mul naengmyeon fresh daily, chilled buckwheat-potato noodles in icy beef broth.
TryMul naengmyeon, chilled buckwheat-and-potato-starch noodles in iced beef broth
TipAsk for some warm broth on the side to taste the noodles both ways.
Sobamichi on Xianxia Road in Shanghai, run by Japanese owners since 2015, serves thin or thick country-style soba with house-made dipping sauces.
TryZaru soba, chilled buckwheat noodles with a soy-mirin-dashi tsuyu dip
TipBeyond the classic tsuyu, try the black curry or duck dipping broth; the buckwheat tofu made with cream cheese is another house specialty.
Ieyasu Tsukemen & Izakaya on Xingyi Road in Shanghai is the longest-running Shanghai branch of this Ikebukuro tsukemen and izakaya franchise.
TryTsukemen with a choice of nine dipping sauces over a pork-chicken-fish stock
TipXingyi Road is the longest-standing and busiest branch; the Mengzi Road branch is just as good if the queue here is long.
Butanchu Ramen down a warehouse alley in Shanghai draws a daily rain-or-shine queue for its Hakata-style, extra-thick tonkotsu pork bone broth.
TryHakata-style tonkotsu ramen with a sauce-thick pork bone broth
TipArrive early: the queue forms rain or shine, and the shop sells out once the day's broth is gone.
Kyu Hai on Nanchang Road in Shanghai is a small Japanese room serving chicken broth ramen, shio or shoyu, alongside yakitori and izakaya bites.
TryChicken broth ramen in shio or shoyu, plus yakitori and izakaya bites
TipGrab one of the outdoor seats if the weather allows; the small dining room fills up fast at dinner.
Ramen Mitsuyoshi's very first shop on Liyuan Road in Shanghai traces its roots back to two Michelin-recommended ramen shops in Tokyo, Japan.
TryTonkotsu ramen, including a black garlic version
TipOrder and pay at the vending machine first, then take a seat at the wraparound bar to watch the broth being stirred.
Private tour · 4 hours
Start your Shanghai trip calmly with Tony, an English-speaking Shanghai local host. Get practical help with Alipay, WeChat, local transport, food, and a flexible city route.
Experience a 5D dining experience on the Shanghai Bund. Enjoy a 7-course meal led by Panda Chef Cheng, with 270° panoramic projections, AR tables, and 360° surround sound.
Water activity · 4 hours
Discover Shanghai on a night tour with a river cruise and food tasting. Stroll along Suzhou Creek, explore shikumen lanes, and taste local snacks before cruising the H...