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IndianPeoples Square
Masala Art on Dagu Road in Shanghai is a long-standing North Indian dining room for butter chicken, tandoori dishes, biryani and fresh-baked naan.
OrderButter chicken, a tandoori chicken dish and the garlic naan.
TipCome with a group; the tandoori platters and curries are built for sharing across the table.
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HunanFrench Concession
Di Shui Dong on Maoming South Road in Shanghai is a loud, busy Hunan restaurant whose cumin-cooked spare ribs keep weekend queues forming at this branch.
OrderCumin spare ribs, shredded pig ears with chilli and the steamed jiaozi.
TipExpect a wait on weekends even at this bigger second location, and a buzzing, loud room once you are seated.
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ShanghaineseFrench Concession
Jianguo 328 on West Jianguo Road in Shanghai cooks MSG-free Benbang classics, drawing crowds for its dried-shrimp scallion oil noodles and pork belly.
OrderScallion oil noodles and the red-braised pork belly.
TipReserve ahead and aim for off-peak hours; the noodles pair well with the crispy pork chop.
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ShanghaineseOld City
Shanghai Old Restaurant by Yuyuan Garden, founded in 1875, guards Shanghai heritage cooking techniques and steams its eight-treasure duck for eight hours.
OrderEight-treasure duck and the red-braised pork belly.
TipThe eight-treasure duck is steamed overnight and served the next day, so reserve it a day ahead.
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ShanghaineseXuhui
Hao Sheng on Guangyuan Road in Shanghai serves home-style Shanghainese cooking with no fixed menu, letting the chef choose dishes by what is fresh that day.
OrderSauteed river shrimp and the blanched pork liver.
TipCall ahead; the kitchen manages its own bookings and does not take walk-ins reliably.
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ThaiFrench Concession
Mi Thai on Anfu Road in Shanghai holds a Bib Gourmand for traditional Thai classics from a Thai chef, served across two rooms on a cafe-lined Xuhui street.
OrderTom yum seafood soup and the yellow curry seafood.
TipThe set lunch is good value; at any hour look for the deep-fried shrimp patty and the seafood yellow curry.