The restaurants worth a reservation in Shanghai, from neighbourhood bistros to the new classics.
The restaurants worth the trip in Shanghai. bistros, neo-classics, neighbourhood favourites, and the rooms locals book first.
Blossom inside Plaza 66 in Jing'an serves casual Chaoshan and Cantonese dishes, the affordable sister of Michelin two-star Amazing Chinese Cuisine.
OrderOrder the steamed East Sea grouper with pickled mustard greens and the Chiu Chow beef offal pot.
TipThe Chiu Chow preserved radish fried rice and the crab with sweet potato noodles round out a full Teochew spread.
Da Hu Chun on Middle Sichuan Road in Shanghai holds a Bib Gourmand for the fluffy pan-fried shengjian bao that built its snack food culture.
OrderOrder the pork, prawn or crab roe shengjian bao with a side of beef curry soup, the customary pairing here.
TipIts qingshui buns use fully fermented dough and no added aspic, so they come out soft and bread-like over a cracker-crisp base rather than bursting with soup.
Nanxiang Steamed Bun at City God Temple is the Yu Garden shop of the brand founded in 1900, holding a Bib Gourmand for pork and crab xiaolongbao in Shanghai.
OrderOrder the pork or crab-and-pork xiaolongbao, or the supersized version meant to be sipped through a straw.
TipExpect a queue and tourist crowds; Nomfluence rates Lai Lai and Jia Jia's xiaolongbao higher if you have time to go elsewhere.
Polux by Paul Pairet in Xintiandi, Shanghai holds a Bib Gourmand for all-day French cafe and bistro food from the chef behind Mr and Mrs Bund and Ultraviolet.
OrderOrder the grilled seabass vierge or the steak frites, then finish with the onion soup.
TipBreakfast and brunch are the strongest sittings; dinner leans toward country-style bistro food, with a spacious outdoor patio.
Rongjia Noodles Soup with Yellow Croaker in Jing'an, Shanghai holds a Bib Gourmand for yellow croaker in a milky fish-bone broth over springy wheat noodles.
OrderOrder the yellow croaker noodle soup, its broth simmered from fish bones until milky and rich.
TipIt is a sister shop to one-Michelin-starred Xin Rong Ji, which supplies the premium yellow croaker used here.
Jingmei Wuxi Noodles on Yanping Road in Jing'an, Shanghai holds a Bib Gourmand for sweet-leaning Wuxi noodles in a small, cramped dining room.
OrderOrder the Wuxi braised pork rib noodles, dressed with soy sauce and scallion oil and dried shrimp.
TipAlso try the chili and soy-braised pork bone noodles or the Taihu three white dumplings filled with egg and shrimp.
Yu Du Lao Wei on Liyuan Road in Huangpu District, Shanghai holds a Bib Gourmand for a decade of yellow croaker noodles from a Zhoushan-born owner.
OrderOrder the braised yellow croaker noodles, served dry or in soup with thick, thin or rice-cake noodles.
TipThe braised belt fish noodle is another signature; the counter display of fresh seafood shows what else the kitchen stir-fries.
Lu Bo Lang at Yu Garden in Shanghai holds a Bib Gourmand for Shanghainese dim sum such as turnip pastry and eyebrow pastry, at fair prices in the Old City.
OrderOrder the Shanghainese dim sum: turnip pastry, osmanthus glutinous rice cake and 'eyebrow' pastry.
TipPrivate rooms on the second and third floors take groups; a 2019 refit added wavy silver ceiling panels to the main room.
Tan Sichuan Cuisine at Yu Gardens in Shanghai holds a Bib Gourmand for Chengdu-style Sichuan food with a Nine-Turn Bridge view from upstairs.
OrderOrder the saliva chicken in chili oil and the whole fish cooked yuxiang style.
TipIt carries backing from Chengdu's THE BRIDGE but runs its own menu; the dan dan noodles and mapo tofu are also strong here.
Old Jesse on Tianping Road in Shanghai has served Shanghainese home cooking in a packed lane house since 2004, the original of several Old Jesse rooms.
OrderOrder the hongshaorou red-braised pork belly, plus the cod fish head braised with green onions if pre-ordered.
TipThe scallion oil noodles round out a table; in hairy crab season, add the crab roe mixed with rice if it is on the menu.
Wang Bao He on Fuzhou Road in Shanghai began in 1744 as a Shaoxing wine maker and moved here in 1936, when it started steaming crabs to go with its wine.
OrderOrder the wine-soaked crab and the fried bean curd jelly with crab paste, the kitchen's proudest dish.
TipAbout nine in ten dishes on the menu carry crab in some form, down to the xiaolongbao and the Lion's Head meatballs.
Lost Heaven on the Bund in Huangpu district, Shanghai serves Yunnan folk cuisine with Burmese and Thai touches in a vast room of dark wood and red lanterns.
OrderOrder the Dali-style chicken with chilies and green onions, plus the mushroom platter.
TipBook ahead for a Bund-view window seat at dinner; the room feels grand for what is still a mid-priced regional Chinese meal.
Xibo on Changshu Road in Shanghai has served Xibonese and Xinjiang minority cuisine since it opened in 2009, run by Xibonese founder Atina Kuo.
OrderOrder the big plate chicken and lamb skewers, best shared with a group over pilaf and grilled corn.
TipCome with a crowd; the whole roasted lamb and big plate chicken are built for sharing, not a solo lunch.
Jia Jia Tang Bao on Huanghe Road near People's Square in Shanghai has hand-wrapped xiaolongbao since 1986, now a chain with several shops across the city.
OrderOrder the pork xiaolongbao or the crab and crab roe version, both made to order rather than pre-frozen.
TipMany locals stop here after buying the famous palmiers from the nearby Park Hotel; the Huanghe Road branch is the best known.
Lai Lai Xiao Long on Tianjin Road in Huangpu, Shanghai holds a Bib Gourmand for hairy crab xiaolongbao wrapped to order since it opened in 2006.
OrderOrder the hairy crab and crab roe xiaolongbao, available year-round, with ginger in vinegar on the side.
TipPork and pork-crab versions and wonton are also on the menu; expect a line out the door at this small, tightly packed shop.
Lan Xin, known locally as Lyceum Restaurant, on quiet Jinxian Road in central Shanghai holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand for wok-braised red pork belly.
OrderOrder the red-braised pork belly, reduced sauce, soft but firm texture.
TipIt holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand and does not take reservations, so queues are common; go outside lunch and dinner peaks.
Dong Tai Xiang on North Chongqing Road in Shanghai is the only shengjian shop whose semi-fermented technique holds intangible heritage status.
OrderOrder the shengjian pan-fried pork buns; the dough-making skill keeps every bun plump even once it cools.
TipIt is the only shengjian shop whose semi-fermented technique carries intangible cultural heritage recognition.
Wu You Xian on South Maoming Road in central Shanghai holds a Michelin star for xiaolongbao, folded 32 times inside a duck-egg-yolk wrapper.
OrderOrder the tasting set of crab roe, paste and meat xiaolongbao, made from crabs prepared fresh that same day.
TipEach dumpling has 32 folds and a duck-egg-yolk wrapper for extra elasticity; it is a short walk from the Huaihai Road shops.
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