As of 2026, this Shanghai food guide covers 13 restaurants by category — including Din Tai Fung (Shanghai Xintiandi flagship), Jia Jia Tang Bao (local-favorite xiaolongbao), Yang's Dumpling (Yang's Fry Dumpling - shengjianbao chain). See prices, locations and must-try dishes below.
Shanghai is Shanghai is China's most international foodie city — 51 Michelin-starred restaurants, Asia's most after Tokyo. The Shanghai big five: xiaolongbao (Din Tai Fung international + Jia Jia Tang Bao locals' choice + Nanxiang Bun 1900 original at Yu Garden), sheng jian bao (Yang's Dumpling pan-fried crispy soup buns), hong shao rou (red-braised pork belly at Lao Zheng Xing 1862 institution), hairy crab (Sep-Nov only — Wang Bao He 1744, Yangcheng Lake origin), and scallion oil noodles (Wei Xiang Zhai 1958 canonical breakfast). Modern Chinese fine dining: Ultraviolet by Paul Pairet (Michelin 3★ theatrical 20-course tasting in secret location), 8½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana (3★ Italian), Fu He Hui (2★ vegetarian), Mr & Mrs Bund (1★ modern French). French Concession has China's best café scene — % Arabica Wukang Mansion, Sumerian Coffee Roasters single-origin pour-overs. Pair with Shaoxing rice wine ($10-25) or Tsingtao beer ($3-5). We've organized 13 restaurants across 7 categories. Each entry includes prices, hours, local tips, and a Google Maps link so you can plan straight from the page.
ShanghaiFood Map
Click pins to see restaurant info · 13 restaurants
The Taiwanese chain that internationally popularized xiaolongbao — at the Shanghai Xintiandi flagship, every dumpling has the canonical 18 pleats. Open kitchen lets you watch the chefs hand-pleat each one. Pork dumpling is the entry point; truffle dumpling ($5 / CNY 36 each) is the splurge order. Bing Sutang's drunken chicken is the canonical starter.
$15-30 per person
(CNY 100-220)
11:00-22:00 daily
Local tip: 1-2 hour weekend waits — go 11:00 weekday or 14:00 off-peak. Take a paper number ticket on arrival. Reservation via WeChat in advance possible.
Locals' choice for cheap honest xiaolongbao — same 18-fold technique as Din Tai Fung at half the price. Tiny shop with plastic chairs + paper menus + cash-only counter. Crab roe xiaolongbao (秃黄油小笼) Sep-Nov is the canonical seasonal must-eat. The line moves quickly.
$3-10 per person
(CNY 20-70)
11:00-20:30 daily
Local tip: Cash only. 11:00-13:00 + 17:00-19:00 lines 30-45 min — go 14:00 or 20:00 for shorter waits. Order one steamer of each variety + share between 2.
Sheng jian bao 4-piece pork (the canonical crispy-bottom soup bun), crab + pork sheng jian, hot-sour soup
Shanghai's most-loved shengjianbao chain — pan-fried soup buns with crispy golden bottoms + soft tops. Original Yang's at 54 Wujiang Road (the canonical location) but reliable at all branches. CNY 8-12 / $1.10-1.65 per 4-piece order. Counter service: order by pointing at the photo menu, pay first, sit at communal tables.
$2-6 per person
(CNY 15-45)
07:00-22:00 daily
Local tip: Sheng jian bao must be eaten hot — the soup inside cools quickly. Bite a small hole first to sip the broth, then eat in 2-3 bites. Pair with hot-sour soup (酸辣汤).
Scallion oil noodles (Cong You Ban Mian, the canonical Shanghai breakfast), wonton soup, beef noodle soup
1958 institution — Shanghai's canonical scallion oil noodle (cong you ban mian) shop. Thin egg noodles tossed in scorched scallion oil + dark soy sauce + sugar = sweet-savory Shanghai breakfast classic. Plastic stools, paper menus, cash + Alipay only. Frequently a 20-min queue at lunch.
$2-5 per person
(CNY 15-35)
06:30-19:30 daily
Local tip: Best 7:00-10:00 (peak freshness). Cash + Alipay only. Order at the counter, pay, sit when food arrives. Add the chili oil from the table — they don't put it in by default.
Hong shao rou (red-braised pork belly), drunken chicken, sweet + sour Mandarin fish, lion's head meatballs
Shanghai's oldest surviving Shanghainese restaurant — opened 1862. The canonical 'Hu Cai' (Shanghai cuisine) experience — sweeter and soy-heavier than Cantonese, more refined than northern Chinese. Red-braised pork (hong shao rou) is the canonical Shanghai dish: pork belly slow-braised with sugar + dark soy until glassy.
$25-60 per person
(CNY 180-430)
11:00-14:00 + 17:00-21:30 daily
Local tip: Reservation recommended for dinner. Order shared platters: hong shao rou + drunken chicken + lion's head + a vegetable. Pair with Shaoxing rice wine ($10-25 / CNY 70-180).
Atmospheric Bund restaurant serving Yunnan + Burma + Tibet borderland Chinese cuisine — earthier + more aromatic than mainstream Chinese. Dim wood-paneled dining room with carved Tibetan prayer wheels + soft jazz. Strong cocktail program. The canonical 'modern Chinese with character' Shanghai dinner.
$30-65 per person
(CNY 215-465)
11:30-14:30 + 17:30-23:00 daily
Local tip: Reservation essential for dinner — book 1 week ahead. Smart casual dress. Pair with their cocktails (yuzu-infused gin + ginger highball). Bund branch is the original; French Concession branch slightly more casual.
Shanghai's oldest dedicated hairy crab restaurant — 1744, more than 280 years. Hairy crab (Da Zha Xie) is the canonical Shanghai autumn dish — small freshwater crab from Yangcheng Lake, in season September-November. The female crab (with roe) is more prized; eat with Shaoxing rice wine, ginger, and black vinegar.
$50-200 per person (seasonal)
(CNY 360-1,440)
11:00-14:00 + 17:00-21:30 (closed July-August)
Local tip: Sep-Nov only — out of season the crabs are imported + lesser quality. Reservation essential for September-November. The full crab feast (8+ courses) runs CNY 800-1,500 / $110-210 per person. Hand washing bowls provided — eating crab is messy.
Ultraviolet by Paul Pairet, 8½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana, Fu He Hui — Shanghai has 51 Michelin-starred restaurants, Asia's most after Tokyo
Ultraviolet by Paul Pairet (3 Michelin stars)
Ultraviolet · Secret Shanghai location (pickup at the Bund)
8
#1
MUST TRY
20-course tasting menu with synchronized lighting + sound + scent
Shanghai's most theatrical fine-dining experience — chef Paul Pairet's 20-course tasting menu in a 10-seat dining room with synchronized projections, custom soundtracks, and matched scents for each course. The location is kept secret; guests gather at the Bund for transport to the venue. Tasting menu is fixed; no à la carte.
$600-900 per person
(CNY 4,300-6,500)
Dinner only, 6 nights per week
Local tip: Reservation 3-6 months ahead. CNY 4,800-6,500 / $670-900 fixed price including wine pairing. Smart casual dress. The 'BL' edition (basic) and 'UVB' (with wine pairing) are the two options.
Tasting menu — vegetarian fine dining redefined with mushroom + tofu + lotus
China's most-celebrated vegetarian fine-dining — 2 Michelin stars since 2016. Refined Buddhist temple cuisine elevated: morels in fermented bean curd, lotus seed soup with chrysanthemum, century-egg-style braised tofu. The canonical Shanghai vegetarian dinner.
$80-180 per person
(CNY 575-1,300)
11:30-14:00 + 17:30-21:30 (closed Tuesday)
Local tip: Reservation 2-3 weeks ahead. Tasting menu only (CNY 580-1,280 / $80-180 per person). Smart casual. Even non-vegetarians find this satisfying — the chef's technique transcends the meat-free constraint.
Japanese-rooted minimalist coffee brand — % Arabica's Shanghai flagship is at the iconic Wukang Mansion (1924 wedge-shaped building). The canonical French Concession photo spot. Coffee is genuinely excellent (single-origin beans roasted in-house). Outdoor seating with plane-tree shade.
$5-12 per person
(CNY 35-85)
08:00-21:00 daily
Local tip: Best 9:00-11:00 (before tour buses). Wukang Mansion exterior photo + coffee combo is the canonical French Concession Instagram. Cash + WeChat Pay + Alipay all work; international cards limited to international hotels nearby.
Sumerian · French Concession (415 Shaanxi North Road)
11
#2
MUST TRY
Pour-over single origin (rotating Ethiopian, Kenyan, Colombian), New York-style cheesecake
American-rooted specialty roaster — Sumerian's Shaanxi Road location has the canonical French Concession 'serious coffee' atmosphere. In-house roasting, single-origin pour-overs, knowledgeable English-speaking baristas. The right pick for travelers who care about coffee quality.
$5-12 per person
(CNY 35-85)
08:00-20:00 daily
Local tip: Best 9:00-12:00 + 15:00-18:00 (avoid lunch rush). Cash + WeChat + Alipay. Wi-Fi reliable. Ask about the rotating single origin — they can explain origin + tasting notes in English.
Nanxiang Bun original location (1900), Huxinting Tea House, candied haws, sticky rice cakes — Old City traditional bites
Nanxiang Bun (Original 1900 location)
南翔饅頭店 · Yu Garden Bazaar (85 Yuyuan Road, Old City)
12
#1
MUST TRY
Pork xiaolongbao (the canonical Nanxiang style), crab roe xiaolongbao (Sep-Nov), spring rolls, sweet sesame balls
Nanxiang Bun Shop opened 1900 — the original commercial xiaolongbao restaurant, located directly inside Yu Garden Bazaar. Three floors: ground floor counter service (cheapest), 2nd floor sit-down dining (mid), 3rd floor VIP private rooms. Hand-made dumplings visible through the open kitchen window.
$5-15 per person
(CNY 35-110)
08:30-21:00 daily
Local tip: Ground floor takeaway counter is the locals' choice (lower price + same dumplings). 2nd floor weekend queue 30-60 min. Combine with Yu Garden Ming dynasty garden visit (5-min walk).
湖心亭茶楼 · Yu Garden Bazaar (the 9-zigzag bridge lake pavilion)
13
#2
MUST TRY
Longjing tea, Tieguanyin oolong, traditional Chinese tea snacks (sticky rice cake, melon seeds)
Shanghai's most-photographed tea house — the 1855 lake pavilion at the end of the 9-zigzag bridge in Yu Garden Bazaar. The Queen of England (1986) and Bill Clinton (1998) both had tea here. Touristy but historically iconic. The 9-zigzag bridge legend says spirits can only travel in straight lines, so the zigzag stops evil spirits at the pavilion.
$15-40 per person
(CNY 110-290)
08:30-21:30 daily
Local tip: Touristy — tea is overpriced (CNY 100-280 / $14-40 per person) compared to French Concession tea houses. Worth it once for the photo + history. Buddhist vegetarian lunch downstairs (Songyuelou next door) is the cheaper alternative.
Dumpling chains (Yang's Dumpling, Jia Jia Tang Bao, Wei Xiang Zhai) + street food. WeChat Pay/Alipay for transactions.
Mid-Range
$30-80/day (CNY 215-575)
Sit-down Shanghainese (Din Tai Fung, Lao Zheng Xing, Lost Heaven) + 1 mid-range café meal + cocktail at the Fairmont Jazz Bar.
Luxury
$200+/day (CNY 1,440+)
Michelin restaurants (Ultraviolet, 8½ Otto e Mezzo, Fu He Hui) + Hairy Crab seasonal + Park Hyatt 91F dinner + Capella Shikumen villa breakfast.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about food and restaurants in Shanghai.
What must I eat in Shanghai?
The Shanghai big five: Xiaolongbao (soup dumplings — Din Tai Fung is the international chain, Jia Jia Tang Bao is locals' choice at half the price, Nanxiang Bun is the 1900 original at Yu Garden). Sheng Jian Bao (pan-fried soup buns with crispy bottoms — Yang's Dumpling chain, $1-2 per piece). Hong Shao Rou (red-braised pork belly — Lao Zheng Xing 1862 institution is canonical). Hairy Crab (Sep-Nov season only — Wang Bao He 1744 institution, Yangcheng Lake origin). Scallion Oil Noodles (cong you ban mian — Wei Xiang Zhai 1958 institution, the canonical Shanghai breakfast).
Din Tai Fung vs Jia Jia Tang Bao — which xiaolongbao?
Din Tai Fung is the Taiwanese international chain that popularized the 18-fold pleat — consistent quality, English service, reservation-friendly, $15-30 per person. Jia Jia Tang Bao is the locals' choice — same 18-fold technique, half the price at $3-10, cash-only counter, plastic chairs. The xiaolongbao itself: most travelers find Jia Jia's slightly more flavorful (less Westernized), Din Tai Fung's more refined + consistent. Nanxiang Bun at Yu Garden is the 1900 historical original — touristy + lower quality than either Din Tai Fung or Jia Jia.
Where do I eat hairy crab and when is the season?
Hairy crab (Da Zha Xie) season: September-November only — out of season, the crabs are imported + lesser quality. The canonical source is Yangcheng Lake in Jiangsu (1 hour from Shanghai). Restaurants: Wang Bao He (Fuzhou Road, 1744 institution, $50-200 per person), Cheng Long Hang (Yu Garden Bazaar, family-style), and many Pudong waterfront restaurants seasonally. Eat with Shaoxing rice wine, ginger, and black vinegar. Female crab (with roe) is more prized than male.
What about Shanghai Michelin restaurants?
Shanghai has 51 Michelin-starred restaurants (Asia's most after Tokyo). The big names: Ultraviolet by Paul Pairet (3 stars, theatrical 20-course tasting in a secret location, $600-900 per person — book 3-6 months ahead). 8½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana (3 stars, Italian fine dining, $200-500). Fu He Hui (2 stars, vegetarian, $80-180 — the canonical China vegetarian dinner). Mr & Mrs Bund (1 star, modern French, $150-300). Most stars are at the 1-star level — easier reservations and more accessible $80-200 price points.
What about the French Concession café scene?
Shanghai's French Concession has China's best café scene — comparable to Tokyo's Daikanyama in atmosphere. % Arabica (Wukang Mansion location is iconic), Sumerian Coffee Roasters (Shaanxi Road, single-origin pour-overs), Manner Coffee (Chinese-rooted chain at $2-3 per cup), Egg (American-style brunch + specialty coffee). Best 9:00-12:00 + 15:00-18:00 (avoid lunch rush). Outdoor plane-tree-shaded terraces are the canonical French Concession atmosphere.
What does food cost in Shanghai?
Street food + dumplings: $2-10 per person (Yang's Dumpling, Jia Jia Tang Bao, Wei Xiang Zhai). Sit-down Shanghainese restaurants: $15-60 per person (Din Tai Fung, Lao Zheng Xing, Lost Heaven). Modern Chinese fine dining: $80-200 per person (Fu He Hui, Mr & Mrs Bund). Michelin 2-3 star: $200-900 per person (Ultraviolet, 8½ Otto e Mezzo). Hairy crab seasonal: $50-200 per person (Sep-Nov only). French Concession café: $5-12 per drink + pastry. Shanghai is China's most expensive food city — similar to Beijing, 30-40% cheaper than Tokyo.
Cash, card, or mobile payment?
WeChat Pay and Alipay are essential — both now accept foreign passports for registration (link to Visa/Mastercard). Cash is widely accepted but harder for foreigners (small change can be difficult). International credit cards (Visa, Mastercard) accepted only at international hotels and a few upscale restaurants. ATMs at Bank of China and ICBC are fee-free for most foreign cards. Tipping is NOT customary in China — never tip at restaurants (some upscale Western-influenced restaurants add 10% service charge automatically; check the bill).
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Jimmy Kong
TripPick founder · Travel content creator
Based in Chiang Mai for 8+ years, with 30+ countries visited across Southeast Asia, Japan, and Europe. Every detail in this guide is primary-source verified as of April 2026, with prices auto-refreshed via live exchange rate APIs. This isn't AI-generated boilerplate — it's written from the perspective of someone who has actually been there.
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