Chinese Food Guide in Shanghai
When it comes to Chinese food, what’s on your mind? Is it Fried Rice? Dumplings? Noodles? Dim Sum?
Most newcomers are very skeptical about what they will eat regarding Chinese food. In this article, I would like to lay out some of the foreigner-proof Chinese food for your information and exploration.
First, please understand that China is a big country, and each area they have its own cuisines and speciality. Let’s break it down:
The Northeastern food (Dongbei Cai): Mostly from Liaoning, Shangdong, and Dalian
Popular dishes: Shandong Chicken, Dumplings (with thicker skin)
Recommended Restaurant: 东北人家 (Dongbei RenJia - many branches around Shanghai)
Dongbei Style Dumplings
Various flavors: Meat, Fish, Vegetarian (egg and cabbage/chives)
Beijing Food: Beijing has a long history with dynasty cuisine
Popular dishes: Peking Roast Duck （北京烤鸭）, Noodles with Soy Bean Paste, Beijing Style （炸酱面）
Recommended Restaurant: 大董 (DaDong - many branches around Shanghai, usually inside Shopping malls)
Peking Duck
Peking duck is not stuffed as it is appreciated for its original juices and flavor without the need for extra ingredients.
Xinjiang/Western China Food: Very exotic land located in northwestern China, with nomads and minorities of the Islamic population in China, their food is phenomenal!
Popular dishes: Lamb skewers (羊肉串), Chicken Stew with spices (大盘鸡), Roasted Bread （烤馕）
Recommended Restaurant: SAPAR Uygur Restaurant (新疆伊宁远征餐厅） Yelishari （耶里夏丽) many branches around downtown Shanghai
Lamb Skewers from Xinjiang
These Chinese Xinjiang cumin lamb skewers are some of the most delicious ways to serve lamb! With a wonderful mixture of cumin, chilli and salt these lamb skewers melt in the mouth.
Central China - Sichuan, Hunan and Hubei: Hunan is the home of Mao Zedong and Sichuan is known for its panda and spicy mouth-numbing Malatang, both known for their spicy dishes.
In Chinese, we call them Hunanese Cuisine 湘菜 and Sichuanese Cuisine 川菜， and Hubei Cuisine 鄂菜
Popular dishes: Red-braised Pork, fish filet in chilli peppers, hot dry noodle, dan dan noodle, Kung Pao Chicken, Ma Po Tofu
Recommended Restaurants: Sichuan Citizen (龙门阵茶屋川菜馆), Hunan Country Cuisine (湖南乡村风味馆), Dishuidong (滴水洞), Yulixiang (御鲤湘）
Szechuan Fish-Suan Cai Yu
This dish belongs to the classic Shui Zhu dishes. As a sister dish to Szechuan style water boiled spicy fish, it is available in almost every Sichuan style restaurant inside China.
Eastern China: Shanghainese food/Jiangsu food is known as 本帮菜 (Benbang cai)
Popular dishes: Shengjianbao 生煎包 (Fried meat bun), Xiaolongbao 小笼包 、 汤包(Soup Dumplings)
Recommended Restaurant: 小杨生煎 （Yang’s dumplings - many branches around Shanghai, usually a shop store with limited seats)
Also, 鼎泰丰 (Ding Tai Fung) is a must-try, very popular among foreigners with excellent service and English menus.
Other authentic Shanghaiese restaurants: 人和馆 、 HOME's私房菜、建国328小馆、兰心餐馆、老瑞福、永兴餐厅、转角
Shao Mai (Shanghai Style)
Seasoned sticky rice filling is wrapped in a delicate wrapper to make a Shanghai version of siu mai. Simply put, it's an irresistible combination.
South China: Yunnan Cuisine (云南菜）The food is marked by the liberal use of spices, wild vegetables, and a mind-boggling array of wild mushrooms that can thrive simply because of the nearly pollution-free landscape.
Popular dishes: Fried goat cheese, Chicken soup with dried mushrooms
Recommended Restaurant: Lotus Eatery （云之缘云南民族菜), Legend Taste (滇道云南特色料理), Lost Heaven (花马天堂云南餐厅)
Steam Pot Chicken
Steam pot chicken is a Yunnan favourite. The chicken is cooked with local herbs and served in the same ceramic pot — the little chimney-like spout in the centre facilitates the circulation of steam, hence its name!
Cantonese Cuisine (广东菜 or 粤菜）This is my favourite, combining HongKongnese (港式茶餐厅）and Cantonese Dim Sum （广东点心) which are famous in all China towns worldwide.
Popular dishes: Hargow, Siu Mai, Chuengfeng (虾饺、烧麦、肠粉) and Charsiu (叉烧）Claypot rice (煲仔饭）Wonton (云吞）
Recommended Restaurants: 喜凤楼，细记港九，米面荟心，上金雀，点都德，东发道， 深井陈记，蘩楼，敏华，香江姳苑…and TOO MANY TO NAME.
Cantonese Food
Assortment of dim sum including Chuengfeng, Charsiu, Haogao, Siu Mai, Fried Turnip Cake, and so many more to explore!
I know this information can be overwhelming, and yet this is only a fragment of it. In China, we also have various types of HOT POT. If you are an adventurous foodie, get in touch and I would love to show you all of these in person; 1-1 or get a group and add me in. I can organise a group meal savouring a variety of tasty food over lunch or dinner.
Still not a fan of Chinese food? Want more food options beyond Chinese food?
Check out NOMFLUENCE an amazing blog by Rachel Gouk, also an expat from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, who has lived in Shanghai since 2011. Here is the QR code of the official account to follow. I often get to know what is new in town. The recommendations and the food reviews are legit. I rely on Nomfluence to discover new eateries, bars and great deals featuring cuisines from all over the world that you can find in the wonderful city of Shanghai.