Shanghai Restaurants

You'll notice that most Chinese restaurants in Shanghai have large, round tables. The reason becomes clear the first time you eat a late dinner at a local restaurant and are surrounded by jovial, laughing groups of people toasting and topping off from communal bottles of beer, sharing cigarettes, and spinning the lazy Susan load
You'll notice that most Chinese restaurants in Shanghai have large, round tables. The reason becomes clear the first time you eat a late dinner at a local restaurant and are surrounded by jovial, laughing groups of people toasting and topping off from communal bottles o
You'll notice that most Chinese restaurants in Shanghai have large, round tables. The reason becomes clear the first tim

You'll notice that most Chinese restaurants in Shanghai have large, round tables. The reason becomes clear the first time you eat a late dinner at a local restaurant and are surrounded by jovial, laughing groups of people toasting and topping off from communal bottles of beer, sharing cigarettes, and spinning the lazy Susan loaded with food. Whether feting guests or demonstrating their wealth, hosts will order massive, showy spreads.

Shanghai's standing as China's most international city is reflected in its dining scene. You can enjoy xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) for breakfast, foie gras for lunch, and Korean barbecue for dinner. In many restaurants, it’s traditional to order several dishes to share among your party for family-style dining. Tipping is not expected, but more upmarket restaurants will tack on a 10%–15% service charge. Although you can eat at Chinese restaurants for less than Y50 per person, Western meals go for Western prices.

Some restaurants in Shanghai offer set lunches at a fraction of the dinner price. Check out the dining section of Time Out Shanghai, That's Shanghai or Smartshanghai.com, all of which list dining discounts and promotions around town.

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  • 1. A Da Scallion Oil Pancakes

    $ | French Concession | Chinese

    The scallion-oil pancakes at this shop are incredibly popular, with long lines forming from the 6 am opening time until closing—around 3 pm...Read More

  • 2. Bird and Bitter

    $$ | French Concession | International

    A narrow driveway is all that separates this couplet of venues on a leafy lane. Bird, an intimate, relaxed wine bar and kitchen, has a changing...Read More

  • 3. Brut Eatery

    $ | Pudong | Asian

    This branch of Brut Eatery is a good choice if you're staying near Century Park and/or are traveling with children. The casual café offers a...Read More

  • 4. Da Hu Chun

    $ | The Bund | Chinese

    This hole-in-the-wall shop makes traditional Shanghaiese shengjianbao (fried soup dumplings) with wrappings that are pillowy and soft rather...Read More

  • 5. Egg

    $ | French Concession | Café

    Laptop-equipped freelancers and other trendy locals frequent this petite, friendly, Australian-style café. The menu focuses on breakfast/brunch...Read More

  • 6. Fuchun Xiaolong

    $ | Jing'an | Chinese

    Outfitted to evoke 1920s Shanghai, Fuchan regularly appears on lists of the city's best soup-dumpling restaurants. This branch was renovated...Read More

  • 7. RAC

    $ | French Concession | French

    The tiny RAC empire occupies a courtyard at the juncture of Anfu Lu and Wukang Lu. Streetside, it has takeaway coffee and ice cream (summer...Read More

  • 8. Sumerian Specialty Coffee

    $ | Jing'an | Café

    As the bags of beans sitting out, the variety of offerings, and the high prices indicate, coffee is serious business here. But the expertly...Read More

  • 9. Yang's Dumplings

    $ | Old City | Chinese

    Yang's, which has 150 branches around town, specializes in the highly addictive shengjianbao (meaty soup dumplings panfried on one side and...Read More

  • 10. Vienna Café

    $ | French Concession | Austrian

    Serving up delicious house-made desserts, Vienna Café is a Shanghai institution. This place is definitely not trendy, nor is it trying to be...Read More

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