Terry Zhu's Guide to Local Eats in Shanghai

"A noodle bar, located in the old neighborhood in Shanghai, they make very traditional Yang Chun noodles in Shanghai. The noodles are hand-made from flour and all the pickles are also hand-made by their chef/boss."

"An authentic dumpling spot and it's my favorite Xiao Long Bao in Shanghai, near Lu Xun Park which is the neighborhood where many local Shanghainese live."

"This is a high-quality hairy crab place that even Hiroshi Fujiwara went to before. Hairy crab with yellow wine, a very perfect match."

"Their pan-fried pork bun is the best. It has the traditional Shanghai flavor with a bit of soy sauce in the pork that make it a little sweet...that is the authentic Shanghai pork bun. Other Shanghai dishes are also very delicious."

"Authentic fried dumplings, near Jing An temple. A very small, local shop with good fried dumplings and beef soup."

"Fusion style pasta with some Chinese flavors and twist like the Ma Po Tofu lasagna is worth a try."

"The first tavern-style pizza in Shanghai. The chef is from Chicago so the crispy square cut pizza is very authentic. A new spot is opening in September 2024."

"It's a modern Chinese food and wine bar. A cozy place with a decent wine selection. The menu is updated from time to time and has a good vibe."

"An all day brunch place with great coffee. Everything is about eggs since it is such an important food for brunch."

"A wine bar and French fusion bistro on Dong Hu road with a big open seating area in the front. It has a very good selection of wine and the food is also amazing. The weekend brunch is a must."

"Initially known to many people in Shanghai as a brunch place for crepes, RAC is also a great place for dinner. French cuisine is at their core but there's an element of newness. They also have a very good wine selection."

"It has been on the Michelin Guide for a while and is one of the most popular restaurants for expats in Shanghai, especially the French community. A lovely renovated villa, dating back to 1924, is home to this French bistro. It's divided into several rooms, all decorated differently: a simple bistro occupies the former garage; one cozy dining room has a charming beamed ceiling, another has a fireplace, and the garden terrace is a delightful spot on warm days. The classic bistro dishes include an excellent pâté en croute and côte de boeuf prepared barbecue style."

"Song Song serves traditional Shanghainese food with a contemporary bistro vibe. The exterior is a bit discrete and unassuming, but inside it is quite cozy. It has a very good balance and twist to modern Shanghai dishes with good design and decorations; it's also a great pre-drink place before night clubs."

"It's famous for its luxurious Cantonese-style chicken soup hot pot made from fish maw, chicken and abalone. Everything from slices of rib-eye steak to fresh and meaty shrimp, live abalone and salt-and-pepper fried corn to go into the mix, everything is indulgent and rich. Although pricey, it’s something of a Shanghai gastronomic experience."

"Situated in the Bund area, seafood bistro Rong Ji 95 (荣记95) falls under the umbrella of well-known restaurant group, Xin Rong Ji. The idea of Rong Ji 95 is to reproduce the origin of the group – a casual restaurant where people can enjoy Xin Rong Ji’s cuisine with friendly pricing and relaxed ambiance, just as the food stall brought to the general public all those years ago."