China is known for its usage of spices, adventurous dishes and overall food culture. To experience China’s food culture in a short span of time, definitely head to Shanghai as the city is a fusion of many cultures from China’s different provinces! Here is a list of authentic Chinese dishes to try when you are in Shanghai!
Xiao Long Bao (小笼包)
With just one bite, you would most certainly fall in love with this heavenly dish. This famous dumpling has a thin layer of dumpling skin wrapped around the popular pork filling. Customers will also notice the pork broth oozing out from the Xiao Long Bao. But… how does the broth get in there? Well, there’s no magic, only science! During the preparation of the pork dumpling, Chefs stuff a piece of gelatinized pork into the filling. The gelatine will then melt into a savoury pork broth when the Xiao Long Bao is exposed to heat!
Soup dumplings normally come in a bamboo steaming rack and are commonly accompanied with sliced ginger and vinegar. This dumpling dish is excellent for winter seasons and it’s usually paired with a cup of hot tea or a bowl of soup. Perfect for warming your body after being exposed to the cold!
To experience the culture of Shanghai and amazing authentic Xiao Long Baos, the Chenghuang Temple is the location to head to! Sitting in the middle of Chenghuang Temple lies the Nanxiang Xiao Long Bao restaurant (南翔馒头店) which has been recommended by the Michelin Bib Gourmand! The restaurant takes up a total of 3 levels with different price points and quality in ascending order. Other than the Xiao Long Bao, try their Soup Dumplings for more of the savoury pork broth! Be careful while sipping as the soup can be scaldingly hot!
Address: 85 Yuyuan Lu, near Jiuqu Qiao, Huangpu District, Shanghai China
Tel: +86 21 6355 4206
Da Zha Xie (大闸蟹)
The culture of consuming crab mustard may be difficult to fathom but it’s a real delicacy in China. Da Zha Xie, also known as the Hairy Crab is one of China’s iconic gourmet dishes and is famous for its buttery roe or mustard. If you like Sea Urchin, you will fall in love with this dish.
Proven by local Chinese, the Da Zha Xie is best eaten steamed without any other ingredients. A pretty surprising preference considering how China locals love their spices. The crab may be pretty difficult to get into. But once you get to the meat, you’ll be surprised with how sweet the crab can be! To enhance the taste of the crab, dip the meat or roe into a small plate of vinegar and be prepared to be mind blown!
The Da Zha Xie is best eaten during the Hairy Crab season between the months of late September to early November where the crabs are the fattiest with bright orange roe! There’s no discrimination in gender when eating Da Zha Xie. The roe of the male crab has a softer consistency while female crabs are harder. But despite their differences, both are equally delicious and are reliant on personal preferences.
A great location for eating Da Zha Xie would be the Cheng Long Hang Crab Palace (成隆行蟹王府). As the name suggests, this place is all about crabs! Almost all of their dishes have crab as an ingredient. And hairy crabs are offered throughout the year allowing customers to indulge in a great crab roe feast!
Address: 216 Jiujiang Rd, Huangpu, Shanghai, China
Tel: +86 21 6321 2010
Peking Duck (北京烤鸭)
Why travel to Beijing to sample the Peking Duck when you can do that in the most diverse country of Shanghai? The Peking Duck is famously sought after for its thin crispy skin and soft morsels of meat. It’s known as a luxurious dish that’s eaten on special occasions by the local Chinese!
The Peking Duck is slathered in honey and sherry before it’s left to cure for days. It will then be slow-roasted to produce the flavourful and crispy skin that is widely loved by everyone! The traditional way of eating the Peking duck would be to place a piece of duck meat, duck skin, slices of cucumber and scallions on a steamed pancake wrap before drizzling them with Hoisin Sauce. The flavours come together perfectly, giving an orgasmic food experience.
Da Dong Roast Duck (大董海参店) serves one of the best Peking Duck in Shanghai. Even though it’s on the pricier side, their enhanced version of the Peking Duck is worth the cost. The Peking Duck from Da Dong uses top-quality ingredients to ensure consistency. Chefs cook the duck for an extra 20 mins to drip off the extra fat from the duck, ensuring its crispy texture. Additionally, the duck is also cooked over burning fruitwood, giving it a nice fruity scent. There are two Da Dong outlets in Shanghai but only one in Jingan district holds a Michelin star! If you are feeling extra fancy, the restaurant also offers caviar for you to indulge in!
Address: 5f, Park Place, 1601 West Nanjing Road, Jing’an, Shanghai
Tel: +86 21 3253 2299
Hong Shao Rou (红烧肉)
Everyone loves pork belly. The Koreans have it during their barbecues while the westerners have them as breakfast. Even the Chinese from China have them as a dish in a meal! Well, how can you deny the harmony of lean meat and fats as they melt in your mouth?
Also known as Braised Pork Belly, the Hong Shao Rou is a classic Shanghai dish. The pork belly is simmered in a sweet brown sauce which gives a unique caramelised flavour and texture. This versatile dish can be eaten with rice or served as a staple!
For a mouth-watering experience, head to Old Jesse Restaurant (老吉士酒家) to try their authentic Hong Shao Rou! The restaurant serves great authentic Shanghainese Cuisine, making it popular among both locals and tourists. Unless you are okay with waiting for 30 minutes for a table, you can book a reservation prior to the visit! It’s also opened until the wee hours so Old Jesse Restaurant is a perfect place to go for supper.
Address: 41 Tianping Rd, Xuhui, Shanghai 200001
Tel: +86 21 6282 9260
Duck Blood Vermicelli Soup (鸭血粉丝汤)
The thought of eating the blood of any animal can be a tad bit weird. But here in China, it’s considered to be a delicacy. The blood of ducks is believed to promote blood circulation, remove toxins and boost energy!
The legend of Duck Blood Vermicelli Soup goes back to the olden days. It was said that a poor man from Nanjing killed a duck and was using a bowl to collect the Duck’s blood. But while cleaning the duck, he accidentally dropped some vermicelli noodles into the bowl. Without much choice, he cooked the vermicelli noodles and duck blood together and was pleasantly surprised. Not long after, a wealthy man took notice of the accidental invention and hired the poor man to be a cook for his family. Literally the perfect example of a blessing in disguise!
Authentic Duck Blood Vermicelli Soup has a herbal taste as it’s cooked with more than 20 Chinese Herbs. The main ingredients in the Duck Blood Vermicelli Soup encompass duck blood, duck gizzards and duck livers. Surprisingly, these ingredients work splendidly with the vermicelli noodles, dried tofu and shrimp!
You can find this dish in the alleyways of Shanghai but be sure to try the dish in ZhouLi LaoYa FenSiTang (妯娌老鴨粉絲湯) first! It’s the go-to location for many Shanghainese for a quick bite. There are many branches around Shanghai but visitors are recommended to head to the one by the Bund!
Address: HongKou District WuChang Road 579, Shanghai China
