Tasting local food is one of the highlights for travellers in Shanghai, a city famous for its vibrant street snacks, classic dishes, and fine dining. In our guide, we look at the most famous food in Shanghai, food tours and local experiences, restaurants with stunning views, fine dining options, and authentic recommendations to enjoy the flavour of China. Start exploring the best restaurants and places to eat in Shanghai and enjoy the city’s unique culinary scene.
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🔥Best food in Shanghai (Most Famous)
Shanghai is famous for its rich food culture, with some of the best street food and traditional dishes in China. Among the most famous food in Shanghai are Xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) with their thin skin and hot broth, Shengjianbao (pan-fried pork buns, also called Shengjian mantou) with a crispy base and fluffy top, Hong Shao Rou (red-braised pork belly) slow-cooked until tender in a sweet soy glaze, and Smoked Fish (Xun Yu), a cold appetiser that is fried and coated in a savoury-sweet sauce.
To help you enjoy the best food in Shanghai, we have also selected some of the best restaurants in Shanghai where you can try these famous dishes and taste the city’s most authentic flavours.
🥟 1. Xiaolongbao (soup dumplings)
No visit to Shanghai is complete without trying xiaolongbao, the city's iconic soup dumplings that have delighted locals and visitors for generations. The thin wrapper holds tender, juicy pork filling that bursts with flavorful broth when bitten into - an unforgettable taste experience.
For authentic tastings, head to famous restaurants like Nanxiang Steamed Bun Restaurant, Wanshouzhai, or Jia Jia Tang Bao. Check their locations and Trip.com reviews and see why food lovers queue for hours at these restaurants.
What travellers say:
A tiny spot with big flavours! The crab roe xiao long bao 🦀 here is a must-try — thin skin, rich broth, melt-in-your-mouth filling. 😋The queue 🚶♀️🚶♂️ can get long (we waited ~30 mins), but totally worth it. Simple, local vibe and great value. Perfect for dumpling lovers visiting Shanghai! 🏮✨
What travellers say:
I was very greedy when I passed by the famous soup dumpling restaurant Jiajia Soup Dumplings in Shanghai. This restaurant was originally on the list of Gourmet Forest. Although the place is small and the decoration is simple, it has always been well-known. Their most famous crab meat soup dumplings and many people come here because of their reputation.
There are many other varieties. The size of the xiaolong is slightly small, just right for one mouthful, but don't burn your mouth. Don't be impatient when eating soup dumplings, the taste is very delicious after eating. And it feels like there is a lot of soup, it is still very refreshing to eat.
What travellers say:
When I came to Disney, this restaurant was my favorite. The environment was not so noisy, the dishes could be simple or complex, suitable for the whole family. I recommend their egg dumplings and wontons and Shanghai crispy fish, which were very delicious and large in quantity.
👍Local Pork Fresh Meat Xiaolongbao is fresh in one word!
📌Disney Town, the location is easy to find, and there is a queue for dinner at 5 pm on weekdays. This restaurant is quite suitable for tourists with children.
🍞 2. Shengjianbao/Shengjian mantou (Pan-Fried Pork Buns)
Shengjianbao, also called Shengjian mantou or Shengjian, are popular street food in Shanghai. They are pan-fried pork buns with a crispy golden-brown bottom and a soft, steamed top. The filling is usually savoury pork, sometimes with a jelly-like part that melts into a tasty soup when cooked. The mix of textures and flavours makes them a much-loved snack.
What travellers say:
When it comes to all kinds of snacks in Shanghai, shengjian is definitely not absent, and Da Huchun (Sichuan Middle Road), which has always adhered to the Qingshui style for 91 years, is full of the traditional taste of old Shanghai!
What travellers say:
There are many delicious foods in Shanghai Dexing Restaurant. The dishes are made with fresh fish, shrimp, crab, eel, etc., and are famous for their careful selection of ingredients and authentic flavor. The signature dishes include Eight Treasure Duck, Three Shredded Vegetables, Eight Treasure Chili Sauce, Pepper and Salt Spare Ribs, Squirrel Yellow Croaker, Bamboo Shoots and Eel Paste, etc.
🍖 3. Hong Shao Rou (Red-Braised Pork Belly)
Hong Shao Rou, also known as Red-Braised Pork Belly, is a classic dish from Chinese home cooking. It features pork belly slowly braised in soy sauce, sugar, and spices until tender and glossy. The meat becomes rich and flavourful, with a balance of sweet and savoury tastes. Its melt-in-the-mouth texture and deep caramelised sauce make it a favourite comfort food across China.
What travellers say:
Fu 1088 Restaurant is a very low-key local cuisine restaurant. There is no sign at the door. Inside, there are very private rooms. The environment is comfortable, different from ordinary restaurants. The dishes are exquisite local cuisine and delicious.
🐟 4. Smoked Fish (Xun Yu)
Smoked Fish, known in Chinese as Xun Yu, is a well-known dish from Shanghai. Despite its name, the fish is not actually smoked but deep-fried and then coated in a rich, sweet soy sauce. The outside is crispy while the inside stays tender, and the flavour is both savoury and slightly sweet. It is usually served cold as a starter and is a popular choice in Shanghai cuisine.
What travellers say:
The Old House Garden Hotel is located on Shaoxing Road in Shanghai. Shaoxing Road has a distinctly artistic, bourgeois, and unique atmosphere, and the villa and small garden of the Old House Garden Hotel exude a tranquil elegance. The menu features exquisite and innovative local cuisine, including smoked fish, crab roe tofu, rice cakes with eight-treasure chili sauce, and stir-fried shrimp. Enjoying fine wine and delicious food at a table by the floor-to-ceiling windows, while gazing out at the green lawn and tranquil garden is a truly relaxing experience. However, the average cost per person is quite high.
267666 booked
Shanghai Food Tours and Local Experiences
To get the best taste of Shanghai's authentic cuisine, you can join Shanghai Food Tours. With a local guide, you’ll taste real Shanghai dishes without the worry of tourist traps. Some tours often include local experiences, such as trying your hand at making Xiaolongbao (small dumplings), joining a tea tasting, and learning more about the city’s food culture.
Best restaurants with a view in Shanghai
8 Century Avenue (Shiji Dadao) , Lujiazui, Pudong
What travellers say:
I stayed at the Ritz-Carlton, Pudong, Shanghai some time ago, and the experience was amazing!
The hotel is located in Lujiazui, with an excellent location. The view of the Huangpu River and the Bund at night outside the window is breathtaking. When checking in, the staff was warm and thoughtful, and introduced the various services in detail, which made people feel warm.
The room layout is luxurious and elegant, and the quality is reflected in the details. From exquisite bedding to high-end toiletries, every place shows the excellent level of the hotel. The bed is soft and comfortable, which makes me sleep well all night.
The hotel's dining is even better. In the FLAIR restaurant on the 58th floor, I tasted creative food and enjoyed the beautiful river view while dining. The breakfast is rich in variety, with all kinds of Chinese and Western food to meet the taste needs of different people.
What travellers say:
Shanghai Tower, the tallest building in Shanghai, is worth a visit. The Shanghai Tower is on the 68th floor. You can enter from the office building and there is a dedicated elevator that goes directly to the floor. There is a welcome receptionist at the elevator door who will take you to your seat. It is facing the Bund, and I also like the view of Jinmao Tower.
Every dish is exquisite and attentive. The dishes are served one by one according to the dishes you choose, and the composition, method and taste of the dish will be introduced in English or Chinese. The foreigners and Chinese waiters are polite and orderly. Tasting each special dish has become a kind of expectation. It is a masterpiece that I am reluctant to taste. The dishes are basically fresh and original. Basically, it takes 4 hours to have a feast.
Shanghai Restaurant Recommendations - Taste of China 味
TASTE OF CHINA Immersive Dining, nestled within Shanghai's century-old landmark "THE BUND · CITY HALL PLAZA", is a panoramic cultural experience and space. Crafted by Trip.com Group to unveil the destinations and soul of China. Multi-sensory interactive technology brings the landscapes to life. The Yellow River, as waterfalls thunder down beside you, while the Li River's mist-kissed peaks dissolve into indigo hues across your plate—each bite embodying the majesty of mountains and rivers.
Panda Chef "Cheng BaoBao" guides you through seven culinary keys, unlocking a millennia-long odyssey from ancient dynasties to modern China—deconstructing landscapes through digital art and harmonizing cultures with the alchemy of flavour.
Here, global gourmets don't just savour premium Chinese cuisine—they embark on a journey from palate to soul: tasting China's flavours, experiencing its many facets, and falling in love with its essence forever.
*Note: Opening August 23, 2025 – but please call ahead to confirm hours before visit!
Fine Dining in Shanghai
Dragon Phoenix
Dragon Phoenix serves classic Shanghai dishes with breathtaking Bund views from the 8th floor of the iconic Fairmont Peace Hotel. At £72 per person, this outstanding-rated spot (4.8/5) lets you enjoy crispy dumplings or braised pork while watching boats glide along the Huangpu River.
Better yet, it’s perfectly placed for exploring. The hotel itself is a historic landmark on buzzing Nanjing Road, just steps from the Bund’s architecture. Many visitors pair meals here with day trips.
🕘 Opening Hours: 1 Jan-31 Dec Monday-Sunday：11:30 AM-2:30 PM 5:30 PM-10:00 PM
☎ 021-61386880
📍 8F, Fairmont Peace Hotel, 20 Nanjing Road East, Shanghai 200002 China
What travellers say:
Don't miss this treasure restaurant. This table of rich food is equivalent to dry pot yellow beef, which is their main food. The portion is very large, and the beef tastes quite delicious! I prefer bamboo tube glutinous rice. The steamed glutinous rice is soft, sweet, and has a faint date fragrance. It is very unique! Egg yolk pumpkin, wrap the egg liquid on the pumpkin and fry it crispy and delicious, and the taste is quite delicious!
No.20 East Nanjing Road
WangBaoHe Restaurant
WangBaoHe Restaurant brings Shanghai's crab-eating tradition to life in an elegant setting at Central Hotel's second floor. Think golden crab roe dumplings and rich crab meat soups – all in a bright, beautifully decorated space perfect for special occasions.
Even better, its location puts you steps from buzzing Jiujiang Road and a short stroll from Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street. After your meal, explore nearby People's Square or consider staying at the five-star Central Hotel itself for seamless access to this culinary gem. Travellers consistently praise how the restaurant "captures Shanghai's flavour" through both its food and heritage.
🕘 Opening Hours: 1 Jan-31 Dec Monday-Sunday：11:30 AM-2:00 PM 5:30 PM-10:00 PM
☎ 021-53965000
📍 2F, Central Hotel, 555 Jiujiang Road, Shanghai, China Mainland
What travellers say:
"Wang Baohe" is a time-honored Chinese brand, famous in the Yangtze River Delta for its crab-related dishes. Wang Baohe Hotel is a five-star hotel, and the Shanghai restaurant on the second floor inherits the characteristics of Wang Baohe's crab feast and crab roe dishes. The restaurant is tall and bright, with exquisite and elegant decoration, making it a good place for high-end banquets.
No. 555 Jiujiang Road
The Cathay Room
The Cathay Room offers a luxurious Western-style dining experience with breathtaking Bund views from the 9th floor of the iconic Fairmont Peace Hotel. This highly rated spot (4.9/5 from 135 reviews) specialises in lavish seafood spreads – think French oysters, king crab legs, and cheese-baked lobster paired with crisp white wine. Save room for their famous dessert table, where ice cream and sweet treats delight guests, especially families.
What’s more, its location in Shanghai’s historic Peace Hotel puts you steps from Nanjing Road’s buzzing shops and the Bund’s riverside promenade. After your meal, stroll past grand colonial buildings or explore nearby luxury boutiques – perfect for blending fine dining with classic Shanghai charm.
🕘 Opening Hours:
1 Jan-31 Dec Monday-Saturday：2:00 PM-5:00 PM 6:00 PM-9:00 PM
1 Jan-31 Dec Sunday：11:30 AM-2:30 PM 6:00 PM-9:00 PM
☎ 021-61386881
📍 9F, Fairmont Peace Hotel, 20 Nanjing Road East, Shanghai, China
What travellers say:
Peace Hotel Chinachem Seafood Brunch. There are French oysters, European and American king crabs, abalone, mussels, Iberian ham, European-style citrus pickled scallop salad, seafood sashimi and Japanese sushi. For the main course, I chose cheese baked lobster with dry white wine. The dessert table is a favourite of girls❤️ With ice cream, it's perfect!
No.20 East Nanjing Road
PHÉNIX
PHÉNIX at The Puli Hotel and Spa offers a buzzing yet elegant dining spot perfect for stylish travellers. This 4.8/5-rated Western restaurant charms guests with its airy tables and lively atmosphere – think fashionable locals enjoying leisurely lunches. Must-tries include their famously fluffy hot bread served with dreamy caramel butter, along with crowd-pleasers like layered king fish starters and creamy salmon mains. Save room for the peanut parfait, a crunchy-sweet finale that’s become a signature.
In addition, its location in Jing’an District puts you steps from leafy Jing’an Park and the serene Jing’an Temple. After exploring these cultural gems, retreat to the hotel’s spa for a treatment – the ideal way to round off a meal at this chic urban hideaway.
🕘 Opening Hours: Monday-Sunday：7:00 AM-10:30 AM 12:00 PM-2:30 PM 6:00 PM-9:00 PM
☎ 021-22166988
📍 No.1 Changde Road, Jingan District 2/F, The Puli Hotel and Spa, Shanghai
What travellers say:
This restaurant is quite popular. I got the appointment as a standby! The seats were full at noon! Next to me was a very fashionable old lady party! I admire people who love life. When I get older, I want to be an elegant old lady! I chose king fish for the appetizer, which had a layered taste. This dish was very good 👍The main course was salmon 🍣, the fish was very tender, and the sauce was creamy. It was neither good nor bad! The dessert was peanut parfait, the peanuts were very crispy, and the overall taste was sweet! So far, I like the desserts of Oushe the most.
No.1 Changde Road
Shanghai Food FAQs
What food is Shanghai most famous for?
Shanghai is best known for dishes like Xiaolongbao (soup dumplings), Shengjianbao (pan-fried pork buns), and Hong Shao Rou (red-braised pork belly).
What is the most popular street food in Shanghai?
Shengjianbao and Xiaolongbao are the most loved street snacks, often found in busy food streets and small shops.
What is nice to eat in Shanghai?
Local favourites include smoked fish (Xun Yu), braised pork, noodles, and a wide range of seafood.
Is it expensive to eat out in Shanghai?
Eating out can be very affordable at street stalls and small eateries, but high-end restaurants and fine dining can be costly.
Does Shanghai have Michelin star restaurants?
Yes, Shanghai is home to many Michelin-starred restaurants, covering both traditional Chinese cuisine and international fine dining.