Huangpu Qu, Shanghai Shi

restaurants

Jia Jia Tang Bao

Jia Jia Tang Bao is the most famous of all Xiaolongbao chains. Their pork-filled soupy dumplings are delightful, but the highlight here is the crab-roe and crab meat stuffed variety. Yang's Fried Dumplings is across the street for Shengjian Bao. Get a friend to queue up there and munch on your Shengjian as you wait in line for Jia Jia.

Jingan Qu, Shanghai Shi

restaurants

Fuchun Xiaolong

Fu Chun is another destination for Xiaolongbao.Their selling point for me is that it's open late! The Yuyuan Lu location does last orders at 10pm. Plus, you can order other dishes like noodles and a wide array of stir-fry.

Huangpu Qu, Shanghai Shi

restaurants

Dahuchun

Pan-fried steamed buns, or Shengjian Bao, make a hearty meal. These are filled with meat, shrimp, crab, or a mixture of those ingredients, fried to a crisp on the bottom, and fluffy on top. Da Hu Chun is a time-tested chain with locations near The Bund, making it a great stop after sightseeing.

Jingan Qu, Shanghai Shi

restaurants

Xiaolin Jianbing

Jianbing is the best Chinese breakfast you'll ever have. It's like a crepe, made from mung bean and wheat flour dough, spread in a thin layer over a circular griddle, folded in with eggs, savory bean paste, crispy wonton sheets, and fried crullers. A spread of chili, sprinkle of green onions, and radish completes the hand-held snack. There are plenty of places in the city to get this, but Jian Bing Huang is the most reliable store.

Huangpu Qu, Shanghai Shi

restaurants

yang's fried dumpling

There are many locations of Yang's Dumplings, but the famous one is located right across Jia Jia Tang Bao. Meat-stuffed baos fried to a crisp, encasing a rich soup. Meant to be dipped in vinegar.

Huangpu Qu, Shanghai Shi

destination • experience

Taoyuan New Village （West Gate）

Taoyuan Village is actually a Taiwanese chain. Here they serve traditional Chinese breakfasts like doujiang and deep-fried dough sticks (youtiao). It's a trendy take on street food, and you'll be more at ease dining in a clean eatery with plenty of seating.

Xuhui Qu, Shanghai Shi

destination • experience

Smart Shanghai

Cong You Bing are flaky, buttery, scallion and pork filled fried pancakes. These are greasy buggers, but oh-so enjoyable. Go to the Old Shanghai Scallion Pancake store on Fuzhou Lu, next to all the other old Shanghai street eats stalls.

Huangpu Qu, Shanghai Shi

restaurants

Weixiangzhai

This hole-in-the-wall specializes in one thing: sesame sauce drenched noodles. The "ma jiang mian" here is legit, and they have the early morning queue of hungry patrons to prove it. Go in between peak hours to skip the line.

Xuhui Qu, Shanghai Shi

destination

328 Jianguo W Rd

Jian Guo 328 is a Shanghainese restaurant popular with both locals and expats. (They have English menus.) If you don't have time for all the highlights, be sure to stop in for the scallion oil noodles.

Lu Wan Qu, Shanghai Shi

destination • experience

Shanghai Fuyi Muslim （Niuyangrou） Franchise Store

Every Friday, the intersection of Aomen Lu and Changde Lu transforms into a bazaar of food vendors selling the a-to-z of muslim fare. Get lamb kebabs cooked over coals, rice pilaf, sour yogurts, naan breads, desserts, and more.