Shanghai Restaurants

Shanghai's restaurant scene is developing quickly along with the rest of the city. New establishments are continually opening and standards are rising. The city now has a number of Michelin-starred chefs on the Bund. You don't necessarily need a big budget, as you will always be able to find good local food, especially away from the tourist spots. The number of international visitors ensures that there is a wide selection of cuisines including French, Thai, Mexican and Italian.

When it comes to Chinese food, standards have also risen and there are now many chic and trendy eateries serving home-style Shanghainese food. There are also plenty of stylish Cantonese restaurants serving good quality food.

The majority of restaurants can be found in the French Concession, Xintiandi and the Bund. There are a number of places that are somewhat over-priced for what they offer, which tend to charge more because of their location, especially those on the riverfront. Tipping is not always expected, except in the top-class restaurants and those found in the Bund. Dinner is usually eaten early in the evening, so don't arrive too late or you may be disappointed.

Local cuisine

Shanghai has one of China's most distinctive cuisines. It benefits from its location just south of the Yangste and at the mouth of the Huangpu, resulting in a good selection of freshwater fish and shellfish. Dishes from this area are delicately seasoned, although more sugar is used in Shanghai than in any other part of China. Shanghai's neighbours also contribute to the diversity of the area's cuisine: Hangzhou, known for its carp; Zhenjiang to the west, known for its vinegar; and Shaoxing, for its warmed rice wine.

A few specialities worth looking out for are xiang you shan hu, which gets its name from the oil that crackles when it is poured onto eel, and ba bao la jiang, which comprises of shrimp, peanuts, pork, bamboo shoot, chicken, tripe and a light sauce. Nanxiang, steamed stuffed buns, are famous for their thin wrap, heavy flavour and tender meat. The ingredients also vary depending on the season; bamboo shoots for spring, shrimp for summer and crab for autumn. Gaoqiao muffin, glutinous rice dumplings, pear paste candy and five-spiced beans are all worth trying.