Shanghainese food is all about rich, slightly sweet flavours and comforting dishes. From soup dumplings to slow-braised pork, here are the must-try dishes in Shanghai and where to find them.
If you’re visiting Shanghai, trying local dishes is essential. Meals are often shared, with several dishes ordered for the table rather than one per person.
Popular Shanghainese dishes to try:
- Xiaolongbao (小笼包) – soup dumplings
- Hong shao rou (红烧肉) – red-braised pork
- Sheng jian bao (生煎包) – pan-fried pork buns
- Cong you ban mian (葱油拌面) – scallion oil noodles
- Zui ji (醉鸡) – drunken chicken
Not sure where to try them? See our Where to Eat in Shanghai guide for the best local restaurants.
12 Popular Shanghainese Dishes to Try
- Xiaolongbao (小笼包) – delicate soup dumplings filled with pork and hot broth. At the best shops, the wrappers are almost translucent while still holding the soup properly.
Where to try it: Jia Jia Tang Bao, Din Tai Fung - Sheng jian bao (生煎包) – pan-fried buns with a crispy base and juicy filling
Where to try it: Yang’s Dumplings, Lao Sheng Xing (老盛兴) - Cong you ban mian (葱油拌面) – simple but excellent noodles with scallion oil
Where to try it: Local neighbourhood noodle shops (best for this) - Hong shao rou (红烧肉) – slow-braised pork belly in a rich soy-based sauce. Red-braised pork is considered one of China’s most iconic home-cooked dishes — here’s the history behind it.
Where to try it: Old Jesse (老吉士), local Shanghainese restaurants - Qing zheng yu (清蒸鱼) – steamed fish with soy sauce, ginger and spring onion
Where to try it: Local Shanghainese restaurants across the city - Lion’s head meatballs (狮子头) – large, soft pork meatballs often braised
Where to try it: Old Jesse (老吉士), traditional Shanghainese restaurants - Smoked fish (熏鱼) – lightly fried then marinated in a sweet soy sauce
Where to try it: Shanghainese cold dish sections in local restaurants - Eight treasure duck (八宝鸭) – stuffed duck with sticky rice and ingredients
Where to try it: Local Shanghai restaurants - Zui ji (醉鸡) – cold chicken marinated in Shaoxing wine
Where to try it: Cold dish menus in Shanghainese restaurants, Din Tai Fung (available but not a speciality) - Tang cu paigu (糖醋排骨) – sweet and sour pork ribs with a glossy glaze
Where to try it: Most local Shanghai restaurants - You tiao (油条) – fried dough sticks, often eaten at breakfast
Where to try it: Street-side breakfast stalls, local eateries - Doujiang (豆浆) – warm soy milk, either sweet or savoury
Where to try it: Breakfast shops, often served with you tiao, 小桃园 (various locations)
For a closer look at different dumpling styles, see our Shanghai dumplings guide.
You’ll find these dishes all over Shanghai, forming the foundation of Shanghainese cuisine, from small neighbourhood spots to long-established restaurants.
Most of these dishes are simple, home-style recipes, with an emphasis on slow cooking and balanced flavours rather than strong spice.
For a broader list of restaurants across the city, see our Shanghai Food & Drinks guide.
How to Eat Xiaolongbao Properly
Xiaolongbao are filled with hot soup, so eating them properly helps avoid burning your mouth.
• Pick up gently with chopsticks and place on a spoon
• Bite a small hole in the skin to release the steam
• Sip the soup first
• Add a little vinegar with ginger if you like.
• Eat the rest in one bite
They are best eaten fresh and hot, straight from the steamer. At busy Xiaolongbao restaurants, fresh baskets are constantly arriving at tables, which is part of the experience.
If you’re planning to try xiaolongbao in Yu Gardens, read my full Yu Gardens Shanghai guide for what to expect and where to eat.
For more on the history of the dish, Serious Eats has a good explainer.
What to Expect When Eating Shanghainese Food
Shanghainese meals are typically served family-style, with dishes placed in the centre of the table to share.
Flavours tend to be balanced rather than bold. You will often notice a slight sweetness, especially in dishes like red-braised pork or sweet and sour ribs. This comes from sugar being used alongside soy sauce to create depth rather than just sweetness.
Cooking methods focus heavily on braising, steaming and slow cooking. Texture is important, whether it is the delicate skin of a dumpling or the soft, almost melting consistency of pork belly.
Restaurants range from very simple local spots to more refined dining rooms. In many traditional places, the menu may be in Chinese only.
Typical Shanghainese Meal Example
A typical Shanghainese meal might include:
• Xiaolongbao or sheng jian bao
• A braised dish like hong shao rou
• A vegetable dish such as stir-fried greens
• A simple noodle or rice dish
• Soup or a light cold dish like drunken chicken
Meals are designed to balance flavours and textures rather than focus on a single main dish.
Shanghainese breakfast culture
Breakfast in Shanghai is simple, fast and very local. Many people grab food from small street-side shops rather than sit-down restaurants.
Common choices include:
• Youtiao (fried dough sticks)
• Doujiang (soy milk, sweet or savoury)
• Sheng jian bao
• Rice rolls or simple buns
These are usually eaten standing or taken away, especially in the morning rush.
Where to try Shanghainese food
Shanghainese food can be found across the city, from small neighbourhood spots to long-established institutions. Here are some of the best Shanghainese restaurants in Shanghai to try these dishes:
Old Jesse 老吉士
A long-standing favourite for traditional Shanghainese food, known for dishes such as hong shao rou (red-braised pork) and sweet and sour pork ribs. Expect a lively atmosphere and classic home-style cooking.
41 Tianping Road, Xuhui District
徐汇区天平路41号
Jia Jia Tang Bao 佳家汤包
One of the best-known places in Shanghai for Xiaolongbao, the city’s famous soup dumplings, and in my opinion one of the best value Xiaolongbao experiences in the city. Simple, busy and focused on doing one thing extremely well.
127 Huang He Road, Huangpu District
黄浦区黄河路127号
For street food and classic xiaolongbao in a historic setting, see my Yu Gardens Shanghai guide.
Lao Sheng Xing 老盛兴
A reliable option for classic Shanghai-style noodles and dumplings, with multiple locations across the city.
Shanghai Club
We like this place inside Taikoo Hui mall. It is quite upscale with tablecloths and nice wines, but if you avoid the expensive dishes, it is quite reasonable. Although it is a Shanghai restaurant, they do very good Beijing Roast Duck which I recommend as well as a nice 狮子头 (famous Shanghai pork meatball).
288 Shimen Yi Road, Jingan District
静安区石门一路288号
小桃园(复兴中路店)
If you’re looking for a very local style Shanghai breakfast, then this is a great choice. It’s very casual and serves Youtiao (fried dough sticks), Doujiang (sweet and savoury) and Douhua (savoury tofu pudding) my personal favourite. Wash everything down with fresh soy milk. It’s mostly breakfast dishes but they do open most of the day.
1251 Fuxing Middle Road, Huangpu District
黄浦区复兴中路1251号
开心食堂(湖南路店)
Shanghainese restaurant in a small house, a bit different to the shopping mall restaurants. Food is great, but booking can be a bit disorganized and may need to wait a bit even with booking. Like many local places, this place doesn’t open late. Aim to eat around 6-7pm.
287 Hunan Road, Xuhui District
徐汇区湖南路 287 弄甲 1
Tips for Ordering
- Order several dishes to share rather than one per person
- Expect slightly sweet flavours in many dishes
- Menus are often in Chinese, so having dish names or a few basic Chinese phrases ready can help
- Peak dining times can be busy, especially at popular local spots
- Some restaurants close early, particularly smaller local places
Shanghainese Food vs Other Chinese Cuisines
Compared to Sichuan or Hunan or even Yunnan cuisine, Shanghainese food is milder and less spicy. It focuses more on depth of flavour and slow cooking rather than heat. Shanghainese cuisine is part of the broader Huaiyang culinary tradition, one of China’s eight great regional cuisines.
Final note
Shanghainese food is an essential part of experiencing the city. Whether you are trying soup dumplings for the first time or sitting down for a full meal, it offers a great introduction to local flavours.
It is simple on the surface, but full of depth once you start exploring beyond the most famous dishes.
For a broader overview of dining in the city, see our food and drinks in Shanghai guide.
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