Shanghai A practical shortlist of 20 dishes, snacks and drinks to recognize before ordering in Shanghai.
20 dishes
Recipes, spice, offal and fish-bone handling vary. Fine bones may remain even when a dish is usually low-bone. Show the Chinese phrase and confirm allergies or dietary restrictions before ordering.
20 Category All Main dishes Staples & noodles Snacks Sweets & drinks
Spice All Not spicy Mild Medium Hot Varies
Main ingredients All Pork Beef & lamb Poultry Seafood Egg & dairy
Food concerns All Avoid organ meats Low/no-bone fish
Dietary needs All Usually no pork Vegetarian possible
Staples & noodles · Xiǎolóngbāo Xiaolongbao soup dumplings 小笼包 18–60 ¥ Staples & noodles · Shēngjiān mántou Shengjian pan-fried buns 生煎馒头 12–35 ¥ Staples & noodles · Cōngyóu bànmiàn Scallion oil noodles 葱油拌面 12–28 ¥ Main dishes · Běngāng hóngshāoròu Shanghai red-braised pork 本帮红烧肉 45–120 ¥ Main dishes · Shīzitóu Yangzhou-style lion's head meatball 狮子头 45–110 ¥ Main dishes · Yāndǔxiān Yan du xian soup 腌笃鲜 55–130 ¥ Snacks · Xièkéhuáng Crab-shell yellow pastry 蟹壳黄 4–12 ¥ Staples & noodles · Cīfàntuán Cifantuan sticky rice roll 粢饭团 8–20 ¥ Sweets & drinks · Qīngtuán Qingtuan mugwort rice cake 青团 8–30 ¥ Sweets & drinks · Shànghǎi tāngyuán Shanghai sweet rice balls 上海汤圆 10–28 ¥ Main dishes · Shànghǎi xūnyú Shanghai sweet smoked fish 上海熏鱼 35–90 ¥ May have fine bones Main dishes · Shànghǎi zuìjī Shanghai drunken chicken 上海醉鸡 40–100 ¥ Main dishes · Shànghǎi shàn hú Braised eel Shanghai style 上海鳝糊 55–140 ¥ Few bones Staples & noodles · Shànghǎi lěngmiàn Shanghai cold noodles 上海冷面 15–35 ¥ Staples & noodles · Pàofàn Shanghai paofan rice soup 泡饭 6–20 ¥ Main dishes · Xièfěn dòufu Crab roe tofu 蟹粉豆腐 80–220 ¥ Sweets & drinks · Guìhuā tángǒu Sweet osmanthus lotus root 桂花糖藕 18–45 ¥ Main dishes · Báizhǎnjī Shanghai white-cut chicken 白斩鸡 45–120 ¥ Staples & noodles · Guàntāngbāo Large soup bao 灌汤包 20–55 ¥ Main dishes · Shànghǎi hóngshāo yú Red-braised fish 上海红烧鱼 55–160 ¥ Fish has bones 