Top Places to Eat in Shanghai

As my time here in Shanghai comes to a close, I present to you, my dear readers, the best eats of the city, a.k.a. the dishes and places you must eat for a comprehensive Shanghai experience.

Best for Street Food: Muslim Market

This category was extremely hard to decide, but I decided it by considering where I would bring someone visiting Shanghai for the best street food experience possible. The winner had to be the Friday Muslim Market near Huxi mosque. Their food is always fresh, delicious, and varied, making it overall the best experience for SH street food. For a comprehensive guide to the Muslim Market part 1, click here. For part 2, click here.

To Find: The address is 1328 Changde Lu, near Aomen Lu, and the market can be found every Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Go to Changshou Lu Station, take a left, and walk about 5 minutes.

Price: Mid-range

Best Convenience Store: Family Mart

I felt obligated to include this on here, seeing as I spent probably one too many days subsisting on sad Family Mart food alone. Sometimes their stuff isn’t too bad though. They are always getting new products, have some pretty good Korean snacks, serve soft serve ice cream, and are open 24/7, what more can you ask for?

To Find: Literally anywhere. You can easily pick out their green and blue striped sign. Almost as if it has been ingrained in you in your dreams…

Price: Cheap AF.

Best Noodles: Fried Noodles at any Chinese Halal restaurant.

In lieu of the old, dirty noodles found at food carts around the city, try these delicious, freshly hand pulled noodles that are fried with huge chunks of onion, egg, bok choy, and a tomatoey sauce.

To find: This dish is ubiquitous at any Chinese halal restaurant. Look for restaurants with green signs that say 兰州拉面 (lanzhou lamian).

Price: 12–14 RMB

Best Café: Sumerian Coffee

For a brilliantly brewed cup of coffee and one of the most entrepreneurial environments in town, come to Sumerian. All of their espresso drinks are great, but I’d also recommend their Yunnan sourced brewed coffee. They come in these really cool heat proof cups that have the look of the quintessential glass latte cup, but without the ouch.

To find: Exit West Nanjing Metro Station at the exit near the Uniqlo, turn left, walk two blocks, then turn right and walk down South Shaanxi Road until you see Sumerian on your left. The address is 415 Shaanxi Bei Lu. Read more about my impressions of Sumerian here.

Price: 30–45 RMB for an espresso drink

Best Scone: Madison

Out of all the mildly disappointing scones I tried in Shanghai, a.k.a. maybe like 4 or 5 different ones, the best by far was the scone at Madison, an American-Chinese fusion restaurant famous for its brunch menu. It came with lemony clotted cream and jam. As a bougey middle aged woman would say, divine… Refer to my Birthday Brunch post here.

To Find: No one knows. They’re currently undergoing renovations/a move and are only open on very select days.

Price: 34 RMB

So if you’re ever in Shanghai, these are the places you must check out!

Originally published on Street Food Explorelog.