Shanghai Food Menu in Chinese and English: A Culinary Travel Guide
Discover Shanghai’s iconic dishes in Chinese, Pinyin, and English! This guide covers must-try soups, snacks, and staples—perfect for a Shanghai city tour or food tour. Dive into Shanghai cuisine with travel tips to savor the city’s flavors like a local.
Exploring Shanghai’s food scene is a Shanghai city tour essential and one of the top Shanghai must-do things for travelers. From savory soups to street snacks, this guide decodes the city’s iconic dishes in Chinese, Pinyin, and English—perfect for planning a Shanghai food tour or diving into Shanghai Cuisine like a local.
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Popular Shanghai Dishes
1. 小笼包 (Xiǎolóngbāo) – Soup Dumplings
Delicate steamed dumplings filled with hot broth and pork, best enjoyed at NanXiang Steamed Bun Restaurant.
2. 生煎包 (Shēngjiānbāo) – Pan-Fried Pork Buns
Crispy-bottomed buns oozing with juicy pork, a must-try at Yang’s Fry.
3. 红烧肉 (Hóngshāo Ròu) – Braised Pork Belly
Melt-in-your-mouth pork simmered in soy sauce and sugar, a hallmark of Shanghai cuisine.
Shanghai Cuisine Soups
1. 腌笃鲜 (Yāndǔxiān) – Bamboo Shoot & Pork Soup
2. A springtime favorite blending salted pork, fresh bamboo shoots, and tofu knots.松鼠桂鱼 (Sōngshǔ Guīyú) – Sweet & squirrel mandarin fish
Crispy fried fish drenched in tangy sauce, shaped like a squirrel (a playful Shanghai cuisine classic).
Staple Foods
1. 葱油拌面 (Cōngyóu Bànmiàn) – Scallion Oil Noodles
Simple yet addictive noodles tossed in fragrant scallion oil, a staple for Shanghai travel tips seekers.
2. 粢饭团 (Cīfàn Tuán) – Glutinous Rice Roll
Breakfast street food stuffed with pickled veggies, pork floss, and crispy youtiao (fried dough).
Popular Hokkien & Local Snacks
1. 葱油饼 (Cōngyóu Bǐng) – Scallion Pancake
2. Flaky, pan-fried layers stuffed with scallions, often paired with soy milk.汤圆 (Tāngyuán) – Sweet Rice Balls
Chewy glutinous rice balls filled with black sesame or red bean paste, served in ginger syrup.
Why Try These Dishes?
A Shanghai food tour isn’t complete without tasting these classics. Pair your meals with Shanghai travel tips like visiting Yuyuan Bazaar for street snacks or booking a Shanghai city tour that includes culinary stops. From savory to sweet, Shanghai cuisine offers something for every palate.
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What Our Clients Say?
Based on 10,000+ traveler reviews
Daniel Dorothea
Canada
Reviewed on April 29,2025
Shopping on Nanjing Road in Shanghai was just amazing! It's truly the "First Commercial Street of China", where tradition and modernity blend perfectly. You can find awesome souvenirs and experience the trendy vibes in cool stores. The neon lights at night are just spectacular, shining bright like Times Square in New York. The food here is incredible too. I had a feast for my taste buds. Shanghai, I'll definitely be back!
Destination(s):
Shanghai
Date of
Experience:
May 08,2024
Elvis Eva
Canada
Reviewed on June 20,2025
As a solo traveler from Canada, I was nervous about navigating China alone—but this 11-day tour was PERFECT! From hiking the Great Wall at sunrise (Day 3) to gasping at the Terracotta Army (Day 5), every day delivered ‘pinch-me’ moments. The real showstopper? Zhangjiajie’s Avatar Mountains (Day 7)! Our guide made the stone pillars come alive with stories.
Massive thanks for handling all logistics—bullet train tickets, entry passes, car! And the 4-star hotels surprised me.
Destination(s):
Beijing Xian Zhangjiajie Shanghai
Date of
Experience:
June 02,2025
Simon
America
Reviewed on May 29,2025
Our 2-day Zhangjiajie tour was beyond spectacular! As someone who’s visited Beijing and Shanghai for work, this trip revealed China’s wild, magical heart. Day 1 in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park felt like stepping onto Pandora—I’m a huge Avatar fan, and Yuanjiajie’s floating peaks left me breathless. The misty pillars and lush valleys like pure movie magic!
Then came Fenghuang Ancient Town, we eat dinner beside the thundering waterfall. It seems Unreal! The night views of stilt houses glowing over the river were straight from a fairy tale.
For fellow Avatar lovers and adventure seekers: Don’t miss this bucket-list experience! 10/10 would return.
A Well-Traveled Film Buff, May 2025
Destination(s):
Zhangjiajie
Date of
Experience:
May 08,2025
