Good places for a feed in Shanghai

[globalexplorer]

I am going to be in Shanghai next week for a few days and was wondering if anyone knew of some good places to grab lunch or dinner? Will be staying on the Bund (with SWMBO) and looking for somewhere nice but not fancy, not interested in having to get dressed up, would be happy with casual dining and not too fussed about the style but would prefer local cuisine (although not too local, last place I ate in China had 'billboard pigeon' on the menu )

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[munitalP]

I am going to be in Shanghai next week for a few days and was wondering if anyone knew of some good places to grab lunch or dinner? Will be staying on the Bund (with SWMBO) and looking for somewhere nice but not fancy, not interested in having to get dressed up, would be happy with casual dining and not too fussed about the style but would prefer local cuisine (although not too local, last place I ate in China had 'billboard pigeon' on the menu )

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

There are a number of very good restaurants in the bottom of the finance tower in Pudong. Start with a cold beer at Bluefrog and have the barman make a suggestion. Bluefrog meals are not too shabby either.

There is also an excellent Chinese/Japanese fusion restaurant at the Regent - taxi ride away, but worth the effort.

Failing that, most restaurants in Shanghai - you can't go too far wrong!

 

[kpc]

I would be interested in the responses as well, and if globalexplorer could feedback the restaurants he/she has tried, that would also be much appreciated as well. I and my +1 are heading to Shanghai on Dec 9th.

 

[globalexplorer]

More than happy to follow up with comments on the places we get to, will actually be a good reason to try as many different restaurants/bars as possible

 

[reductionist]

I can recommend DinTaiFung for some great Shanghai style dumplings. If you live in Sydney you may have been to their restaurant there (I haven't).

There's a low-key version at a place called Super Brand Mall. It's close to the Bund (right near the Apple Store).

There's also one at Xintiandi which is probably a little bit more upper class, but I have been there in sneakers and jeans and didn't feel under dressed.

Most staff at both of these restaurants have decent English too.

 

[globalexplorer]

I can recommend DinTaiFung for some great Shanghai style dumplings. If you live in Sydney you may have been to their restaurant there (I haven't).

There's a low-key version at a place called Super Brand Mall. It's close to the Bund (right near the Apple Store).

There's also one at Xintiandi which is probably a little bit more upper class, but I have been there in sneakers and jeans and didn't feel under dressed.

Most staff at both of these restaurants have decent English too.

Thanks, will add these to the list. The name DinTaiFung looks really familiar, perhaps I have seen it before in China? Haven't been to the one in Sydney though but will certainly try to get to the one in Shanghai. Terrible shame that it is next to the Apple store, probably going to turn into an expensive dinner!

 

[FBS1960]

I am going to be in Shanghai next week for a few days and was wondering if anyone knew of some good places to grab lunch or dinner? Will be staying on the Bund (with SWMBO) and looking for somewhere nice but not fancy, not interested in having to get dressed up, would be happy with casual dining and not too fussed about the style but would prefer local cuisine (although not too local, last place I ate in China had 'billboard pigeon' on the menu )

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

If you want to get away from the tourist area such as the Bund (see expensive) then head over to the French quarter of Shanghai. There is a good restaurant there called Mesa. Address is 748 Julu Road (east of Fumin road) Shanghai. Website is www.Mesa-manifesto.com (I always make sure I get a business card from the restaurants I would go back to. Happy eating

 

[globalexplorer]

If you want to get away from the tourist area such as the Bund (see expensive) then head over to the French quarter of Shanghai. There is a good restaurant there called Mesa. Address is 748 Julu Road (east of Fumin road) Shanghai. Website is www.Mesa-manifesto.com (I always make sure I get a business card from the restaurants I would go back to. Happy eating

Thanks! I actually quite like the French Quarter, stayed there are few trips ago so might be on the cards to head back.

 

[globalexplorer]

I would be interested in the responses as well, and if globalexplorer could feedback the restaurants he/she has tried, that would also be much appreciated as well. I and my +1 are heading to Shanghai on Dec 9th.

Unfortunately, on the first night we ate a bit 'too local' and I didn't eat much for the next couple of days. Having said that, on the last night I took my wife to an amazing restaurant called Lost Heaven. There is one in the French Concession but we went to the one located at 17, Yan An E Road on the Bund. It serves traditional Yunnan Folk Cuisine and the whole of atmosphere of the place was great. The staff dress up in traditional costumes and we had about 5-6 dishes and drinks for less than RMB300 which is pretty cheap. If you go you might want to book as we got there around 6pm and the place was filling up quickly.

For what it is worth, if you are looking for a place to stay I highly recommend the Les Suites Orient hotel on the Bund. It is rated number 1 on Tripadvisor (fully deserved) and next to the Ritz Carlton in Singapore it has the most friendly and helpful staff of any hotel I have stayed in.

 

[reductionist]

Cool, thanks for the update.

Thoughts on Shanghai overall?

 

[globalexplorer]

Good question, I have been there many times but this was actually my first 'non-business' trip and because I was with my wife it was a completely different experience in that we saw things and went places that I wouldn't normally go when there for business. We did the typical touristy things and heaps of walking and whilst it is good to see that side of the city I certainly wouldn't go back there for a holiday. I did appreciate being able to get around easily on public transport compared to the other Chinese cities I usually visit where they do not cater for westerners in the slightest so that was a plus. Didn't have too much of a problem with the crowds and pushy salespeople on Nanjing road because we simply walked down the adjacent streets which were almost empty. From a Chinese cultural perspective I prefer Beijing over Shanghai but my wife wanted to shop and get a taste of China so Shanghai was perfect for that.