Shanghai
Shanghai's food scene is one of the best reasons to visit. From the city's signature soup dumplings to neighbourhood restaurants covering every Chinese regional cuisine — eating well here is easy.
Xiaolongbao (小笼包) are Shanghai's most iconic food. These delicate steamed dumplings filled with pork and hot broth are available everywhere — from street stalls to dedicated restaurants. Din Tai Fung and Nanxiang Mantou Dian are the famous names, but smaller local spots often match them for taste. Eat them carefully: bite a small hole first and let the broth cool slightly.
The French Concession is the best area for restaurants ranging from casual to upscale, with both Chinese and international options. Xintiandi offers polished dining in a restored heritage complex. Jing'an has a strong local restaurant scene. Yuyuan Bazaar (near the Old Town) is tourist-heavy but worth a visit for traditional snacks like shengjianbao and tangyuan.
Shanghai's street food scene rewards wandering. Look for shengjianbao (pan-fried pork dumplings with crispy bottoms), scallion pancakes (congyoubing), stinky tofu for the adventurous, and sesame-coated jian bing for breakfast. Morning wet markets are great for seeing local food culture even if you're not cooking.
Point-and-order works in most local restaurants — many have photos or you can point at what others are eating. Google Translate's camera function translates menus in real time. For a more comfortable experience, search for 'English menu' restaurants in your area via Google Maps or Amap. Most tourist-area restaurants have English menus or English-speaking staff.
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The right neighbourhood puts great food within walking distance every day.