Shanghai Cuisine Overview
Shanghai cuisine, also known as Benbang cuisine, is one of the eight major cuisines in China, characterized by rich oil, red sauce, and a balance of salty and sweet flavors. Shanghai cuisine emphasizes the original taste of ingredients, exquisite knife skills, and mastery of heat.
Shanghai's food culture combines the culinary characteristics of the Jiangnan region while also being influenced by Western food culture, forming a unique Shanghai-style food culture. In addition to traditional local dishes, Shanghai also has many special snacks and dim sum, such as xiaolongbao (steamed soup dumplings), shengjianbao (pan-fried pork buns), and paigu niangao (pork ribs with rice cakes).
Classic Local Dishes
Shanghai Braised Pork
Shanghai Braised Pork is a classic representative of local cuisine. It uses three-layer pork belly, cooked with soy sauce, wine, and sugar until it is tender but not mushy, and fatty but not greasy.
Shanghai people have a saying about making braised dishes: "One hand on the soy sauce bottle, one hand on the sugar can." This dish has a reddish-brown color and a savory-sweet taste, perfectly embodying the characteristics of Shanghai cuisine.
Recommended Restaurants: Shanghai Old Restaurant, Renhe Restaurant
Crystal Shrimp
Crystal Shrimp is a classic dish in Shanghai cuisine, once known as the "No. 1 dish in Shanghai". This dish uses fresh river shrimp, peeled and repeatedly rinsed until the shrimp meat is snow-white and transparent, hence the name "Crystal Shrimp".
The shrimp meat is tender and springy, with a light and fresh taste. It is one of the preferred dishes for Shanghai people when entertaining guests.
Recommended Restaurants: Shanghai Old Restaurant, Green Wave Pavilion
Xiaolongbao (Steamed Soup Dumplings)
Shanghai Xiaolongbao is known for its thin skin, tender meat, rich soup, and fresh taste. When you lift it gently, you can see the soup晃动 inside! The proper way to eat it is: "Lift it gently, move it slowly, make a small opening, and suck the soup first."
It is recommended to pair it with a plate of rice vinegar. After gently biting a small hole, dip it in vinegar. It is fresh but not greasy, and one bite will fill you with satisfaction.
Recommended Restaurants: Jia Jia Tang Bao, Lai Lai Xiaolong