11 Best Restaurants in Shanghai, China

A Da Scallion Oil Pancakes

$ | French Concession
The scallion-oil pancakes at this shop are incredibly popular, with long lines forming from the 6 am opening time until closing—around 3 pm, which is when the pancakes usually sell out. Indeed, demand for A Da's delicious take on this traditional Shanghai street food is so fierce that the owner has placed a limit on the number of pieces each customer can order.
Shanghainese Breakfast Quick Bite $
120 Ruijin Er Lu, Shanghai, Shanghai Shi, China
No phone
Known For
  • great craftsmanship
  • long waits
  • efficient service
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: Closed Wed.

Bird and Bitter

$$ | French Concession
A narrow driveway is all that separates this couplet of venues on a leafy lane. Bird, an intimate, relaxed wine bar and kitchen, has a changing menu of unfussy small-plate dishes with fusion twists and a list of wines with interesting stories. Neighboring Bitter, a café and bar with a living-room-like setting, is a great place to grab a coffee or apertif.
International Breakfast Lunch Dinner $$
50 and 58 Wuyuan Lu, Shanghai, Shanghai Shi, China
135-0172–6412
Known For
  • casual, welcoming environment
  • creative menu
  • great coffee

Egg

$ | French Concession
Laptop-equipped freelancers and other trendy locals frequent this petite, friendly, Australian-style café. The menu focuses on breakfast/brunch fare; small plates, often featuring local ingredients; and, of course, delicious hot- or cold-brew coffees.

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Ginger by the Park

$ | French Concession

Ginger is a Southeast Asian eatery with a strong European flavor. The food is excellent, and the intimate indoor space, the patio, and the relatively tranquil park-side setting make it a good place to enjoy quiet conversation over a meal or a cup of coffee.

Café Lunch Dinner Brunch Dessert $
91 Xingguo Lu, Shanghai, Shanghai Shi, 200031, China
021-3406–0599
www.gingerfoods.com
Known For
  • laksa
  • crispy honey-herbed chicken
  • black cod with lemongrass
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted

Jianguo 320

$ | French Concession
Locals and visitors alike are drawn to this restaurant for its relaxed, casual atmosphere; its home-style Shanghainese classics; and its no-MSG policy. It's often packed, so consider calling ahead, especially if you plan to order the signature "duck with eight delicacies" dish, which must be ordered in advance as it's limited to five per day.
Shanghainese Lunch Dinner $
328 Jianguo Xi Lu, Shanghai, Shanghai Shi, China
021-6471–3819
Known For
  • scallion-roasted yellow croaker
  • scallion oil noodles
  • hongshao rou (red-cooked pork)

Julie's

$ | French Concession

A wall of picture windows looks out onto leafy Anfu Lu, so you can watch passersby from this simply furnished dining room. Wash down your pickled mashed potatoes, ru bing (rectangles of panfried goat cheese), or other home-style Yunnan dishes with a Belgian beer or one of the house juices.

Chinese Lunch Dinner Quick Bite $
45 Anfu Lu, Shanghai, Shanghai Shi, 200031, China
021-5403–5266
Known For
  • jasmine scrambled eggs
  • dry-fried potato threads
  • vanilla-scented ribs
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: No credit cards

Liquid Laundry

$$ | French Concession

By day, this modern gastropub appeals to families with its crispy pizzas and other delicious lunch and brunch favorites. At night, house-brewed beer, good cocktails, and Friday and Saturday DJ events attract a trendy party crowd.

Oha Eatery

$$ | French Concession
A meal at sleek, wood-adorned Oha is sure to introduce you to new flavors. Tucked behind a small coffee window, this intimate restaurant is easy to miss but well worth finding for its contemporary Chinese food—influenced heavily by Guizhou's regional cuisine, with some modern twists—craft cocktails, and natural wines.

Old Jesse

$$ | French Concession
The well-established Old Jesse is a must-try. Its unforgettable renditions of classic Shanghai dishes are widely considered the best in town; its brusk service and ramshackle dining room are merely part of its authentic charm.
Shanghainese Lunch Dinner $$
41 Tianping Lu, Shanghai, Shanghai Shi, China
021-6282–9260
Known For
  • scallion-oil noodles
  • whole fish head with scallions
  • hongshao rou (red-cooked pork)

RAC

$ | French Concession
The tiny RAC empire occupies a courtyard at the juncture of Anfu Lu and Wukang Lu. Streetside, it has takeaway coffee and ice cream (summer only) windows; in the courtyard, it has a relaxed French eatery that serves delicious sweet or savory crepes, as well as other casual brunch and lunch fare.

Sober Company

$$ | French Concession
This multilevel space offers several venues in one spot. The café has light, Asian-influenced fare, as well as good coffee and coffee or tea cocktails; the upstairs restaurant with New York–inspired decor touches serves modern dim sum and well-done fusion dishes; and the adjacent Sober Society bar features excellent cocktails as well as the Tipsy Room (a secret bar within the bar).
Asian Fusion Lunch Dinner Coffee Brunch $$
99 Yandang Lu, Shanghai, Shanghai Shi, China
021-5309–8261
Known For
  • uni ban mian (sea urchin noodles)
  • foie gras "Snickers"
  • inventive cocktails