6 Must-Try Shanghai Restaurants (2026): From Skewers to Noodles

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Shanghai Must-Try Restaurants: A Recommended List

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When you visit Shanghai, there are so many incredible restaurants you absolutely have to try!

It's almost overwhelming, isn't it?

During my own trip to Shanghai, I indulged in everything from lamb skewers to Hongshao Rou (braised pork belly), Malalongxia (spicy stir-fried crayfish), and crab roe noodles – a truly fulfilling culinary adventure.

1. Lamb Skewer Heaven: Henjiuyiqian

When we talk about Shanghai's best eats, you absolutely cannot miss

Henjiuyiqian, the ultimate lamb skewer spot!

It's genuinely one of the restaurants I'd highly recommend

for anyone visiting Shanghai.

The most famous branch is located in the No.1 Department Store on Nanjing East Road.

If you go during peak dinner hours,

you might face a wait of 200-300 teams, so registering for a queue slot is essential!

However, while the location is great,

there's no real need to go to the No.1 Department Store branch;

the taste is similar at other locations.

If the wait is long, it's much better to take a taxi to another branch with a shorter queue.

You can easily register for a waiting slot on WeChat:

Search for "很久以前羊肉串", then select Shanghai, and choose your desired branch.

If you can't copy the Chinese characters above,

you can search for "헌지우이치엔 중국어" on Naver to find and copy them!

As someone who usually can't eat lamb skewers in Korea

due to the distinctive mutton smell,

I could eat the lamb skewers here endlessly, as long as I wasn't full!

There's barely any mutton smell, and

they are truly delicious...

Beyond lamb skewers, they also offer a variety of grilled dishes like pork belly, beef tripe,

corn, potatoes, and other vegetables.

And for side dishes, there are plenty of delicious options to complement your meal,

such as Naengmyeon (cold noodles), stir-fried eggplant, stir-fried bok choy,

stir-fried chives, and stir-fried cabbage.

They're all fantastic! :)

Even while writing this post,

I'm already craving Henjiuyiqian again...

Henjiuyiqian on Gaode Map

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2. Hongshao Rou at Xiaopingdian

If you're eager to try authentic local Shanghai cuisine,

Xiaopingdian comes highly recommended.

It's one of the renowned spots for Hongshao Rou, a signature Shanghai dish.

A visit on weekends almost guarantees a wait,

so it's crucial to register for a queue slot using Dianping.

You can get in quickly!

Now, Hongshao Rou, unlike Dongpo Rou,

is a delightful Chinese dish braised with soy sauce and sugar,

giving it an incredibly sweet, savory,

and umami-rich flavor that will make your taste buds sing!

The portion size is also quite generous, so if two people go,

one serving is definitely enough to share!

I actually ordered rice,

Shanghai Noodles, and Tomato Beef Steamed Egg alongside it,

and wow, the portions were so generous that

I ended up leaving some behind! 😂

A special tip: if there are two of you,

definitely order just ONE rice!

They serve it up in a massive, overflowing bowl, so

one is more than enough for two to share comfortably.

Xiaopingdian on Gaode Map

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3. Mala Longxia Hongkuijia

Next up is Hongkuijia, a Mala Longxia spot in Shanghai

that's super popular, especially known as a must-visit

among Korean travelers!

It's a fantastic dish of crayfish stir-fried in Mala sauce,

truly one of those must-try culinary experiences

you absolutely have to have during your trip to China!

My travel buddy and I ordered the garlic-flavored Mala Longxia

with extra noodles, and we even added some corn!

The portion was absolutely perfect for two.

Honestly, any more and we might have gotten overwhelmed by the richness!

Now, you might be thinking, "Mala Longxia?

Having to peel each and every crayfish sounds like a lot of work, right?"

But guess what? At Hongkuijia,

the amazing staff actually peel them for you!

So all you have to do is sit back, relax, and enjoy the deliciousness! 😂

A must-do tip:

ALWAYS add extra noodles!

Mixing the noodles into that incredible sauce

is like having an umami-packed aglio e olio –

it's absolutely fantastic and bursting with flavor!

And the corn was perfect for snacking on

throughout the meal too! 😉

If you find yourself wanting a little more,

adding fried rice or another side dish would be a great call.

Hongkuijia on Gaode Map

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4. Jang's Crab Noodle Soup

If you're traveling in Shanghai and

want something other than lamb skewers or Hongshao Rou (braised pork belly),

and are looking for a unique dish,

I'd highly recommend crab roe noodles.

As the name suggests, it's a dish made by extracting crab meat and crab roe

to create a rich sauce that you mix with noodles.

It's surprisingly not fishy at all,

and incredibly savory and delicious!

Especially if you love Ganjang Gejang (soy-marinated raw crab) or Yangnyeom Gejang (spicy marinated raw crab),

or generally enjoy crab dishes,

you'll be absolutely obsessed with this flavor...

I went to Zhangshi Crab Roe Noodles (장씨네 게살 국수),

and because I enjoyed it so much last time,

I made sure to visit again.

Here's a tip: if you buy a discount coupon through Dianping,

you can enjoy it for less than the on-site price.

So definitely check Dianping!

Also, for crab roe noodles,

there's the original mix-it-yourself style

crab roe noodles, and then there's a soup-based version (Tangmyeon).

The soup-based Tangmyeon is a bit milder

and less fishy, so if the original crab roe noodles feel a bit too rich,

this menu is also a great option. :)

But honestly, if you're a fan of crab dishes,

you'll likely enjoy any of them! Haha.

Zhangshi Crab Roe Noodles Gaode Map

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5. Kaoyu Hotspot: Jiangbianshengwei (강변성외)

Already famous among Koreans,

Jiangbianshengwei (강변성외) is a must-visit Kaoyu spot!

It's a Chinese dish where freshwater fish is grilled

and then braised in a flavorful sauce, like mala or garlic.

It's quite similar to Korean braised fish (saengseon jorim),

making it a familiar yet exciting culinary experience.

It's a flavor that most Koreans simply can't resist,

so if you're exploring Shanghai's dining scene

and find yourself craving something reminiscent of Korean food,

Jiangbianshengwei is the perfect place to visit! Haha.

When eaten with rice,

it really feels like you're having Korean braised fish.

At Jiangbianshengwei, you can order a half-and-half sauce option,

so definitely go for that!

I ordered the mala and

garlic flavors, and they were absolutely perfect together.

It's a good portion for two people, or maybe even a little generous.

If there are three of you, ordering half-and-half with some added toppings

would be absolutely perfect.

Jiangbianshengwei Gaode Map

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6. Huxi Laonongtang

As a local favorite in Shanghai,

I highly recommend this noodle restaurant:

Huxi Laonongtang Mianguan!

It has several branches, including Nanjing East Road and Jing'an Temple.

I visited the Jing'an Temple branch.

However, Nanjing East Road is better in terms of location!

Since everything is in Chinese,

it's best to show a picture of the dish you want when ordering. Haha!

Even among locals,

it's known as one of the best value restaurants.

It's famous for noodle dishes like scallion oil noodles and clam stir-fried noodles.

You can try Chinese-style Jajangmyeon (black bean noodles) here,

but since it contains ingredients like pork intestines and liver,

it might not be for everyone.

However, it doesn't have the unique strong Chinese spices,

so if you enjoy offal like in Korean *sundae*,

you'll likely find it delicious.

Huxi Laonongtang on Gaode Maps

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Wrapping Up

So, that wraps up my list of

6 recommended restaurants for your Shanghai trip.

Shanghai is truly a city of culinary delights,

with so many amazing eateries.

It feels like no matter how many times you visit,

there are always new, delicious places to discover! Haha.

If you refer to the 6 spots I've shared,

you're guaranteed a fantastic culinary experience,

so I hope this guide helps you have an amazing

Shanghai trip!