Shanghai Restaurants 2026: Top 10 Must-Try Eateries
Planning a trip to Shanghai? Dive into our curated list of the top 10 restaurants you simply can't miss in 2026, offering authentic flavors and unforgettable dining experiences.
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Planning a trip to Shanghai? Dive into our curated list of the top 10 restaurants you simply can't miss in 2026, offering authentic flavors and unforgettable dining experiences.
Top 10 Shanghai Restaurants Recommended,
Sharing My Gaode Map for Your Shanghai Trip
Text/Photos ©HiBooboo
The popularity of a trip to Shanghai, China,
seems to be soaring day by day.
Since Google Maps can't be used in China,
finding great restaurants might be a bit tricky.
Today, I'm excited to share a curated list of
10 fantastic Shanghai restaurants that I personally visited.
I'll also be sharing my Gaode Map of Shanghai eateries below,
so you can easily navigate and explore them!
First up is Dim Sum De (点都德), a fantastic dim sum spot in Shanghai!
Dim Sum De is already incredibly popular, even among Korean visitors,
and for good reason!
After my own visit, I immediately understood its widespread appeal.
You can enjoy a wide variety of dim sum dishes at a great value,
and every single dish was absolutely delicious!
If you're visiting with a group, you'll be able to sample an even wider range of dishes,
so it's highly recommended for group travelers!
Next up is Renheguan (人和馆), a Michelin-recognized restaurant famous for its crab roe rice!
Renheguan can get very busy with long waits, so I recommend making a reservation in advance through Dianping (大众点评).
While their signature dish is undoubtedly the crab roe rice,
they also offer a variety of other delicious options like Dongpo Pork, marinated cucumber, and oil noodles, which I really enjoyed.
But truly, the crab roe rice takes the crown.
It's incredibly smooth and boasts a truly luxurious flavor!
What's more, for a Michelin-starred restaurant,
the prices are surprisingly reasonable!
My third Shanghai food recommendation is Dongbeuijinga (东北人家).
Dongbeuijinga specializes in Northeastern Chinese cuisine,
and I highly recommend it because they offer a variety of dishes that appeal to many palates, such as Guo Bao Rou (sweet and sour pork) and Di San Xian (stir-fried potato, eggplant, and pepper).
Dongbeuijinga's Guo Bao Rou was incredibly crispy,
and the sauce was perfectly tangy and sweet – absolutely delicious!
And Di San Xian is a true 'rice thief' (meaning it makes you want to eat a lot of rice), so be sure to order it!
My fourth Shanghai restaurant pick is Bottega Pizza,
which I highly recommend if you're craving some Western food during your Shanghai trip.
Since it's a wood-fired pizza place, the crust was absolutely divine.
I particularly recommend their Margherita pizza, which is a classic for a reason!
Our fifth Shanghai must-try restaurant is Half a Drink.
Half a Drink is a lamb skewer chain with multiple branches.
Not only do they have lamb skewers, but they also serve incredibly delicious various skewers like grilled chives, grilled bread, and corn on a skewer.
What's more, if you order their Mala Tang and spicy cucumber salad, you'll experience a fantastic combination.
Just a heads-up, the waiting time can be intense, so I recommend trying to visit during off-peak hours!
Our sixth must-try restaurant is Huangmenjimifan, which I highly recommend for breakfast.
Huangmenjimifan is a dish similar to *jjimdak* (Korean braised chicken) in Korea, but what's great is that you can add various ingredients to customize it to your taste.
Personally, I recommend adding potatoes, bok choy, and enoki mushrooms.
Our seventh Shanghai must-try restaurant is the incredibly famous Haidilao!
Haidilao is a delightful hotpot restaurant where you can enjoy various events like noodle-pulling shows and birthday celebration shows.
If you mention in your reservation notes that you'd like a birthday celebration, the staff will sing for you later, creating a wonderful memory!
What I loved most about Haidilao is that you can mix and match different hotpot broths.
I was really satisfied because you can enjoy high-quality meat, meatballs, and vegetables to your heart's content!
(It's a bit more affordable than in Korea!)
Our eighth Shanghai must-try restaurant is another Michelin-starred gem, following Renheguan.
While it's famous for Peking Duck, we ordered dishes like Squirrel-Shaped Mandarin Fish, fried rice, oil noodles, and mapo tofu!
Overall, the flavors were clean and paired wonderfully with rice, making for a delicious meal.
Next time I visit, I definitely plan to try their Peking Duck!
Our ninth Shanghai must-try restaurant is Fuxiaoguan.
Fuxiaoguan is a fantastic spot for lamb skewers.
You can enjoy lamb skewers with draft beer here.
While their skewers – like lamb, corn, and potato skewers – are truly delicious, you can also try Mala Tang, garlic crayfish, and even spicy rabbit heads.
The rabbit head is certainly a unique experience, but please note it might not be for everyone!
Our last, tenth amazing food spot is perfect for breakfast!
And it's a Jianbing spot I absolutely have to recommend!
The place I visited was actually a souvenir shop,
but on one side, they were busily making and selling Jianbing.
This Jianbing is incredibly delicious when enjoyed simply for breakfast with a milk tea.
Feel free to add ingredients to your liking and give it a try!
Personally, I found it delicious by adding stir-fried potatoes, sausage, and other toppings!
Renheguan can have long waiting times, so it's recommended to make a reservation in advance through the Dianping app. This can help you reduce your waiting time.
When making a reservation at Haidilao, if you mention in the notes that you'd like a birthday celebration, the staff will sing for you, helping you create wonderful memories. You can also mix various hot pot broths, and the quality of the meat, meatballs, and vegetables is excellent.
Dongbei Renjia specializes in Northeastern Chinese dishes that are well-suited to Korean tastes, such as Guobaorou (sweet and sour pork) and Di San Xian (stir-fried potato, pepper, and eggplant). Guobaorou, in particular, is crispy and delightfully sweet and sour, while Di San Xian is a 'rice thief' (meaning it's so good with rice), so ordering them together is highly recommended.
Huangmenjimifan is a dish similar to Korea's Jjimdak (braised chicken), and you can enjoy it by adding various ingredients to suit your taste. The article recommends adding potatoes, bok choy, and enoki mushrooms.
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