Zhuangshi Longxing Shanghai Review: Crab Noodle Tips

During my trip to Shanghai, I decided to check out some of the local culinary hotspots that are highly popular among international travelers. While I usually love hunting down raw, hyper-local joints, navigating menus and ensuring food hygiene in China's deeply local hole-in-the-wall spots can be quite a challenge if you don't speak the language.

This time, I headed to the famous crab noodle specialist, 'Zhuangshi Longxing' (also known as Zhang's Crab Noodles).

Zhuangshi Longxing Noodle Restaurant

Google Maps Address

441 Zhejiang Rd (M), Huangpu, Shanghai, China 200001

Amap (Gaode Map) Search

庄氏隆兴小龙虾面馆 浙江店

Location & Accessibility

The East Nanjing Road branch of Zhuangshi Longxing is located about a 10-minute walk from the No. 1 Department Store. It is easily reachable on foot from the main East Nanjing Road pedestrian street. If the weather is too hot or humid, hopping in a DiDi taxi is a quick and cheap alternative.

The surrounding area is currently undergoing heavy construction, with entire buildings being demolished and rebuilt, making the sidewalks feel a little narrow and chaotic.

The Interior

I arrived right around lunchtime, but there was still plenty of seating available. Interestingly, I didn't spot many locals; the crowd was predominantly international tourists.

To order, you simply scan the QR code located on your table using WeChat or Alipay and select your dishes.

The Menu

Looking at the menu, their signature dish is the "Golden Crab Meat Noodles." I ordered one portion of that, along with the "Must-Order Southern Pork Chop" for ~$4 (28 RMB).

They also have a great variety of dim sum, so I couldn't resist adding some crab-infused soup dumplings (xiaolongbao) to my order.

My total came out to 251 RMB.

And here is where I fell into a major tourist trap. I didn't realize that when you pay with an international credit card linked to WeChat or Alipay, any transaction over 200 RMB (~$28) incurs an extra 3% transaction fee! If your bill exceeds 200 RMB, ask the staff to split the payment or place two separate orders to avoid this surcharge.

I was blissfully unaware of the fee when I received my receipt. In total, 251 RMB converts to about ~$36.

Spending ~$36 on a casual lunch of noodles, a pork chop, and dim sum felt incredibly steep—this was easily the most expensive single meal of my entire Shanghai trip.

The Ultimate Discount Hack: Dianping

Before you dine anywhere in China, you absolutely must download Dianping (大众点评), the ultimate local app for restaurant reviews and heavy discounts.

Simply search for "庄氏隆兴小龙虾面馆 浙江店" to pull up the East Nanjing Road branch.

While individual items don't have discounts, the set menus on this app offer insane value. You can watch a set originally priced at ~$31 (214 RMB) drop to ~$15 (108 RMB), or a larger feast go from ~$65 (456 RMB) down to ~$28 (199 RMB). I only discovered this after my trip, and I'm still kicking myself for paying full price!

The golden crab noodles arrived, and visually, they looked spectacular. Some online reviews complain of a strong fishy taste, but mine had no unpleasant odor at all. They serve the rich crab sauce and the noodles separately, so you just pour the golden goodness over the noodles and mix it all together.

The noodles themselves come with a light, savory soy-based broth at the bottom.

Anticipation was at an all-time high at this point!

I added the side of aromatic sesame oil they provided, gave it a thorough mix, and took my first bite.

The flavor was clean with zero fishiness, and the crab meat was perfectly prepped with no annoying shell fragments. However, considering the high price tag, the taste wasn't particularly mind-blowing. The texture was thick and comforting, and the crab aroma was decent, but Shanghai has so many incredible culinary experiences to offer at this price point.

It's a dish worth trying once for the novelty, but nothing more. The fried pork chop was also quite mediocre. It's similar to a thin pork cutlet, but it didn't come with any dipping sauce, and the bones made it annoying to eat. Honestly, a standard tonkatsu is ten times better.

On the bright side, the crab xiaolongbao were delicious! Dipped in a bit of vinegar, they burst with rich, savory soup.

If you visit, the best combination is definitely the Crab Noodles paired with the Crab Xiaolongbao. Skip the pork chop entirely—even at ~$4, it's not worth the stomach space.

That wraps up my honest review of Zhuangshi Longxing on East Nanjing Road! If you're traveling in a group, make sure to download the Dianping app to grab those massive discount vouchers. Stick to the classic golden crab noodles, crab rice, and crab dumplings combo, and enjoy your time in Shanghai!