Shanghai Garden Property Consultants have experience in the Shanghai restaurant scene, and provide orientation and tours of the most popular eateries among expatriates.
Shanghai offers an amazing diversity of food and dining experiences, and is quickly becoming established among the international resuaturant community. With restaurants serving an amazing variety of Chinese cuisines, as well as a wide range of international fare, Shanghai is arguably mainland China's best city for eating.?
As can be expected, the Chinese food in China is incomparably better than you can get outside of the country. Every regional Chinese cuisine is well-represented in Shanghai, and perhaps most popular these days is the spicy fare from Sichuan and Hunan provinces. As for Shanghai's own renowned cuisine, the most celebrated dish is hairy crab, a freshwater delicacy that reaches its prime every fall. Also popular are any number of "drunken" dishes (crab, chicken) marinated in local Shaoxing wine, and braised meat dishes such as Lion's Head Meatballs and braised pork knuckle. Shanghai dim sum and snacks include a variety of dumplings and buns, headlined by the local favorite xiaolong bao (shrimp dumplings), as well as onion pancakes and leek pies.
Expatriates longing for a taste of home will also find that Shanghai is the most foreign-friendly city in China when it comes to food. From the trendiest Continental cuisine to the most recognizable fast-food chains, there is a staggering range of options for expatriates and fashionable Chinese locals. Many Asian and European cuisines are well represented, with Italian, Spanish, French, Japanese, Thai, and Indian cuisines of good enough quality to satisfy any overseas palate.
At the other end of the dining scale, the American fast-food chains of McDonald's and Kentucky Fried Chicken are everywhere. So are Starbucks, Haagen-Dazs, and Pizza Hut. Subway is developing a presence, and Tony Roma's and the Hard Rock Cafe have been longtime Shanghai residents. Even California Pizza Kitchen and Hooters have opened restaurants in the city.
For those on the run or on a budget, Shanghai offers a wide variety of street food. Though some expatriates may be hestitant to make this gastronomical risk, the food, in fact, is often quite delicious and rarely plays tricks on the stomach. On many street corners you can find fried rice or noodles, as well as sausages, chicken legs, barbequed meat, and dumplings.
Details of the best restaurants and eateries are carried in Smart Shanghai (www.smartshanghai.com), That's Shanghai (www.thatssh.com), Asia Expat (www.shanghai.asiaxpat.com) and City Weekend (www.cityweekend.com.cn/shanghai) magazines.