Shanghai Food Travel Guide

The biggest and most incredible city in China – Shanghai. This vibrant and fast-paced destination is bursting with attractions such as The Bund, Yu Garden, and Jade Buddha Temple. But the most highly anticipated activity by every tourists is treating their taste buds with authentic Shanghai snack foods and street eats.

Crayfish. Xiao long xia in Chinese which literally means little lobsters. Shanghai locals love eating crayfish particularly during summer where it’s abundant. These mouthwatering crustaceans are farmed in Shanghai’s neighboring provinces. Crayfish are commonly seen in buckets outside restaurants that are truly appetizing to the eyes.

Salt-and-Pepper Water Snake. Not all people are fond of eating exotic foods, especially if it involves a hair raising reptile like snakes. But if you’re up for a challenge, try eating in restaurants specializing water snakes. The water snake are kept alive on display to attract diners. The water snakes were skinned, coated in a thin batter, and deep fried. Then it will be stir-fried with chilies, shallots, salt, and pepper.

Deep Fired Dumplings. It’s uncommon for us to see dumplings being deep fried, but it’s surely worth a try. Wonton dumplings are a staple snack in this region which are traditionally made from wheat dough and a choice of pork and prawn filling. Dumplings are then deep fried until crispy perfection is achieved. It’s best served with a vinegar dip.

Xiao Long Bao (Soup Dumplings). This authentic Chinese dish is well known all over the world. Traditionally, it is made with minced pork, crab filling, and a thin wheat-based skin. It is steamed at perfect temperature enough to melt the gelatin inside the dumpling which transforms into a soup. Xiao long bao was first made in a dim sum shop centuries ago. It takes a skilled cook to create that thin and pinched wrapping while keeping the meat intact inside.

Bull Frog Noodle soup. Chinese delicacies are known to include exotic animals in their platter. Which is why it’s not surprising that a bull frog, an amphibian feared by many, is a common ingredient in their soup. This eye catching title food item in the menu is very popular in Shanghai. Many locals and foreign travelers sand in long line just to taste this savory dish. It’s made from bull frog, wheat noodles, and green pepper. Bull frog meat tastes just like chicken and it’s meant as an appetizer as well as relieving any imbalances in your stomach.

Crab Shell Pastry (XieKe Huang). This dish is highly popular in Shanghai since the 1920s when the working class would buy this pastry and eat it on their way to and from work. There are two different versions of this pastry – sweet and savory. Sweeter version uses sugar, red bean paste, and rose for filling. On the other hand, savory consists of crab, prawn, and minced pork.

Lamb Kebabs. This distinctly savory dish are made from the finest cuts of fatty lamb and smothered with a spicy mixture of chili powder, cumin, salt, and pepper. The recipe originated from Xinjiang province located in the far west China. The Uighur people living in Shanghai brought their love of lamb. Later on, lamb kebab became a popular snack for Shanghai people.

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