China's eight regional cuisines and many more culinary delights can be found all over the city. Xu Junqian discovers where to go.
China's regional cuisine is as diverse and unique as its people. The Expo Garden has provided visitors with a taste of what the country has to offer their palates, but where can people go to sample and enjoy these specialties once the Expo is over? Here are some of the city's best and most authentic places for more varied Chinese dishes than hot-and-spicy tofu or sweet-and-sour pork.
1. Fu 1039
Fu 1039, hidden on an unpretentious villa at the end of a typical Shanghai alley, is a must-try for history lovers that serves up signature Shanghai dishes. The antiques will undoubtedly remind diners of the city's heyday during the early 1900s. The food is sweet, oily and among the best in town, and offers a more delicate presentation and flavor. Smoked fish and braised pork with soy sauce are highly recommended.
Address: 1039 Yuyuan Road
Tel: 021-5237-1878
Opening hours: 11 am-2 pm, 5 pm-11 pm
Transportation: Metro Line 2
2. Jade Mansion
Jade Mansion is a frequent choice for state banquets and is in a private club that is chicly decorated. The restaurant, a sister restaurant to the Jade Garden, creates a high-end atmosphere and pampers guests with some unique delicacies, including bird's nest soup. It features Huaiyang cuisine, which has a similar taste to Shanghai cuisine but boasts subtler flavors, quality ingredients and beautiful presentation. There is even a cigar bar at the entrance. But prepare for a hefty bill, as these luxurious treats do not come cheaply.
Address: 4F, Shanghai IFC, 8 Century Avenue
Tel: 021-5012-7728
Opening hours: 10 am-10 pm
Transportation: Metro Line 2
3. Cha's
This newly opened Cantonese restaurant, or rather caf, stands out in the city as an exact replica of the small, rowdy teahouses found in Hong Kong. The cramped space, ceramic tiled floor and the wait staff's whitewashed uniforms are all throwbacks of Hong Kong fashion in the 1950s. And the food is as authentic as the decoration. The best bets are silky milk tea, curry beef and roasted duck, which attract locals and Hong Kong people looking for a taste of home.
Address: 30-4 Sinan Road
Tel: 021-6093-2062
Opening hours: 11 am-1:30 am
Transportation: Buses 911, 167
4. Spicy-Joint
It may not serve the best Sichuan food, as the city has become a second home for Sichuan's hot and spicy dishes, but the value for money here is unmatched, and may explain the lengthy queues. Begin the meal with the Bobo chicken, one of the few dishes that beginners can handle and then, if your mouth can handle it, try fish with chilies, shrimp with peppers and frogs, again, with chilies. Despite their similarly red, oily look, these dishes offer different tastes. End your meal with a sweet plate of rice with pumpkin to relieve your tingling taste buds.
Address: 4F, Yalong International Plaza, 500 Jinling Road E
Tel: 021-6470-2777
Opening hours: 11 am-10 pm
Transportation: Metro Line 8
5. Hunan Village Tasty
This tasty restaurant is sure to add some pizzazz to the taste palate. Its rural decorations are highlighted by warm wood-paneling and red lanterns. The restaurant leaves a simple first impression, just like its food. But one bite of the tasty trotter, which has a crispy skin and fatty inside, and you are sure to eat without stopping until it's all gone. Its famous fish head cooked in sour beans may take your spice threshold to new heights, so make sure to have plenty of water at hand.
Address: 168 Wulumuqi Road M
Tel: 021-6437-0952
Opening hours: 11 am- midnight
Transportation: Metro Lines 1, 7
6. Yershari
As you approach this restaurant, your senses will be hooked by the delectable smells from its street-side barbecue stall. As you walk closer, you will see large crowds of people either waiting for tables or just passing by to collect some lamb satays. This popular restaurant, said to serve up the most authentic Xinjiang food in the city, is always full of meat lovers looking for a big feast at affordable rates. But its generous portions of mutton and chicken will more than satisfy patrons' appetites. The traditional Uygur dance performances that occur every 30 minutes from 6 pm make the dining experience that much more authentic.
Address: 106 Nandan Road E
Tel: 021-6468-6079
Opening hours: 11 am-10 pm
Transportation: Metro Lines 1, 4
7. Dongbei Ren
Northeast China is famous for its kang, or a heated brick bed used for sleeping and seating, errenzhuan, or cross talk with folk music, and also its overwhelming hospitality. Dongbei Ren, a Shanghai staple, features all these and more. Waiters in rustic red and green suits sing, clap and prance over to your seat. Just like the singing and dancing waiters, the food will not disappoint. The handmade dumplings that come with a variety of fillings are well worth a try. The skins are thin but chewy, while the fillings, especially those made of pork, are juicy. Stewed chicken with mushrooms and stir-fried lamb are also great specialties that cannot be found anywhere else.
Address: 2F, Ruitai Hotel, 555 Shuicheng Road
Tel: 021-6233-0990
Opening hours: 11 am-3 pm, 5 pm-11 pm
Transportation: Metro Line 2
8. Dolar Shop
Hot pot has become such a widely loved style that every region in China seems to have created its own version. This chain of hot pot restaurants has created a more chic atmosphere than the regular steamy, crowded ones. You can choose from 10 different kinds of soup broths in your pot, including tomato, curry and chicken soup. The fish balls and shrimp balls are among the restaurant's specialties.
Address: 8F, Cloud Nine Shopping Mall, 1018 Changning Road
Tel: 021-6211-6277
Opening hours: 11 am-10 pm
Transportation: Metro Lines 2, 3, 4
(China Daily 10/22/2010)
