SHANGHAI, Sept 29 — No Michelin stars? No problem, when the food is great.
Here are seven places to check out if you find yourself in Shanghai:
Jia Jia Tang Bao
Address: 90 Huanghe Road, near Beijing Road
Shanghai is the xiao long bao capital of the world and Jia Jia is arguably the most revered institution for this soup dumpling. This place deserves to get a Bib Gourmand at least. Be sure to try the crab meat dumplings — you won’t regret it.
Jian Guo 328
Address: 328 Jiangguo West Road, near Xiangyang South Road
A perennial favourite among locals and expats, this cosy establishment serves hearty Shanghainese fare that is supposedly MSG-free and cooked with filtered water (yes, quite a rarity in the city). Be sure to order the fried fish with scallions as well as the noodles with crab roe. A big surprise that this restaurant did not at least make the Bib Gourmand.
Bites and Bottle-O
Address: 246 Danshui Road, near Fuxing Middle Road
Founded by two self-taught chefs who left the advertising industry after getting jaded with the Mad-Men life, this cosy “bitestronomy” tapas place offers consistently well-executed delights such as the roasted bone marrow and beef ribs, which comes with a decadent side of potato mash. Definitely a Bib Gourmand contender if you can resist ordering their splendid wines.
Fu 1088
Address: 375 Zhenning Road, near Yuyuan Road
If it’s Shanghainese fine dining you’re after, there’s hardly a better place in town other than Fu 1088, set in a charming colonial house complete with antique clocks, vintage furniture and a grand piano. The braised pork belly dish is to die for. A two-star rating would probably not come as much of a surprise.
Franck
Address: Ferguson Lane, 376 Wukang Road, near Tai’an Road
Tucked away in the hipster Ferguson Lane complex along Wukang Road is this classic French restaurant that’s hands-down one of the best of its kind in the city. The dishes may be slightly pricey but they’re well worth every penny. The juicy pork chops dish, for instance, features black Iberian pigs from Spain. Franck also has an impressive wine menu. Should have gotten at least one star.
Elixir Health Pot
Address: No.2 Hengshan Road, near Taojiang Road
Forget going to Hai Di Lao when in Shanghai. The soup base at Elixir is divine, as are the quality ingredients. By the way, the “mala” soup base is not actually mala but a slightly spicy broth filled with herbs.
Union Trading Company
Address: 64 Fenyang Road, near Fuxing Middle Road
A cocktail bar like no other because of its amazing “bar grub”, Union features a menu designed by chef Austin Hu that consists of small bites such as the delectable scotched eggs and fish fingers, as well as mains such as the moreish Philly Cheesesteak. Pair your food with the excellent cocktails by co-founder and top mixologist Yao Lu. Give this bar a Bib Gourmand. — TODAY
