Best Food in Shanghai

My hotel had an awesome Western restaurant and bar called Pinnacle Peak on the fifth floor, where I had a great steak one night, and a terrific tenderloin sandwich for lunch. But other than that, I ate Chinese at almost every meal. Here are some highlights:

Shanghai Grandmother: in the Bund
Special beef stew with carrots and celery
Braised green beans and potatoes
Rice, mineral water
67 Yuan



Nina's Spicy Cuisine: 5th floor of No. 1 Department Store
Sichuan beef, bamboo shoots and peppers
Dried eggplant and peppers
Green beans, peppers and meat
68 Yuan



Bullfrog Storm: near Zendai Art Museum
Duck Soup (one whole duck)
Vegetable rice
86 Yuan



Kathleen's 5: top of Shanghai Art Museum
Smoked salmon wth angel-hair pasta
Grilled asparagus
White wine
Chocolate mudcake
150 Yuan (+ 90 Yuan per glass of wine)


The food was very good, but the real reason to eat at Kathleen's 5 is top floor glass-walled view:



City Restaurant: at my hotel
Braised beef ribs in pepper sauce
Stewed cucumbers and pickled cucumbers
Eight delicacies in chili sauce
2 much Yuan


While this was a terrible meal, the cucumber/pickled cucumber dish--above--was actually awesome. Still, I was the only customer in the place at the time (about 8 PM), and the server never once checked on me. No wonder this restaurant is empty!

City Hotel Shanghai on South Shaanxi Rd is a fine choice of hotel, but stay away from City Restaurant (4th floor) and City Bar (Lobby). Definitely visit Pinnacle Peak, though.

The food in China is a highlight of any trip, and Shanghai is no exception. All the regional styles are represented, and food is a bargain compared to beer in a bar at 40 to 50 Yuan a pop--you can feed three or four people for the price of a couple drinks!