Shanghai’s traditional cuisine reflects its unique history, culture, and culinary expertise. Here are some representative foods of old Shanghai:
White-Cut Chicken (白斩鸡): Tender and flavorful, made from young chickens cooked until the bones turn slightly red. Served with special sauces for an unforgettable taste.
Fresh Meat Mooncakes (鲜肉月饼): A traditional snack with crispy outer crusts and juicy, tender fillings, loved by locals for its rich flavors.
Gaoqiao Sponge Cake (高桥松饼): Resembling mooncakes, these cakes are golden-yellow, moist, and smooth. Their distinct layers offer a crispy, sweet taste.
Nanxiang Xiaolongbao (南翔小笼包): Delicate and petite, these dumplings are shaped like pagodas, with thin skins and flavorful soup inside, making them a signature snack of Shanghai.
Wine Fermented Rice Balls (酒酿小圆子): Small and translucent, these balls combine the aroma of fermented rice wine with a chewy texture, creating an irresistible treat.
Yangchun Noodles (阳春面): Simple yet delicious, these noodles are seasoned with soy sauce, lard, and spring onions, making them a popular breakfast choice among Shanghai locals.
Stir-Fried Shrimp (油爆虾): Shrimp shells are quickly fried until crispy before being tossed in a flavorful sauce, resulting in tender, succulent shrimp with a bright red color.
Braised Pork Belly (红烧肉): With its enticing color and rich flavor, this dish uses soy sauce to enhance the natural taste of the pork, creating a mouthwatering delicacy.
Stir-Fried Rice Cakes with Shepherd’s Purse and Pork Strips (荠菜肉丝炒年糕): Soft and chewy rice cakes paired with vibrant shepherd’s purse leaves, creating a visually appealing and delicious dish.
Crab Shell Cake (蟹壳黄): With a reddish-brown color and a savory-sweet aroma, these cakes are made from a dough of oil, sesame seeds, and fermented flour, then baked to perfection.
Four Happiness Gluten (四喜烤麸): These savory-sweet gluten cakes are made with eight ingredients, including poultry, meat, and vegetables, creating a fragrant and spicy flavor.
Lion’s Head Meatballs with Crab Roe (蟹粉狮子头): Made from fresh pork and crab roe, these meatballs are tender and flavorful, perfect for both adults and children.
Hairy Crab (大闸蟹): Also known as mitten crabs, these crabs are a seasonal delicacy in Shanghai, with “June yellow” crabs in summer and “red-roe” crabs in autumn being the most popular varieties.