What to eat in Hangzhou (Hangzhou Popular Dishes and Specialties)

Typical dish of Hangzhou cuisine are many traditional homely dishes and reminiscent flavors like West Lake Fish in Vinegar Gravy, Braised Dongpo Pork, Beggar"s Chicken, Longjing Shrimp and Hangzhou Soy-sauce Duck. These traditional and reminiscent dishes are regarded by Hangzhou locals as "Cuisine of Mom".

West Lake Fish in Vinegar Gravy

The lake, the canals and the nearby ocean guarantee fish, shrimp and other seafood as staples in the cuisine. Perhaps the most famous fish dish of Hangzhou cooking is West Lake Fish in Vinegar Gravy. In this dish, a fresh alive grass carp is firstly kept hungry in clear water for one to two days to rinse well, and then it is cut in half from head to tail but not separated, delicately poached and then served eyes-up and topped with a sharp sweet and sour, vinegar-based sauce. This dish integrates delicious tastes, with tender fish meat like crabmeat.

Hangzhou Soy-sauce Duck

Hangzhou soy-sauce duck is a type of marinated duck. It is the typical flavor and adopted the traditional methods of the folk. The ducks are chosen from those stout and strong and good ones, and then are pickled and topped with soy-sauce. Well processed ducks usually in the bordeaux color are fragrant. They taste a bit salt and tiny sweet.

Beggar"s Chicken

The beggar"s chicken is a traditional Chinese, especially Hangzhou, as popular with tourists as with far eastern gourmets. Main materials of this dish call for a chicken, leaves and pond mud. When the chicken is packed with delicate fillings, it is the lotus leaf and mud wrapping that makes this chicken so tasty, tender and intriguing.
Beggar"s Chicken has interesting stories just like other typical dishes of Hangzhou. The legend about the beggar"s chicken is a Hangzhou thief invented it. As he had no stove, he wrapped the stolen bird in clay and baked in a hole in the ground. Then the taste of this chicken is so charming that the cooking methods went round widely from then on.

Braised Pork Belly or Dongpo Pork

Dongpo Pork is a specialty of Hangzhou with very crispy outside. The name "Dong po" comes from the medieval Chinese poet, who was named Su Dongpo. Dongpo Rou (Chinese pronunciation) refers to braised pork belly.
It is usually served as a 2 inch cube of pork in individual clay lidded pot. Being braised with soy and sugar and spices, it is very soft and juicy, and also very tasty. One of the special flavorings in Braised Dongpo Pork is Shaoxing Wine – a kind of yellow rice wine. It also needs take at least 4 hours to get the best results when making Dongpo Pork. It is done when the fat, skin, and meat are easily pierced with blunt chopsticks. At this time Dongpo Pork is red and bright in color, oily but not greasy, crisp but not smashed, plus mellow juice. It is usually served with plain rice or steamed buns and accompany with some greens or vegetables.

Longjing Xia Ren or Dragon Well Tea Shrimp

Longjing Xiaren is fried shrimp in Longjing tea. People in Hangzhou cooked the fresh shrimp with characteristics: fresh and special taste and faint scent. The shrimps after rinsed should be marinated in a tablespoon of Shaoxing wine (a kind or yellow rice wine usually used in cooking). By the same time the Longjing tea leaves should be brewed in boiling / hot water and then they will expand to huge leaves, and you need to keep the tea to use in stir-frying. It is famous for infused with the aromatic and high priced Longjing tea and this dish pleases people"s palate with lingering fragrance of the tea and the crunchy texture of the shrimp.

The heaven of cuisine : HangZhou

Hangzhou is the capital and largest city of Zhejiang Province in Eastern China, governed as a sub-provincial city. . It has been one of the most renowned and prosperous cities of China for much of the last 1,000 years, due in part to its beautiful natural scenery. With over 8000-year cultural history, Hangzhou is one of the seven capitals in Chinese history. As the most popular saying goes, "There is a heaven above and there is Suzhou and Hangzhou below." praising the virtues of Hangzhou. The Italian traveller Marco Polo in his book refers to the city as "beyond dispute the finest and the noblest in the world."
As the Golden Card of Hangzhou, Hangzhou Cuisine is the integrated art from the essence of cooking in the south and north of China. Visiting West Lake, Drinking Longjing Tea and Tasting Hangzhou Cuisine are the first choice of national and overseas tourists in Hangzhou.

Top10 Famous Restaurants in Shanghai

1. 1221

It was called 1221 for the reason that the restaurant is situated on the No. 1221 of bustling Yan'an Road. The interior of the restaurant is cozy and in good taste. Here it is available the authentic Chinese Cuisine. Most of the customers are foreigners, maybe because it was often reported by foreign magazines. Besides the dinning here, you can also so some characteristic gifts.

Cuisine: Shanghai
Hours: 11:00-14:00; 17:00-23:00
Location: Hongqiao Development Zone
Address: No.1221, West Yan’an Rd. Between Panyu Rd. and Dingxi Rd., Changning District
Phone: 021-62136585
Reservations: Recommended
Credit Cards:Visa, Master, Dinners Club, AMEX

2.1931 Bar and Restaurant

 

 

1931 Bar and Restaurant attracts customers for its romantic colonial Shanghai setting at before. However, it was renovated recently, with a more traditional Western look combining the decoration style of 1930s Shanghai. What’s more, it is a good site for a Shanghai lunch, a light dinner, or late-night drinks. The strongly recommended dishes here are lamb or duck scallion pancakes, Shanghai fried noodles, and Yu Yuan Garden fried dumplings.

 

Cuisine: Shanghai
Hours: 11:30-01:00
Location: French Concession
Address: No.112, South Maoming Nan Rd., South of Middle Huaihai Rd., Luwan District
Phone: 021-64725264
Transportation: Metro: South Shanxi Rd.
Credit Cards: Visa, Master, Dinners Club, AMEX

3.Club Jin Mao

 

 

Club Jin Mao was originally opened as a private membership club in 1999 catering exclusively to its invited members and the Hotel’s in-house guests only with authentic and exquisite Shanghainese cuisine. The elegant Chinese art deco decor, private club atmosphere, breathtaking views of the entire city, and personalize service gain public recognition locally and internationally, and was highly recommend by US restaurant critic Nina Simonds on The New York Times on December 3rd 2000. Due this to popular demand, Club Jin Mao is now opened to the public. 

 

Cuisine: Shanghai
Location: the Bund
Address: 86/F, Jinmao Tower, 88 Shiji Dadao, West Yincheng Rd., Pudong District
Phone: 021-50491234
Reservations: Recommended
Credit Cards: Visa, AMEX, Master, JCB

4.The Grape (Putao Yuan Jiujia)

 

 

Grape, situated in part of a fine domed former Russian Church, is one of the first groups of restaurants to attract foreigners in Shanghai. The highlight here is the food. Perennial favorite include the phoenix tail shrimps with garlic, steamed clams with eggs, spicy chicken, and braised fresh bamboo shoots.

Chinese Name:Pu Tao Yuan

Cuisine: Shanghai
Hours: 11:00-24:00
Address: No. 55, Xinle Rd., 2 blocks west of South Shanxi Rd., between Huaihai and Yan’an Rd., Xuhui District
Phone: 021-54040486
Reservations: Not Necessary
Transportation: Metro: South Shanxi Rd.
Credit Cards: Not Accepted

5.Pizza Hut

 

 

Good dining environment and palatable pizza with tasty side dishes. It is always crowded during dining time, you need to wait in line. The recommended food include pizza, roast chicken wing, clam soup and cakes.

Pizza Hut-Pudong Branch Address: 5/F, No. 168, West Lujiazui Rd., Pudong District
Phone: 021-50471080

Pizza Hut-Zhangyang Branch
Address: No. 501, Zhangyang Rd.
Phone: 021-58302850

Pizza Hut-Baiyun Branch
Address: 1-2F, No. 555, Bi Yun Rd.
Phone: 021-58546725

Pizza Hut-Daguangming Branch
Address: No.190, West Nanjing Rd., Huangpu District
Phone: 021-63591566

6.Cu Cai Guan

 

 

This restaurant serves some of the best home-style Cantonese cuisine. The high quality of the menu at Cu Cai Guan provides a sampling of everything from snails and sea cucumber to crab, chicken, dim sum and noodles. The menu favorite include wasabi stir-fried beef, crispy-skinned pork dipped in a spicy sauce, stir-fried shrimp, and scallion pancakes.

Chinese Name: Cu Cau Guan

Cuisine: Cantonese
Hours: 09:00-24:00
Address: No. 1697, Xinzha Rd. North of West Beijing Rd., at intersection with Changde Rd., Jing’an District
Phone: 021-62553633
Reservations: Recommended
Transportation: Metro: Jing’an Temple

 

7.Gu Yi

 

 

This restaurant offers Hunan flavor in a more elegant if less interesting surroundings than Di Shui Dong. The delightful Gu Yi caters to well-heeled crowd that tries to hold off breaking a sweat for as long as possible. Menu favorite here include shredded pig's ear in chili oil, roasted shrimps on skewers, smoked pork and preserved beans, and lamb with cumin spice. The table service is stylish and impeccable. 

 

Cuisine: Hunan
Hours: 11:30-14:00, 17:30-22:30
Address: No. 87, Fumin Rd., North of Julu Rd., Jing'an District
Phone: 021-62495628
Reservations: Highly Recommended
Transportation: Metro: Changshu Rd.
Credit Cards: Not accepted

 

8.Hot Pot King (Lai Fu Lou)

 

Hot Pot King, the one and only distinct hot pot shop in Shanghai.
Hot Pot King, our anchoring harbor for relaxing and amusement.
Hot Pot King, our platform for enjoy this happy get-together.

 

Cuisine: Hot Pot
Hours:11:00-04:00
Address: 2/F, (at intersection of Fuxing Xi Rd.), No.1416, Middle Huaihai Rd., Xuhui District
Phone: 021-64736380
Reservations: Recommended
Transportation: Metro: Changshu Rd.
Credit Cards: AMEX, Dinners Club, Master, Visa

9.Kuo Bee Pen Da (Guo Bi Pen Da)

 

 

The highlights of this restaurant are its spicy soup bases and fresh homemade dumplings. Kuo Bee Pen Da offers special flavor which are based on the combination of diversified spicy soup bases from China, Hong Kong, Thailand and other country. Another interesting thing here is in crating your own dipping sauces for there is a wide range of ingredients to choose from, such as mashed fresh garlic, spicy sesame oil, peanut sauce, and chili oil etc.. The reservation is highly recommeded.

Chinese Name:Guo Bi Peng Da

Cuisine: Hot Pot
Hours: 11:00-04:00
Address: Huashan Rd. 301-1, Across from the Hilton Hotel, Jing'an District
Phone: 021-62498877
Transportation: Metro: Jing'an Temple
Credit Cards: AMEX, Dinners Club, Master, Visa

10.Bi Feng Tang

 

 

This restaurant is back on the bustling Changle Road where small restaurants are row upon row of the both sides of the road. If we compare the dishes of hotel banquet to a royal beauty, so the Bi Feng Tang would be a rustic beauty. The small lobby is decorated bright and fashion, purely Hong Kong style. The highlight here is the food, like delicate and delicious flavor snack and bittern taste.

Bi Feng Tang - Jinjiang Branch

Cuisine: Cantonese & Dim Sum
Address: No.175 Changle Rd., Luwan District
Phone: 021-64670628
Credit Cards: Not accepted
Bi Feng Tang-Dapu Branch
Address: No.1, Dapu Rd., Luwan District
Phone: 021-53961328

Bi Feng Tang-Hongkou Branch
Address: No. 358, Haining Rd., Hongkou District
Phone: 021-63935568

 

How to eat like a local in Shanghai

Shanghai's best bars and clubs

Shanghai has so many nightlife options to choose from it can be hard to know where to start. We recommend ten of the best bars and clubs in the city for drinks with a view of the famous Pudong skyline, clubbing on The Bund, enjoying a quiet cocktail in the Former French Concession or heading underground for electronic music.

For a view

On the 58th floor of the new Ritz-Carlton Pudong, the terrace from Flair has one of the best views in town, practically looking into the Pearl Tower. Given the location, it's on the pricier side, most drinks will set you back 90RMB plus 15 per cent service charge, from signature cocktails such as the Crystal Blue Shanghai to a ginger mojito or a Hoegaarden, but it has a great spacious outdoor terrace, which is perfect for relaxing in Shanghai's warmer months.

For a view without making such a dent in your wallet, try Time Out favourite Captain's Bar over on The Bund. Inside the slightly basic Captain's Hostel, the nautical-themed bar has a similarly impressive view of the Pudong skyline, but none of the glamour and drinks usually all come in under 50RMB.

Where is it? Inside one of the towers of the IFC Mall at Lujiazui, Pudong 8 Century Avenue, near Lujiazui Huan Lu 浦东世纪大道8号58楼，近陆家嘴环路
Captain's Hostel is half a block behind the Bund. 37 Fuzhou Lu, near Sichuan Zhong Lu  浦东区福州路37号5楼，近四川中路

For quality cocktails

 

The first real venue to bring the prohibition-era cocktail bar trend to Shanghai, Senator Saloon houses a beautiful dark wood interior under an eye-catching tin roof (brought in especially from Texas) creating a sleepy, late-night hideaway atmosphere. 

 

For drinks barman David Schroeder has created a menu of Prohibition Era mixes of standouts like the robust, complex and brilliant Martinez (72RMB), a kind of happy truce between a negroni and a Manhattan, and a lighter basil gimlet (68RMB) with a satisfyingly herby burst. There's also a strong range of unique bourbons and barrel aged gins and some good bar snacks, such as the unmissable pulled pork sliders.

 

Open 5pm-late daily

Call 5423 1330

Metro Changshu Lu

Address 98 Wuyuan Lu, near Wulumuqi Zhong Lu, Xuhui district

Show the cabbie 徐汇区五原路98号, 近乌鲁木齐中路  

 

For Entertainment

 

Every night at 7.30pm, the Jazz Bar at the Peace Hotel plays host to Shanghai’s oldest jazz band – their average age is 77, and some members first played together in 1947. In this faithfully-recreated bar at the iconic Peace Hotel, watching these old boys go (slowly) through jazz standards is a classic experience. Be sure to book ahead for a table. Beers from 45RMB, cocktails from 70RMB (plus 15 per cent service charge).

 

Open Midday-2am daily

Call 6321 6888

Metro Nanjing Dong Lu

Address First Floor, Fairmont Peace Hotel, 20 Nanjing Dong Lu, near Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu, Huangpu district

Show the cabbie 黄浦区南京东路20号, 近中山东一路





For a secret Japanese vibe

Mokkos, hidden down a quiet alley on a quiet street, is a hidden gem where the friendly barmen will only serve you shochu and plum wine (or beers if you ask nicely). The music is quirky reggae, and the barmen and patrons regularly pull out instruments and burst into song. Plum wine and shochu from 35RMB.

Open 7pm-2am daily

Call 6212 1114

Metro Jiangsu Lu

Address 103, Lane 1245 Wuding Xi Lu, near Wanhangdu Lu, Changning district

Show the cabbie 长宁区武定西路1245号103室, 近万航渡路 

 

For the best of Shanghai's bartending talent

 

A landmark new opening and a major stride forward in Shanghai’s surging drinks scene, Yuan is an experimental cocktail bar at the forefront of a new chapter in the city’s drinking culture. Behind the bar is an all-Chinese line-up of bartending talent, including local legend Ted He and fast-rising up-and-comer Jerry Chen, the winner of the inaugural Time Out Shanghai-Cointreau Cocktail Shakedown competition in 2012. 

Yuan is also one of the first bars in town to successfully riff classics with Chinese ingredients to render cocktails that are actually drinkable making it top the list of one of the most inventive, Sino-centric cocktail menus in town such as the Shaoxing Cavelry made from Chivas 12 Scotch and wolfberry-infused Shaoxing rice wine (drinks are from around 68RMB).

Open 12pm-3am daily

Call 6433 0538

Metro Shaanxi Nan Lu

Address 17-2 Xiangyang Bei Lu, near Changle Lu, Jingan district

Show the cabbie 静安区襄阳北路17-2号, 近长乐路. 



For old world elegance

 

The Long Bar at the Waldorf Astoria was the longest in the Far East in the days that this building hosted the exclusive Shanghai Club (from 1911 until 1949). Having been recreated in all its wood-panelled Art Deco glory, it is now one of the most elegant hotels in the city, playing classic jazz and serving exquisite classic cocktails, oysters and classy bar snacks. Cocktails from 88RMB (plus 15 per cent service charge).

Open Mon-Fri 4pm-1am, Sat-Sun 2pm-1am

Call 6322 9988

Metro Nanjing Dong Lu

Address First Floor, Waldorf Astoria, 88 Sichuan Zhong Lu, near Guangdong Lu, Huangpu district

Show the cabbie 黄浦区四川中路88号, 近广东路



For a classic Shanghai clubbing experience

 

Since the closure of Fumin Lu staple No. 88, Phebe 3D Club (aren't all clubs in 3D?) is our favourite choice for the classic Chinese clubbing experience, and makes for an entertaining evening. The main room is filled with tables of people rattling dice and being served drinks with sparklers in, ensuring that there is no real dancefloor. Gaudy faux baroque furniture abounds underneath bombastic chandeliers while a pounding chart R&B and hip pop soundtrack booms out over the masses. It’s such a ridiculously over-the-top and thoroughly bizarre place that by the time you come across a giant ten foot tall model of a knight on a horse in one corner, you’re no longer all that surprised.

Cocktails start from 55RMB but beware that if you sit at a table, it will have a minimum spend limit. There are also wristband patrolled 100RMB all-you-can-drink deals at weekends, but these are served at a bar in the lobby, away from the money-spending crowds. 

Open 8pm-6am daily

Call137 9536 8335

Metro Hengshan Lu

Address First Floor, 10 Hengshan Lu, near Gaoan Lu, Xuhui district

Show the cabbie 徐汇区衡山路10号, 近高安路



 

For seeing Shanghai's 'jet-set'

 

Bar Rouge is almost indecently successful, and always packed with a crowd of party posers, from slick European chino-and-loafer types to the local Chinese jet-set. Even if you don’t love the music or the vibe, it makes for great people-watching – and both have great views, with Bar Rouge’s terrace offering the quintessential Bund view. Cocktails at both start at 80RMB.

Open 6pm-late daily

Call 6339 1199

Metro Nanjing Dong Lu

Address Seventh Floor, 18 Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu, near Nanjing Dong Lu, Huangpu district

Show the cabbie 黄浦区中山东一路18号7楼, 近南京东路 



 

For underground electronic music

 

The Shelter, set in a disused bomb shelter, may be sweaty and claustrophobic, but it’s undoubtedly the centre of Shanghai’s underground music scene. Whether it’s dubstep, hip hop or electro you’re after, come here on a weekend and you’ll find the best there is in the city. Beers from 20RMB, cocktails from 30RMB.

Open 10pm-late Wed-Sat

Call 6437 0400

Metro Shanghai Library

Address 5 Yongfu Lu, near Fuxing Xi Lu, Xuhui district

Show the cabbie 徐汇区永福路5 号,近复兴西路 



For a bar crawl

 

Yongkang Lu has become the bar street of choice for Shanghai’s expat community in the past year, with a string of drinking establishments opened along what was once a quiet residential road. The influx has been so great in fact that some residents have taken to throwing buckets of water over drinkers who get too rowdy and most bars now close at 10pm. Nevertheless, it can be a fun place to hang out, especially in summer. 

Le Cafe des Stagiaires (No 54) was one of the first bars in and remains one of the best; try their on-tap La Chouffe beer (40RMB). For cocktails, head to either Revolucion Cocktail (No 58) for Cuban twists on the classics such as a Strawberry Mule (48RMB), or to the tiny Ginseng (No 39) for a Martinez (80RMB). If you work up an apetite after all that boozing, check out The Sailor’s (No 35) for some cheap and tasty fish ’n’ chips (from 30RMB).

 

Open 11am-10pm daily

Metro Jiashan Lu

Address Yongkang Lu, near Xiangyang Nan Lu, Xuhui district

Show the cabbie 徐汇区永康路, 近襄阳南路