Update | Shanghai’s restaurants and bars offer something to suit all tastes

When visiting the most populous city in China, there are certain dishes you shouldn’t leave without trying

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Xiaolongbao, a famous and traditional Shanghai dim sum

Published: 6:00am, 3 Jun 2016Updated: 3:13pm, 3 Jun 2016

Shanghai is a wining and dining city, with thousands of places to eat and imbibe. Such places range from tiny xiaolongbao (soup dumpling) spots to Bund-side bars with sweeping skyline views. Whether you’re in Shanghai on business or for a short holiday, here’s where to go for
good food and drink.

There are a few dishes you can’t leave Shanghai without trying. One of these is cong you ban mian (scallion oil noodles), and at Taiwanese-owned Shanghainese restaurant Jianguo 328 (+86-21-6471-3819), you can be sure no MSG is used. Jianguo’s cong you ban mian come topped with crunchy fried scallions and dried shrimp. Alone, it makes for a quick lunch.

Shanghai’s other must-try dish is xiaolongbao, and the place to have it is Jia Jia Tang Bao (+86 21 6327 6878). The interior is no frills, but these delicate, thin-skinned soup dumplings deliver more flavour than ambience ever could. They’ll be delivered to your table in a bamboo steamer and tiny plates of shredded ginger. Take a bite to let some of the steam out or risk burning your tongue.

Gua bao are Taiwanese, not Shanghainese, but Baoism (+86 21 6333 5675; www.baoism.com.cn) has hit it big in Shanghai with its colourful, affordable lunch sets. Nearby office workers pour in for the Xinjiang grilled fish bao – eight-spice-blend grilled tilapia, pickled red onion and huajiao (Sichuan pepper) sauce tucked in a pillowy steamed bun.

For something a little healthier, the rotating menu of salads, sides and sandwiches at Sproutworks (multiple locations; www.sproutworks.com.cn) will do the trick.
Try sides like roasted cauliflower with mint and feta, which gets a nice kick from chilli flakes.

A 1920s police station is the setting for tapas bar
The Commune Social (+86 21 6047 7638; www.communesocial.com), where Kim Melvin helms
the dessert bar and her husband Scott mans the kitchen. Don’t miss the salt and pepper squid with ink aioli and,
for dessert, chocolate shortbread with mint jelly and
white chocolate mousse.