Shanghai offers a wide variety of food options that can be found throughout the city. While nearly any dish can be a culinary adventure for tourists, it's wise not to overwhelm your stomach by trying everything at once. Begin with something relatively familiar.
One excellent choice is Chinese Xiao Long Bao dumplings. These dumplings are steamed and typically filled with options like pork, shrimp, crab, or a combination of these ingredients. Xiao Long Bao is a popular and readily available dish in Shanghai, making it a great starting point for exploring local cuisine.
Shanghai offers the Hot Pot experience, also known as a Chinese samovar, which is not just a dish but a culinary ritual. At a Hot Pot restaurant, you'll find a burner and a pot of boiling water placed right on your table. You can then select from a variety of ingredients such as meat, mushrooms, shrimp, tofu, and more. Using chopsticks, you'll dip these ingredients into the boiling water to cook them and then enjoy them with various dipping sauces.
When visiting China, you must try the local noodles, which come in various preparations such as fried, boiled, and served in soups. Noodles in China are enjoyed with a variety of sauces, meats, and vegetables, ensuring there's a noodle dish to suit your taste.
Shanghai is known for its popular crab dishes, which can be prepared whole, in pieces, or formed into patties. There are numerous ways to enjoy crab in Shanghai, but it's essential to ensure the crabs are fresh to avoid any food safety concerns.
It's true that Chinese cuisine differs significantly from European culinary preferences, and items like toast, bacon, bread, cheese, butter, and dairy products are not commonly consumed in Chinese meals.
