I am going to be by myself in Shanghai for two days, during a weekend. What would be some of the recommendations that you will give to a solo traveler? I can manage some Mandarin, though I don’t speak Shanghainese, and I am quite familiar with Shanghai-nese food as well, and in fact eat a few dishes every week, so please guide me not for the novelty but for the quality.
I don’t mind high end for one person either, so long they don’t mind that I take up a table. Though I don’t know the local ‘rules’. But obviously I can’t eat that much or with a lot of variety just by myself. I don’t mind eating low end either, so long its great in what they do.
I don’t mind eating early either to avoid the crowds, since I will be quite jetlagged having just arrived.
Where would you guide me to get good version of the following?
I think hairy crab season is beginning, so that’d be nice.
I’d love to eat, even multiple times, the river shrimp dish.
Yangmei season is here. The last time I was in Shanghai I was still a kid. Do I just get them from markets?
I eat sweet and sour spare ribs, braised pork belly, scallion oil noodles quite regularly so I don’t necessarily need to eat these while I am there, unless someone knows of versions that would blow my mind.
I love, love, love drunken chicken, and would love to try the best renditions in Shanghai.
Where are good places to buy good huadiao?
I also would love to try a good, contemporary version of smoked fish, since its hard to get that dish, made with proper fish, in the States.
I have never had a version of lion’s head that I really like. Long time ago I had a version at Tasting Court in Hong Kong. They are obviously not Shanghai-nese. Its supposed to be a relatively fancy version but still didn’t find it too special. I also had a rendition from a Shanghai local who knows how to cook, now and then and felt the same. Perhaps someone can enlighten me if I haven’t seen a good rendition yet.
XLB / SJB would be a good choice so long I don’t have to eat 10 of them by myself.
Glutinous rice cake- any recommendations?
What else is worth eating, considering I have limited stomach space in two days, and where should I eat them? Not very interested in cuisines from other provinces, unless, again, its mindblowing. I will be in Suzhou and Hangzhou later so I will save specialties from those area when I get there.
What’s a good place to get food related souvenirs? Especially good dragon well tea? I probably can’t afford not do I need the superb Before Ming leaves, but certainly don’t mind lesser Before Ming or Before Rain.
