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Shanghai DongJun Bird's Nest Shark's Fin Seafood Restaurant

 
This is a true Chinese restaurant. Many say that the Chinese prefer a “bright and noisy” atmosphere for their restaurants, and this one fits the bill perfectly. Fortunately, the cuisine here is excellent, but its kind of hard to navigate, so be wary, and bring a translator if p...
 
This is a true Chinese restaurant. Many say that the Chinese prefer a “bright and noisy” atmosphere for their restaurants, and this one fits the bill perfectly. Fortunately, the cuisine here is excellent, but its kind of hard to navigate, so be wary, and bring a translator if possible.
 
After being seated on the second floor of the restaurant, guests then return to the first floor with their server to choose their dishes from the tanks of seafood and cases of vegetables and meat. With each selection the server will ask how you would like it to be prepared, which is why this restaurant is trickier than just any typical Chinese restaurant for foreigners.  Frankly, I find it difficult to choose how I want my fish to be prepared in English, much less Chinese.  Often they do supply a few sample choices. There were two choices for the preparation of the mussels, so I pointed at one – they were FANTASTIC, steamed with garlic and onion).  The best thing to do, however, is to go in with an idea of how you like your meal prepared and ask for it that way. The kitchen can do just about anything you want.  Otherwise a translator can ask what they recommend and help you choose on the spot. A few of the servers speak a little English, but don’t rely on them for too much.
 
This seafood joint is also a great locale to experiment with interesting and unusual foods.  Just for the experience we tried the water bugs that looked like cockroaches when they were served. Personally, I was not really impressed, but for 15 Yuan for a batch of them, we can at least say we tried something new.  The really adventurous out there should go for a sea slug, frog or even snake (big ones).  Of the more standard fare, we had delicious shrimp (stir fried with garlic and a little spice), white fish (fried with a sweet and sour sauce), eggplant, and string beans.  A meal including beer for five of us cost 500 Yuan in total – a great deal for all the food we had on that table! I really enjoyed this restaurant. For those seeking a true Chinese dining experience, this place is ideal.
 
How to get there: Unfortunately the restaurant is not near a subway, but it’s still an easy taxi ride down HuaiHai Road. It is about 10 minutes past XiangYang market and next door to the Shanghai Sculpture Space.

Punjabi Indian

Shanghai, being a multicultural city, offers an array of cuisines catering to even the most particular palette. Punjabi Indian is arguably the best Indian food in Shanghai. The restaurant offers many secluded rooms with long tables for private parties alongside the main rectangular dining hall.&n...

Shanghai, being a multicultural city, offers an array of cuisines catering to even the most particular palette. Punjabi Indian is arguably the best Indian food in Shanghai. The restaurant offers many secluded rooms with long tables for private parties alongside the main rectangular dining hall.  The exceptional buffet includes unlimited house beer for 79RMB complimented by a stage for Indian musicians and dancers providing traditional entertainment. With an amazingly relaxed atmosphere and hospitable staff, Punjabi Indian is the perfect retreat after a couple of hours heavy shopping at the nearby Xiangyang market.

My Nyonya Gallery Authentic Malaysian Cuisine Restaurant And Café

It's a pretty authentic Malasiyan restaurant , the restarant is not bid ,but the environment is good . All the decoreation and stuff are characteristic  of Malaysia!

The Nyonya Salad,Hainan Chicken Rice,Nasi Goreng (fried rice), Beef rendang,KL Hokkien Noodles are nice dishes....

It's a pretty authentic Malasiyan restaurant , the restarant is not bid ,but the environment is good . All the decoreation and stuff are characteristic  of Malaysia!

The Nyonya Salad,Hainan Chicken Rice,Nasi Goreng (fried rice), Beef rendang,KL Hokkien Noodles are nice dishes.

Take Metro Line 1 to People's Square Station.

Shanghai Slim's

 From the creators of New York Style Steak & Burger, comes their new high end prime steak, lobster and seafood concept, called Shanghai Slims, featuring an oyster champagne bar, martini bar, and open kitchen, located in the new Sinan Mansion’s development. It is now open to the pub...

 From the creators of New York Style Steak & Burger, comes their new high end prime steak, lobster and seafood concept, called Shanghai Slims, featuring an oyster champagne bar, martini bar, and open kitchen, located in the new Sinan Mansion’s development. It is now open to the public.

 

 

Nepali Kitchen

Nepalese food is similar to Indian cuisine, although a few differences make the gastronomical experience very different.  Most notably, the menu here includes more meat options, and the veggies are not cooked as long as they often are in Indian food.  Otherwise the dishes are cooked wit...

Nepalese food is similar to Indian cuisine, although a few differences make the gastronomical experience very different.  Most notably, the menu here includes more meat options, and the veggies are not cooked as long as they often are in Indian food.  Otherwise the dishes are cooked with similar spices and served in a similar style to Indian food. 

 
Nepali Kitchen is located in a renovated lane house, and the restaurant consumes three floors of this charming building.  We ate on the third floor, which was beautifully decorated with Nepalese art and photographs.  The next time I go, however, I will make a reservation for the second floor – where you sit on pillows on the ground and eat in true Nepalese style.
 
Our meal was delicious.  We particularly liked the “cheese balls” for appetizers, which I found quite similar to Spanish tapas, but were very good nonetheless.  For our main courses, the spinach sauté, wild boar, lamb, and vegetable curry were all big hits.  The bread was also great – heavier than Indian Naan, but otherwise very similar. The meal was perfect, filling, but not too heavy.  Nepali Kitchen also boasts an impressive beer selection, (especially for China), plus a nice staff. Nepali Kitchen is definitely worth a visit.
 
 

Take Metro Line 1 to Changshu road station. Exit onto Changshu road and head north.  Take a right on Julu Lu after about 10 minutes.  Nepali Kitchen is just before the intersection with Fumin Lu.

 

Zentral Healthy Eatery

My home away from home and office, Zentral is my absolute favorite place to eat a healthy meal, sip on a great latte, and enjoy free wireless internet for hours with nothing but smiles from the sweet (and bilingual) wait staff.
 
The menu is a fantastic mix of western dishes t...

My home away from home and office, Zentral is my absolute favorite place to eat a healthy meal, sip on a great latte, and enjoy free wireless internet for hours with nothing but smiles from the sweet (and bilingual) wait staff.
 
The menu is a fantastic mix of western dishes that are sure to please any foreign guest. My favorites are the fresh bread with olive tapenade, the veggie burrito, and the Norwegian smoked salmon sandwich.  For lunch and dinner, Zentral also serves pizzas, pastas and wraps.  Instead of fries, each meal comes with Zentral’s home baked tortilla chips and fresh salsa (yummy and addictive – a big basket is offered as a starter).  A big breakfast menu features omelets (including an option of egg whites only), pancakes, and build-your-own breakfast sandwiches.  The smoothies are also great. My current favorite is the Power Boost, a healthy mix of bananas, milk, yogurt, and protein powder.  For lunch and dinner Zentral also boasts a few imported wines and beers as well as the option to add a shot of vodka to your favorite smoothie…
 
Perhaps the most original aspect of Zentral’s menu is that each item is listed with its calorie, fat, protein and carbohydrates content.  In a town (or an entire country) that loves oil on every dish, this health driven restaurant is greatly appreciated by the health conscious and those that need a break from the heavy local Shanghai cuisine.
 
Zentral offers a fresh ambiance with a non-smoking section in the back along with a cozy corner of couches to lounge on.  A small but nice selection of English books fills the shelves in the corner and adds to the feeling that Zentral would love for you to stay all day. Enjoy!
 
How to get there: Take Metro line 1 to Huangpi Nanlu Exit onto Huangpi Nanlu, and then walk south until you hit Fuxing Lu (about four blocks).  Zentral is on the corner and easy to spot.

Other Locations:
R27-28 Pudong Green Sports & Leisure Center, No.633 Biyun Lu, Shanghai (上海市碧云路633号碧云体育休闲中心R27-28)
Tel: +86 (0)21 5030 6047

No.567, Huangpi Nanlu, (by Fu Xing Zhonglu), Shanghai (上海市黄陂南路567号, 近复兴中路)
Tel: +86 (0)21 6374 5815

Simply Thai

Simply Thai offers an authentic touch of classic Thai cuisine. Having lived in Thailand myself, I feel confident in testifying to their authenticity. The Simply Thai location in Xintiandi has a beautiful outside...

Simply Thai offers an authentic touch of classic Thai cuisine. Having lived in Thailand myself, I feel confident in testifying to their authenticity. The Simply Thai location in Xintiandi has a beautiful outside dining area that pours out onto the street. For those who aren’t fond of the cold, worry not, as there is an ample supply of heated lamps. Inside the lighting is soft and though the restaurant is small, you don’t feel exposed or overheard. The wine selection is impressive, particularly the ’wine of the month’ offerings, which are nothing short of spectacular. I recommend the clay pot roast duck and pineapple rice, or the chicken and coconut soup for those with a spicier palette. Many people take their children to Simply Thai, as there are enough options on the menu to keep their softer palettes happy, not to mention the desserts. Be sure to make a reservation on weekend evenings!

Simply Thai locations:

Madang Lu and Xingye Lu (in Xintiandi), Shanghai
TEL: +86 (0)21 6326 2088

5C Dongping Lu (near Hengshan Lu), Shanghai
TEL: +86 (0)21 6445 9551

Mei Entertainment Jie, 28 Lane, 3338 Hong Mei Lu, Shanghai
TEL: +86 (0)21 6465 8955

Yu Garden (Yuyuan)

Yu Garden is located in central Shanghai’s Huangpu District, on a spot within the boundaries of former Old City. It is the only classic Chinese garden in the downtown area and was once a private garden for Ming Dynasty officials. The garden covers roughly two hectares and contains various ramblin...

Yu Garden is located in central Shanghai’s Huangpu District, on a spot within the boundaries of former Old City. It is the only classic Chinese garden in the downtown area and was once a private garden for Ming Dynasty officials. The garden covers roughly two hectares and contains various rambling pathways, hidden pavilions, and classic flora. It is a good place to escape the bustling modern city outside. Take note of the hundreds of plaques and inscriptions written by well-known individuals, as well as the park’s collection of stone carvings. Yuyuan Bazaar, located nearby, is good to browse for antiques and souvenirs.