Shanghai’s Best Kept Secrets

Chicken Soup for the Soul – Bai Jia Qian Wei

Perhaps it was all those free samples of questionable teriyaki, but there’s something about mall eateries that made our stomachs turn – until we tried Bai Jia Qian Wei. The restaurant has us returning to the well-lit hallways of commerce for cuisine from the wildly under-appreciated region of Anhui. Order the Bai Jia Ruyi Ji specialty, a soup covering a free-range chicken so tender that it makes a butter knife work like a samurai sword. Organic rice sops up the golden broth for a bite which is guaranteed to change your world.

5F, 818 Nanjing Xi Lu, near Shimen Yi Lu. Tel: 5696 4800

Little Shop of Noodles – Wei Xiang Zhai

Expat foot traffic down the oddly cobblestoned Yandang Lu tends to pass the rundown Wei Xiang Zhai by, but this tiny sesame noodle shop is worth dropping into. No English is spoken, but miming your order is a cinch. Simply point to the bowl of sesame noodles that every diner in the place is enjoying with abandon. You may have to fight for seats, but it’s the best damn noodle shop in town and you have to fight for your right to slurp. 

14 Yandang Lu, near Huaihai Zhong Lu. Tel: 5383 9032

Cafe with Character – GZ Cafe

While we’re solidly on the southern side of the Shanghai-Beijing rivalry, we admit the capital has a few winners, mainly art, live music and coffee shops. But with its tchotkes, furniture hodgepodge and global selection of beans, GZ Caf®¶ feels like it was plucked right out of Wudaokou. The homey atmosphere is more like your best friend’s living room than a coffee shop. It’s the perfect alternative to Starbucks – if you can find it in the maze of lanehouses.

No. 162, Lane 1025 Nanjing Xi Lu, near Jiangning Lu. Tel: 5213 2139