"You won't find any MSG at this Taiwanese-owned restaurant: The cooks even prepare theirhome-style dishes with filtered water. Factor in Jian Guao's no-smoking policy (not a given in China) and cheap prices, and you've got the perfect place to dip into Shanghainese favorites. If you eat meat, don't skip mainstay hong shao rou (red braised pork). Here, the usual chunks of fatty pork are covered in soy sauce sweetened with star anise and Shaoxing rice wine, then studded with tofu skins and quail eggs. And cong you ban mian (scallion-oil noodles) can be found on every Shanghai street corner, but here they're tossed with caramelized scallions for added kick without the grease."