Shanghai

on 2021.12.14

6 Places

"The rapidly modernizing metropolis of Shanghai is as diverse as China itself. Bourdain takes in the new with the old as he visits traditional restaurants and wonton stands, dines with members of the city’s growing upper class, and attends a wedding banquet. Though pockets of Shanghai seem to have preserved the past, most of the city is lurching toward the future."

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Fuchun Xiaolong

Chinese restaurant · Jing An Si

Bourdain ate: xiao long bao (soup dumplings), fried pork chop with brown sauce Lunch date: Professor Zhou Lin, Dean at Shanghai Jiao Tong University

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Chun Restaurant

Chinese restaurant · Da Pu Qiao

"Classic, homestyle Shanghai meals," Tony described of this restaurant that is a favorite of Yao Minji, chief feature reporter for SHINE. No menu, no waiting list. Bourdain ate: you bao xia (wok-fried shrimp); hong shao rou (braised pork belly); yan du xian (clay pot soup with bean curd stock, pork belly, tofu, and bamboo) Lunch dates: Yao Minji, chief feature reporter for SHINE and her friend Lu Xing

The House of Roosevelt

Chinese restaurant · Lan Ni Du

Bourdain ate: French oysters with champagne, New Zealand shrimp, Australian Wagyu beef Lunch dates: Roosevelt China Investments President Tim Tse, architect and designer Zeva Wang, and real estate developer Daniel Yung

Zhao Zhou Lu

Lao Ximen

Tony's dinner guest, English teacher Bill Wang, says this is the best place to get wontons. Minced pork, bok choy, rice wine in a wonton dough, served with a mixture of soy sauce, vinegar, chili sauce, sesame oil, and peanut butter. "YOU NEED THIS," Tony exclaims.

Di Shui Dong

Chinese restaurant · Da Pu Qiao

Bourdain ate: ziran paigu (cumin-rubbed ribs) Lunch date: hacker turned entrepreneur and creator of gitcafe.com, Thomas Yao

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Constellation Bar

Bar · Lao Ximen

Tony and Thomas Yao pregamed here before crashing a wedding. They had moscow mules

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