Best Street Food in Shanghai: 5 Must-Try Local Foods You Can’t Miss

Shanghai is known for its futuristic skyline, luxury shopping, and modern lifestyle — but the true taste of the city can often be found in its small neighborhood restaurants, traditional breakfast stalls, and local streets.

For Shanghai locals, street food is not just about a quick meal. It is a daily ritual: grabbing breakfast before work, picking up a snack after exploring the city, or discovering a small family-run shop hidden in an old neighborhood.

If you are visiting Shanghai for the first time, these are the street foods you should try.

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1. Shengjian Bao (生煎包) — Shanghai’s Famous Pan-Fried Soup Bun

   

   No Shanghai food list is complete without shengjian bao.

   Unlike steamed soup dumplings, shengjian bao are cooked in a flat pan, creating a crispy golden bottom while keeping the inside juicy with hot soup and flavorful pork filling.

   The best way to enjoy it:

   • Bite a small hole first

   • Let the steam escape

   • Taste the soup inside

   • Enjoy the crispy bottom

   This combination of textures — crispy, soft, and juicy — is what makes shengjian one of Shanghai’s most iconic street foods.

   Local tip: Be careful when eating it fresh from the pan. The soup inside can be very hot.

   
   

2. Xiaolongbao (小笼包) — The Shanghai Soup Dumpling

   
   
   

   Xiaolongbao is probably the most famous Shanghai food around the world.

   These delicate dumplings are filled with seasoned pork and hot broth. Eating them requires a little patience — lift carefully, create a small opening, sip the soup, and enjoy the dumpling.

   While you can find xiaolongbao internationally, trying them in Shanghai gives you a completely different experience.

   
   

3. Cong You Bing (葱油饼) — Crispy Scallion Pancake

   
   
   

   Simple ingredients, unforgettable flavor.

   Cong you bing is made with layers of dough, scallions, and oil, then pan-fried until crispy outside and soft inside.

   It is a classic Shanghai snack that many locals grew up eating.

   You will often find it in small neighborhood shops — the kind of places that may look ordinary but have been serving the same recipe for years.

   
   

4. Ci Fan Tuan (粢饭团) — A Traditional Shanghai Breakfast

   

   For visitors who want to experience a real Shanghai morning, ci fan tuan is a must-try.

   Sticky rice is wrapped around crispy fried dough sticks, pickled vegetables, and other fillings.

   It is affordable, filling, and a perfect example of Shanghai breakfast culture.

   Many locals still start their day with a quick stop at a small breakfast stall for one of these.

   
   

5. Scallion Oil Noodles (葱油拌面) — The Taste of Everyday Shanghai

   

   Sometimes the simplest dishes tell the biggest stories.

   Scallion oil noodles are made with noodles, fragrant scallion oil, and a sweet-savory sauce.

   Unlike more famous dishes, this is the kind of food many Shanghai families eat at home — simple, comforting, and full of local flavor.

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Where to Experience Authentic Shanghai Street Food

The best Shanghai food is not always found in famous restaurants.

Many hidden gems are located in:

• old neighborhoods

• local breakfast stalls

• small family-run restaurants

Exploring these places gives you a chance to see another side of Shanghai — beyond the tourist attractions.

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Taste Shanghai Like a Local

Finding authentic street food can be difficult when visiting a new city. Many of Shanghai’s best food spots are small, local, and easy to miss.

With ShanghaiFoodie, you can explore traditional neighborhoods, discover local favorites, and experience Shanghai through the food that locals actually eat.