Shanghai's Local Culinary Gems

Located in the back streets of Shanghai's Jiading District is an exceptional good restaurant, likely one of the best I've encountered during my trip to China.

Typically, restaurants that display photos of their dishes on the walls and menus are seen as a warning sign, often indicating a tourist-focused establishment. This is common for eateries near major tourist attractions worldwide. Generally, you'd spot these places and then walk a few blocks further to discover the local-favourite restaurants, which usually offer the best food. Not on this occasion.

We discovered a local restaurant, but even now, I'm not 100% sure of its name. Google Translate translates it as "Jaing Old Town Farmhouse Cuisine." I do know it's situated at 305 Yumin Rd (a fitting road name), in the Jiading District of Shanghai. We were staying just a few blocks away at the Courtyard by Marriott Jiading Hotel.

Despite the photos on display, the restaurant was evidently not a tourist spot. It was filled with locals, and there wasn't a single word, sign, or menu in English, nor did the staff speak a word of English. Google Translate was a godsend here.

The first impression of the array of colours on the walls, reminiscent of the myriad of images from all the dishes, was quite striking, but we remained uncertain at this stage. While the buckets on the floor filled with live frogs and fish might discourage some, they simply confirmed the freshness of the produce.

Using Google Translate to overcome the language barrier, we ordered a variety of traditional Chinese dishes, such as fresh crayfish and braised pork belly. However, we couldn't bring ourselves to try the frogs.

Each dish was outstanding, fresh, and bursting with flavor. The standout was the sweet, juicy, and tender Pork Belly. It's the classic sweet and sticky red braised pork you'd anticipate from a top-notch local restaurant. Absolutely perfect.

If you're exploring the Jiading District in Shanghai and searching for excellent local cuisine, be sure to visit this spot.

Here's the What3Words to help find the restaurant

What3Words: https://what3words.com/barefoot.fleet.briefer

About the Author

The author of this blog, unless otherwise noted, has no affiliation with any property or business linked in this article. Unless otherwise noted, there is no free accommodation or payment from any businesses. The information contained in this blog is strictly the views of the author and not professional advice. The author of this BookDirect blog is a travel and tourism professional with over 30 years of experience in international hotel management, global travel, short-term rental management and a tourism awards judge specialising in accommodation and attractions.