Try These Guyang Lu Restaurants Before They’re Gone!
It looks like another legendary street is set to shut down in Shanghai. Guyang Lu, a 2,400m long strip filled mostly with Japanese and Taiwanese restaurants, is set to be closed by the end of this week. There’s still enough time to go check out some of these incredible spots before they’re gone, here’s a quick guide so you know what to look for!
XIHAN JIAOZI JIUDIAN
DUMPLING HOT SPOT
Where: 431 Guyang Lu, near Songyuan Lu, Hongqiao district
Tel: 021-62277989
Hours: 11:00am-10:00pm
This place specializes in dumplings from the north-east of China. The traditional north-eastern dumpling is filled with just five ingredients: pork, fennel, sauerkraut, leek and eggs. In addition to their dumplings, they’ve also got Harbin red sausage and Japanese silk tofu.
ころり (KORORI)
JAPANESE FAMILY RESTAURANT
Where: 2/F, 441 Guyang Lu, near Songyuan Lu, Hongqiao district
Tel: 021-62226337
How much: RMB 150
Hours: 5:00pm-11:00pm
Korori is tucked away on the corner, so if you don’t look carefully you could easily miss it. The dishes here are all family-style, mimicking the quirks of Japanese home-cooked food.
DAIKICHI
JAPANESE BBQ
Where: 435 Guyang Lu, near Zhanghong Lu, Gubei district
Tel: 021-54775084
How much: RMB 120
Hours: Mon-Sat 5:00pm-12:00am | Sun 5:00-11:00pm
It has been said that Daikichi is one of the most authentic Japanese restaurants in all of Shanghai! The only problem is because it’s so popular, you might have to wait over an hour for a seat. Their succulent chicken dishes are the most popular, but if you don’t manage to make it here before they close don’t sweat it! There are five other branches across Shanghai which will remain open.
いば昇 (IBASHOU)
SPECIALIZES IN EEL
Where: 389 Guyang Lu, near Songyuan Lu, Gubei district
Tel: 021-54255768
How much: RMB 190
Hours: 11:30am-2:00pm, 5:30-10:00pm
Ibashou offers Nagoya-style eel rice, which is extremely complicated to make, but totally worth it, and also roast eel. These are the two most popular dishes, but you can also try crispy eel rolls, eel liver, and eel egg rolls!
SHOUDA QIAOMAI CHU WAN CANG BENDIAN
JAPANESE TRADITONAL HANDMADE BUCKWHEAT NOODLES
Where: 453 Guyang Lu, near Songyuan Lu, Hongqiao district
Tel: 021-62951016
How much: RMB 110
Hours: 5:00pm-12:30am
Part of a chain of Japanese restaurants that specialize in handmade buckwheat noodles, this spot also has some of the coolest and most-authentic Japanese décor inside.
ZHA CHUAN CHUAN DONG
OSAKA-STYLE SKEWERS
Where: 1/F, 441 Guyang Lu, near Songyuan Lu, Hongqiao district
Tel: 021-52912375
How much: RMB 130
Hours: Mon-Fri 5:30pm-12:00am | Sat-Sun 11:30am-2:00pm, 5:30pm-12:00am
This Japanese restaurant specializes in Osaka-style skewers, crispy cabbage, fried tomatoes, mini red bean snappers, potato salad and rice balls. They’ve also got some great plum wine if you’re into that sort of thing.
YI SHENG AN
AUTHENTIC JAPANESE CUISINE
Where: 439-2 Guyang Lu, near Songyuan Lu, Hongqiao district
Tel: 021-52809578
How much: RMB 150
Hours: 5:30pm-12:00am
An authentic Japanese restaurant: low-key, simple, affordable and delicious. Their flax tofu is their most popular dish.
GO-YA
OKINAWA CUISINE
Where: 427 Guyang Lu, near Songyuan Lu, Hongqiao district
Tel: 021-54773298
How much: RMB 140
Hours: 5:30-10:30pm
Okinawa cuisine is hard to come by in Shanghai. Everything about this spot, from the decor to the furniture to the cuisine, is heavily influenced by Okinawa.
ZHANGYU XIAO WANZI SHENG KATSU
JAPANESE FISH AND OCTOPUS BALLS
Where: 427 Guyang Lu, near Songyuan Lu, Hongqiao district
How much: RMB 25
Hours: 10:00am-11:00pm
This is a traditional Japanese street food stall. There are a few tables and chairs nearby so you’re welcome to sit, people-watch and enjoy your food. The owner is from Nagasaki, Japan, and he alone manages and works in his store. Their specialty is the octopus meatballs.
WAN CANG SHAO ROU DIAN
BEST JAPANESE BEEF
Where: 451-2 Guyang Lu, near Songyuan Lu, Hongqiao district
Tel: 021-52120701
How much: RMB 200
Hours: Sat 5:00pm-01:00am | Sun 5:00pm-12:00am | Mon-Fri 5:30pm-1:00am
One of the only places on this list that you should book in advance, it’s a little bit on the pricey side, but all the ingredients are top quality. Considered by many to be the best and most authentic Japanese BBQ beef in Shanghai.
KING DAZHI JAPANESE BARBECUE
JAPANESE BBQ
Where: 443 Guyang Lu,
Tel: 021-52237929
How much: RMB 200
Hours: 11:30am-2:00pm | 5:30-11:30pm
Excellent Japanese BBQ, with both an indoor and an outdoor dining area.
CAN JIN GE
MEAT LOVERS' PARADISE
Where: 433 Guyang Lu, near Songyuan Lu, Gubei district
Tel: 021-52371761
How much: RMB 210
Hours: 11:00am-2:00pm, 5:30-11:00pm
Emphasis here is on top quality meat and lots of it.
SUMITAMASHI
HIGH QUALITY BEEF
Where: 437 Guyang Lu, near Songyuan Lu, Gubei district
Tel: 021-54774458 | 137-88907741
How much: RMB 240
Hours: 11:00am-2:00pm, 5:00pm-12:00am
Sumitamashi is known for their Japanese-style barbecue dishes and top-quality beef. The owner also happens to be a stickler for personal space, so all the tables and chairs are spaced and spread out much more so than the typical Shanghai restaurant.
JIN WU ZIMAN JAPANESE CUISINE
JAPANESE CHEF WITH 20 YEARS EXPERIENCE
Where: 735 Guyang Lu, near Gubei Lu, Gubei district
Tel: 021-51182939 | 021-51182936
How much: RMB 500
Hours: 11:00am-2:00pm, 5:30-10:00pm
Really great authentic Japanese restaurant, Jiu Wu’s head chef has over 20 years of experience. Some of the top recommendations here are the sashimi, live sea urchins and shrimp.
ADACHI
JAPANESE BANQUET
Where: 461 Guyang Lu, near Yaohong Lu, Gubei district
Tel: 021-54778937
Hours: 5:30-11:00pm
Adachi is a Japanese restaurant with banquet seating, often used for families or big group. One of the most popular dishes here is the salmon.
CHANG WOO
JAPANESE COCKTAIL BAR
Where: 2/F, 395 Guyang Lu, near Songyuan Lu, Hongqiao district
Tel: 131-22053375
How much: RMB 140
Hours: 6:00pm-2:00am
Chang Woo is a low-key, Japanese-style cocktail bar.
DR BEER
BREWERY AND BEER BAR
Where: 749 Guyang Lu, near Gubei Lu, Gubei district
Tel: 021-51182930
How much: RMB 150
Hours: 4:30pm-2:00am
Solid atmosphere with great service and a nice patio. Also (of course) a great selection of their own beers, brewed on site.
QIANNIAN WA FANG
KOREAN OCTOPUS
Where: 485 Guyang Lu, near Yaohong Lu, Gubei district
Tel: 021-52210528
How much: RMB 120
Hours: 4:00pm-2:00am
This is said to be one of the most authentic Korean restaurants in Shanghai. Either way, it’s worth going to for their famous live octopus dish for RMB 160.
JI QING NIU HUANG
HOT POT
Where: 481 Guyang Lu, near Yaohong Lu, Gubei district
Tel: 021-51753025
How much: RMB 120
Hours: 11:00am- 1:00am
The owner of this hot pot place is a huge motorcycle enthusiast, so you’ll find related décor all over the place. They’re also well known for having a great selection of meat.
MYSTIC PIER 17
"NEW YORK PIER SIDE"
Where: 481 Guyang Lu, near Yaohong Lu, Gubei district
Tel: 021-51753076
How much: RMB 270
Hours: 10:00am-10:00pm
Okay bare with us here, Mystic Pier 17 is a “New York Pier Side” restaurant with a variety of upscale western foods like oysters and tomahawk steaks, but there is no pier anywhere nearby.
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