Our Ten Favorite Dishes of 2017
Raspberries Essential @ THE CHOP CHOP CLUB
Price: RMB 100 + 10% service charge
Address: 3 Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu, Three on the Bund, 2/F (near Guangdong Lu)
Hours: Daily, 6pm-11pm
Tel: 021 5308 5399
This raspberry dessert works with the natural flavor of the berries and takes it to the point of decadence. A sherry glaze and a surprise sprinkle of cracked black pepper embellishes the tangy fruit making it the perfect partner for a rich scoop of cream topped with brown butter. We never tire of this dessert.
Handmade Chive Noodles with Sichuan Pea Sauce @ WUJIE ON THE BUND
Address: 22 Zhongshan Dong Er Lu, Bund 22, 4/F (near Xingyong’an Lu)
Hours: Daily, 11am to 10pm
Tel: 021 6375 2818
While the entire autumn Harmony menu was delicious, the dish that stuck with us was the handmade chive noodles with Sichuan pea sauce. It is the kind of dish that a meat eater would enjoy and not realize they were going vegetarian. The noodles are a gorgeous color (as most food at WUJIE) with just the right amount of bite and the Sichuan pea sauce is hearty and spicy. Unfortunately, as the menus are seasonal, this dish is no longer available.
Barbeque Iberico Pork @ Sir Elly's
Price: RMB 208 + 16.6% surcharge
Address: 32 Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu, The Peninsula Hotel, 2/F (near Beijing Dong Lu)
Hours: Mon-Fri, noon to 2:30pm, 6pm-11pm; Sat & Sun, 11:30am to 2:30pm, 6pm to 11pm
Tel: 021 2327 6756
While the best way to sample this double glazed barbeque Iberico Pork is as part of the six-course Michelin-starred Culinary Journey with wine pairing at The Peninsula Shanghai for RMB 2,500 (plus 16.6% surcharge; minimum four diners), you can also order our favorite Cantonese pork, ever, a la carte.
Seared Icelandic halibut with spiced Jade Emulsion and tender celeriac @Jean Georges
Price: RMB 1498 (part of a seven course set meal)
Address: 3 Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu, Three on the Bund, 4/F (near Guangdong Lu)
Hours: Mon – Fri, 11:30am-2:30pm, 6pm-10:30pm; Sat & Sun, 11:30am-3pm, 6pm-10:30pm
Tel: 021 6321 7733
Fresh off their well-deserved Michelin star, Jean Georges put out a seasonal menu highlighting fall produce such as root vegetables like heirloom carrots and celeriac with fantastic results. We love the seared Icelandic halibut with a crisp golden crust and flaky interior paired with supremely tender celeriac. The spiced Jade Emulsion is a curry inspired sauce with lemongrass, ginger, coconut milk and a five herb puree. The secret to the sauce is that the herbs are added at the end so the freshness remains.
Cheddar Cheese Volcano Steamed Egg @ Jeju Izakaya
Price: RMB 78
Address: 1095 Yuyuan Lu (near Fenggang Lu)
Hours: Tues-Sat, 6pm-midnight
WeChat ID: jejuizakaya
In addition to pork and seafood, Jeju is an island famous for volcanos, which inspires their Siracha topped eruption of cheddar cheese and steamed egg. The spicy sauce and melted cheese are a great match and we had to control ourselves to keep from scraping up every last bit of cheese stuck to the edge of the scorching dolsot clay bowl.
DIY Maki @ Xime
Price: RMB 188
Address: Rm. 1-B, The Center, 989 Changle Lu (near Changshu Lu)
Tel: 021 6422 5996
Hours: Mon-Sat, 11am-3pm; 5pm-11pm
DIY maki is one of the most fun dishes we have had this year. And we will order it every single time we go to Xime, because there is so much on the plate. It takes an experience that Japanese typically enjoy at home with friends and family and enriches it by adding things like gorgonzola miso, smoked pickles, umeboshi octopus and salmon roe cream cheese to the mix. Every bite has a new combination of flavors and you are part of the creation.
600 Gram Short Rib @ The Beach House
Price: RMB 380
Address: 758 Julu Lu (near Fumin Lu)
Hours: Tues-Fri, 3pm-midnight; Sat & Sun, noon-midnight
Tel: 021 13816146501
We loved the 600g Short rib beef dish at the newly opened Beach House. The beef is given a dry rub of salt and herbs to sit overnight then slow cooked 48 hours before being kissed by the grill. It is tender yet pink and literally falls the bone. Served with a rich beef gravy perfect for dipping, it’s a meat lover’s paradise. This is an ideal main for sharing between two or three people with a vegetable side.
Spicy Sausage Pizza @ Homeslice Pizza
Price: RMB 30 (slice), RMB 230 (pie)
Address: 158 Julu Lu, Found 158, B1 (near Ruijin Yi Lu)
Hours: Sun-Thurs, 11am-midnight; Fri-Sat, 11am-2am
Tel: 021 5309 9332
We cannot fail to mention Homeslice on this list, the place that brought us our favorite American style pizza in Shanghai. While we love most of the pies on offer, the spicy sausage with house made sausage, ricotta, jalapeno, pickled chili, cheese and tomato sauce combines all our favorite things. Plus, the crust is simply amazing. Our gut could be bursting and we still wouldn't leave even a bite of crust on our plates.
Chinatown Mackerel @ STYX
Price: RMB 138
Address: Yongping Li, 199 Hengshan Lu (near Yongjia Lu)
Tel: 021 5401 9356
Hours: Daily, noon-10pm
While STYX is known for their wonderful grilled skewers, they have made a few non-skewer additions like this mackerel dish. Cooking a fatty fish, such as mackerel, on the grill makes for a completely delicious experience. We have had it several times now, with large groups of friends and consistently leave a pile of bones behind as the only memory of a meal well had.
Fresh Off
Price: RMB 38
Address: 9 Ziyun Xi Lu
Hours: 10am-9pm
Tel: 1381627 2264
This Taiwanese fried sandwich spot stole our hearts in 2017 with their unbelievable little boats of glory. Everything at Fresh-off would be worth mentioning here, but this particular one, the 'Beijing Duck' boat combined smoked duck breast, plum sauce, cucumber,scallion, leek, lettuce, and mayo for a little taste of heaven.
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