Creative Fusion Plates to Try in Shanghai
Each and every cuisine from around the world has its highlights and lowlights, but what if you could combine together the best aspects of each to create a hybrid? In that way, if you’re ever in the mood for Italian but also Japanese, you don’t need to just pick one. Craving some Korean kimchi but also some American cream cheese? No problem! What about some Shanghainese xiaolongbao to go with some Thai curry crab? Eat both at the same time!
The following list of top fusion dishes around Shanghai have done exactly what we want by mixing together unique aspects of various international cuisines to deliver the best possible bite.
Daimon Bistro
Address: 6/F, 5 on the Bund, 5 Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu
Tel: 021 5383 2031
Hours: Sun-Thurs, 6pm-12am; Fri-Sat, 6am-2am
For some high-end Cantonese fusion with a gorgeous view of the Bund, Daimon Bistro is the place to be. Daimon Bistro’s menu is eclectic without being too cluttered, and they have many classics with tasty adjustments.
Everyone loves a good xiaolongbao, but the Chili Crab Xiao Long Bao (RMB 48 for three pieces) elevates your average soup dumpling to include the best Thai Chili flavor. For other creative options, they also offer HK Style Curry Beef Xiao Long Bao (RMB 48) and Tom Yum Chicken Xiao Long Bao (RMB 48).
Another standout fusion dish is the Popcorn Chicken Waffle (RMB 88), which combines Southern American comfort food with Hong Kong egglette waffles and spicy, mala Sichuan peppercorns. This a three-way Inception level of fusion. The perfectly fried crispy chicken could rival Louisiana’s best, and the fluffy Hong Kong egglette matches up with some of the best I’ve had in Hong Kong. The Canadian maple syrup is spiced with Sichuan peppercorns, so you get the perfect sweet and spicy combination in each bite.
Homeslice
Address: B1/F, 158 Julu Road
Tel: 5309 9332
Hours: Sun-Thurs, 11am-12am; Fri-Sat 11am-2am
As one of the best places in Shanghai to grab a proper slice, Homeslice not only nails the classics, but also kicks it up a notch with their awesome and creative fusion pizzas. Each season, Homeslice comes out with four new rotating flavors to keep it interesting. Their pumpkin and tahini yogurt pizza from last season tasted exactly like an Autumn day, with the comforting crunch of roasted walnuts and velvety pumpkin cream in each bite.
For Spring, Homeslice is at it again, incorporating fresh ingredients and fusion flavors to win over the hearts of Shanghai expats and locals alike. My borderline addiction to the Lomo Saltado Pizza (RMB 150 for a 16” pizza) is due fully to its creator Carlos Sotomayor’s unique and subtle way of incorporating authentic Peruvian flavor into a New York style pie. The pizza is loaded with tender marinated beef, crunchy green peppers, spicy pickled chilies, onions, cilantro, and crispy fried garlic chips. One bite in and you’ll be booking a flight to South America in no time.
Co. Cheese Melt Bar
(Photo Credit: Dianpin User: yiwang109)
Address: 32 Yuyuan Dong Road
Tel: 1303 211 8036
Hours: Sun-Sat, 11:30am-10pm
When I’ve got a craving for some ooey-gooey melty grilled cheese, there is only one place in this city that I will consider, and that’s Co. Cheese. Nothing can beat that crispy, toasted bread stuffed with enough cheese to feed a family of four. With 10-15 different grilled cheese options at any given time (all at RMB 50 for regular and RMB 65 for large), this restaurant takes the art of grilled cheese making to a level that even my freshman dorm roommates couldn’t rival.
(Photo Credit: Dianpin User: Liz)
For a Shanghainese twist on your standard American grilled cheese, the Hong Shao Rou & Gouda pairs the sweet fattiness of pork belly with zippy gouda. The Thai Red Curry Meatball might sound like too much, with flavors and ingredients coming from Thailand, Italy, and the United States all at once, but somehow it truly works together. Finally, the Hunanese Pork and Hot Peppers is one of my go-to sandwiches when I’m craving some spice.
Commune Social
Address: 511 Jiangning Road
Tel: 021 6047 7638
Hours: Tues-Fri, 12pm-2:30pm, 6pm-1am; Sat, 11:30am-2:30pm, 6pm-1am; Sun, 11:30am-2:30pm
Chef Jason Atherton started Commune Social in 2013 as a neighborhood modern tapas restaurant that aims to make fine dining fun, lighthearted, and available to everyone. By combining flavors from across the globe in whimsical ways, patrons can enjoy unique dishes, many of which rotate seasonally.
The Spanish Breakfast (RMB 68) comes with thinly slice chorizo and roasted potatoes, all served in a luscious egg soufflé.
Luckily, my all-time favorite Commune Social is a hard and fast staple that has remained on the menu for years due its overwhelming popularity. The Tongue and Cheek Empanada (RMB 98) takes you on a journey from Argentina to France and back to Shanghai again. Using the classic Argentinian empanada as a base, the flaky pastry crust is full of melts-in-your-mouth beef cheek and topped with a succulent, fatty piece of seared foie gras. The tartness and mild sweetness from the raisin puree balances out the fat and salt in the dish, making for the all-around perfect bite every time.
Xijiao
Address: No. 103, 462 Changle Road
Tel: 021 6019 7198
Hours: Mon-Sun, 10am-10:30pm
When a new Chinese dumpling shop opens in Shanghai, no one notices; the city already has around a million. But, when a Chinese dumpling shop that combines traditional Chinese flavors with western ingredients, décor, and cuisine elements, it’s time to take note of this perfect fusion. Enter Xijiao, a not-your-average dumpling house that focuses on quality imported ingredients and contemporary design to bring you a whole new eating experience. With six different dumpling options, wontons, and a variety of snacks, the menu incorporates free-range pork meat from Taihu Lake, fresh shrimp from Dalian, and free-range eggs.
The Mushroom and Cheese Wontons (RMB 30) are stuffed to the gills with New Zealand cheese, four different kinds of mushrooms, and crunchy bamboo shoots. The Shepherd’s Purse Mushroom Dumplings (RMB 30) are dyed pink for a modern pop of color, and the Nanyang Beef Curry Dumplings (RMB 30) are rolled into a round, almost Korean mandu dumpling shape.
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