The (almost) definitive guide to Shanghai's best avocado toasts

For a food trend that seemingly peaked pre-2010, it’s impressive how long the avocado toast is stretching out its 15 minutes of fame. It’s the definition of basic and as millennial as that one shade of pink, but we love one of these superfood-topped toasts as much as we love yoga pants so no judgement here. Too cool to give in to this unrelenting trend? How about starting your day right with one of Shanghai’s best bagels, breakfast sandwiches or some excellent Chinese street food.

RAC

Photograph: Cat Nelson

RAC may be known for its Breton galettes, but this French eatery also makes a fabulous avocado toast (60RMB). Artfully presented, two slices of rustic country toast arrive topped with both creamy avocado mash and sliced avocado, a jammy egg, a generous sprinkle of crushed walnuts and a shower of chopped parsley. Finish it with Maldon sea salt to taste. 

📍322 Anfu Lu, near Wukang Lu.

Daliah

Photograph: Cat Nelson 

As with everything at Daliah, there’s a delightful twist from norm with its avocado toast (69RMB).  Set on a thick slice of dark German bread, avocado mash seasoned with garlic, lemon and a touch of chilli support two sunny-side up eggs and crumbles of goats cheese. House-made granola is strewn about enthusiastically before the whole thing is garnished with microgreens. 

📍408 Shaanxi Bei Lu, near Beijing Xi Lu.

Highline

Photograph: Cat Nelson

As with all things Highline, the Green Toast (88RMB) is perfectly primed for Instagram with its lush forest vibes. Delicate slices of avocado curl atop a thick slice of seeded bread smothered in herbed ricotta, joined by lemony, grilled broccolini and delicate wisps of fried onion. The whole affair is adorned with sunflower seeds, fresh garden peas and pea shoots, plus a drizzle of bright arugula pesto. This toast is a bit of a splurge but it’s too pretty (and tasty) to miss out on.

📍Sixth Floor, The Ascott, 282 Huaihai Zhong Lu, near Songshan Lu.

Egg

Photograph: Cat Nelson

Even if it isn’t true, it seems very possible that this tiny but excellent café could have invented the avocado toast (or at least, in Shanghai). Keeping things classic but elevated, here a very delicious rendition (55RMB) is topped with a liberal smear of seasoned mashed avocado and sprinkled with a medley of flat-leaf parsley, tangy feta, lemon juice, sliced radish and a scattering of chopped chilli peppers. Add an egg for 8RMB.

📍12 Xiangyang Bei Lu, near Julu Lu.

O'mills

Photograph: Cat Nelson

An imposingly thick slice of airy sourdough – the bakery’s house speciality – takes this avocado toast (58RMB) to the next level. Sliced avocado sits atop a simple-but-sublime avocado mash with a stiff drizzle of olive oil, pumpkin seeds and two beautifully poached eggs.

📍110 Yongjia Lu, near Jiashan Lu.

Tartine

Photograph: Asa Kohrman

This shop that specialises in toasts throws a curveball into the usual mix, with a thick slick of tahini with nutty undertones on its avocado toast (55RMB). On top of the tahini is creamy avocado, an elegant line of feta cheese and halved cherry tomatoes and a light sprinkle of chilli flakes. Decadent and healthy.

📍406 Jianguo Xi Lu, near Yueyang Lu.

Bull and Claw

Photograph: Cat Nelson

Presented as one dish choice in a series of several courses in Bull and Claw’s brunch (from 98RMB), it’s a simple affair to support other dishes of more intensity you might have – served with roasted tomatoes, two soft wedges of lightly grilled ciabatta play support for smashed avocado, cubes of feta and two poached eggs. 

📍110 Fenyang Lu, near Taiyuan Lu.

Chicken and Egg

Photograph: Cat Nelson

Chicken and Egg takes an unorthodox approach to its toast (55RMB), with a very bold garlicky pesto added to its thin, almost-pureed avocado base. Ultra-punchy taste aside, it still has all the hallmarks of the avocado toast you know and love: topped with sliced avocado and a runny, poached egg.

📍291 Fumin Lu, near Changle Lu.

Baker and Spice

Photograph: Cat Nelson

Simple and, well, quite basic, Baker and Spice’s rendition is served on a thick slab of grilled olive bread with a generous spread of avocado mash, topped with curly raw kale and a runny poached egg. The olive bread adds a rustic spin, giving an earthy, salty chew to every bite. And at 48RMB (plus 15RMB for bacon or 20RMB for smoked salmon) it’s one of the more reasonably priced options around town.

📍195 Anfu Lu, near Wulumuqi Lu. Multiple locations across Shanghai.

Alimentari & Degusteria

Photograph: Asa Kohrman 

Three essential ingredients are what make this avocado mash pop: lemon, olive oil and pepper. Add a lively mix of orange and red plum tomatoes and two fried eggs to top off the simple success (50RMB). Don’t change a good thing.

📍343 Jiaozhou Lu, near Wuding Lu.

Brut Eatery

Photograph: courtesy Brut Eatery

Brut’s Green Tartine (62RMB) is a bright and refreshing take on the standard avocado toast. Sourdough bread is topped with guacamole with a hint of lime, cherry tomatoes, seasonal fruit (such as macerated peaches), bitter radicchio and a perfect onsen egg.

📍238 Zhaojiabang Lu, near Shaanxi Nan Lu.

Tribe

Photograph: Cat Nelson

The All Good Avocado Egg Toast (58RMB) at Tribe goes off-piste with its egg – you can get poached, sure, but if what you’re after is no runny yolk, no jammy centre, opt for the scrambled option atop your avocado mash on toast. A drizzle of harissa and clump of fresh watercress with pickled red onions and radishes finishes the whole thing off.

📍Unit 103B, A Mansion, 291 Fumin Lu, near Changle Lu.

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