Super late-night and 24-hour eats in Shanghai

Photograph: Alina Grubnyak via Unsplash

Compared to other major world cities, the late-night Shanghai food game is admittedly a bit weak. But fear not – we've found the city's some great late-night and 24-hour eateries so you can get your munch on be it 4pm or 4am, with dumpling shops, pizza delivery, all-day Chinese breakfast and more.

Healthy Night Market

Photograph: courtesy Healthy Night Market

Open 24 hours, all-night breakfast 

Down the road from beloved late-night dive C’s is a branch of Shanghainese chain Healthy Night Market. A favourite amongst Shanghai’s early morning and late-night crowds, Healthy Night Market – although arguably a bit of a misnomer – is buzzing all hours of the day thanks to its dirt-cheap, fresh-from-the-fry youtiao (only available 6pm-10am), steaming bowls of hongshaorou noodles, scallion oil noodles, wontons and more. Whether you’re chasing hearty breakfast fare or something to soak up all that alcohol, you won’t go wrong here.

📍713 Dingxi Lu, near Fahuazhen Lu (131 2220 0222). Multiple locations across Shanghai.

Hai Di Lao

Photograph: courtesy Hai Di Lao

Open 10am-7am the next day, hotpot

For a taste of the royal treatment, try Sichuan-style hotpot chain Hai Di Lao. Not only is it the place where you get your nails manicured and shoes shined while you wait for a table (which you will do); nor is it only the place where noodles are served with a kung fu dance show; it’s also where you can get actually great hotpot (and even better service) no matter what time of day or night you stumble in.

📍Third Floor, 1068 Beijing Xi Lu, near Jiangning Lu (6258 9758). Multiple locations across Shanghai.

Dong Tai Xiang

Photograph: courtesy Dong Tai Xiang

Open 24 hours, pan-fried dumplings

Shanghainese diner Dong Tai Xiang’s shengjianbao (pan-fried pork or shrimp dumplings) are so good they give Yang’s a run for its money. Other menu highlights include the banmian (stirred noodles with dried shrimp and spring onion; 13RMB) and the big shrimp wontons (21RMB). It’s a comfortable place for a proper Shanghai meal whatever the hour.

📍188 Chongqing Bei Lu, near Dagu Lu (6359 5808). Multiple locations across Shanghai.

Bi Feng Tang and Xinwang

Photograph: courtesy Bi Feng Tang

Open 24 hours, Cantonese comfort food

A no-frills but ever-reliable all-day-and-night dim sum destination, Bi Feng Tang’s long menu and great prices mean it’s pretty much always busy. And then there’s cha canting Xinwang just next door. Although not open 24 hours, it serves an eclectic mix of reasonably priced Hong Kong diner staples till late – like legit pork buns, pan-fried turnip cake, pineapple buns, wonton soups, mango sago, sticky rice rolls, milk tea and more. From 7.30 till 11am, cash in on the 35RMB breakfast deals with Cantonese and Western options on offer.

📍Bi Feng Tang 175 Changle Lu, near Maoming Nan Lu (6467 0628). Multiple locations across Shanghai. 

📍Xinwang 175 Changle Lu, near Maoming Nan Lu (6415 5056). Open 7.30am-3am the next day, Sun-Thu; 7.30pm-4am Fri-Sat. Multiple locations across Shanghai.

Melrose Pizza

Photograph: Melrose Pizza

Open 24 hours, round-the-clock pizza

Boasting the tagline ‘Pizza anytime, anywhere’, Melrose is Shanghai’s old reliable. The team has got shops all over Shanghai, but delivery is their thing: whether in Puxi or Pudong, you can literally call 24 hours a day and get hot pies straight to your door – fast and cheap. It ain’t fancy, but this place never closes, and for that, we’re eternally grateful. Ask for the 100RMB deal, which gets you two 12-inch pizzas and two drinks.

📍Call 6340 0478 or order online at melrosepizza.com.

Rastaco

Photograph: courtesy Rastaco

Until 2am, tacos and tequila

Rasta + tacos. You’re into it already, aren’t you? Rastaco, a humble joint down a small alley off Ruijin Er Lu, slings both decked-out tacos and silky smooth shots of Patron for just 20RMB. Best of all, the grill stays hot until 2am, with delivery available via Eleme. With cheap, tasty bites and a steady flow of roots reggae playing from the speakers, Rastaco’s got all the good vibes.

📍35 Shaoxing Lu, near Shaanxi Nan Lu (138 1718 7684). Open 5pm-1am daily. 

A'Wen Yeshi Dou Jiang Youtiao

Photograph: courtesy A'Wen Yeshi Dou Jiang Youtiao

Open 24 hours, Shanghai’s greasy spoon

Open and delivering 24 hours a day, seven days a week, A’Wen Yeshi Dou Jiang Youtiao is a Shanghai staple in comforting Chinese breakfast foods on the (super) cheap. Like the name suggests, get doujiang (5RMB) and youtiao (4RMB), glutinous rice balls with various fillings (try the suancai and youtiao version, 8RMB), deep-fried rice cakes (4RMB), and much more. Unlike regular street food joints, A’Wen doesn’t have that old oil taste – the food is fresher here. A reliable choice, especially when you want to satisfy those late-night munchies from the comfort of your couch.

📍251 Xizang Nan Lu, near Taoyuan Lu (136 6145 9002).

Nanjing Tangbao

Photograph: courtesy Nanjing Tangbao

Open 24 hours, all the soup dumplings

Open day and night, night and day on the corner of Gaoan Lu and Jianguo Xi Lu, Nanjing Tangbao is one of our favourite hole-in-the-wall soup dumpling joints. Get the classic xianrou tangbao (pork soup dumplings; 10RMB), jicai tangbao (pork and Shepherd’s purse; 15RMB) or ask for the off-menu vegetarian sucai tangbao, which the chef will make fresh to order while warning that they’re yi dian gui at a comparatively pricey 25RMB per basket.

📍641 Jianguo Xi Lu, near Gaoan Lu (6473 5648).

Al's Diner

Photograph: courtesy Al's Diner

Until midnight, American dinner eats

Open (and delivering) until midnight, Al's is a solid go to for classic US comfort food with a menu heavy on the guilty-pleasure good stuff (and all-day breakfast). think fluffy blueberry pancakes, fry-ups, mac n cheese, tuna melts and popcorn chicken and waffles.

📍Second Floor, 174 Xiangyang Nan Lu, near Fuxing Zhong Lu. Open 9.30am-midnight.

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