A Day in Shanghai Through a Bowl of Noodles

Noodles in Shanghai range widely, from Chongyubanmian, which is simply finished with green onion oil and soy sauce, to seasonal noodles topped with catfish broth, eel, and crab. We've gathered actual noodle shops with different cooking methods. Even with the same menu, the taste can vary based on the thickness of the noodles, the broth's flavor, the balance of soy sauce and sugar, seasonal ingredients, and cooking order, so we've compared each shop's representative dishes and characteristics.

Even if the toppings are extravagant, it’s best to first sample the noodles and the basic broth. Be sure to check for fish bone and sesame allergies, as well as seasonal menu prices before ordering. Business hours, holidays, ingredient availability, reservations, and payment methods can change frequently, so be sure to verify official store announcements and map information right before your visit.

Instead of trying to visit all five places at once, pick one area of interest among dumplings, noodles, breakfast, main dishes, or desserts and plan your day around that. Even with the same menu, the taste can vary based on the thickness of the noodles, the broth's flavor, the balance of soy sauce and sugar, seasonal ingredients, and cooking order, so we compared each shop's representative dishes and characteristics.

After your visit, record your impressions of the taste, price, wait time, and the next menu you’d like to try. This will serve as criteria for your next gourmet trip to Shanghai. Business hours, holidays, ingredient availability, reservations, and payment methods can change frequently, so be sure to verify official store announcements and map information right before your visit. By choosing only two or three places instead of trying to fit in a lot at once, you can reduce waste and more clearly appreciate the differences in Shanghai's flavors that each shop has maintained.