Food of Shanghai

We all have our own perceptions about Chinese food, and you will be shocked to find out that Chinese food is completely different than what is in America. Here, there are no fortune cookies or egg rolls or orange chicken, and when eating in China you will find that each region has its own specialty and way of cooking.

Here in Shanghai you can find any type of food you desire, you can either have your traditional Chinese meals or you can also easily find a KFC, Burger King, Papa John's and even a Carl's Junior! Even though these restaurants are around, I have tried my best to stay away from them and indulge in the local delicacies of Shanghai.

As a student I have found it very cheap to eat anywhere , especially at school. East China Normal University has two cafeterias, which serve very delicious, healthy and cheap food. You can always have your choice of noodle soups, steamed veggies with rice, dumplings, or even different assortments of meat. I like this because I don't have to cook and I am still able to eat a healthy meal even if I am away from home.

Another thing that I love about the food scene in Shanghai is that their street food is very good and it is available 24 hours per day. At times I like to go out and see what street vendor I can find and perhaps try something different, such as Kebobs, or street noodles. Overall, my favorite street food is called "Shou Zhua Bing", which is similar to a wrap, and has bananas, bacon, cheese, veggies and a special sauce. But, if you are a little hesitant to try street food, you can always try" Xiao Long Bao", one of Shanghai's specialties and the most popular dish here. 

Xiao Long Bao is a dumpling with meat and broth inside. They can either be served fried or steamed and are true Shanghai specialty. All major restaurants claim to have the best Xiao Long Bao and the competition runs high. 

Living here has allowed me to try really authentic Shanghai food that you might find a little odd, such as fried bull frog, sweet and sour eel, sweetened duck and spicy river snails. And yes, it is all very delicious! 

Overall, this city offers a wide variety of food, so whether you are in the mood for a really good burger or Hot Pot , Shanghai has you covered!

Here are some more photos of the food I've sampled in Shanghai: 




Katherine Guevara is the Fall 2013 CEA MOJO in Shanghai, China. She is currently a senior at the University of Houston.

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