[Where To Eat:] Discover 4 Best Huaiyang Cuisine Spots in Shanghai

Huaiyang cuisine, originating from Huai'an and Yangzhou in Jiangsu Province, is a traditional Han Chinese culinary style and the cuisine of choice for state banquets in China. It is known for its precise knife work, balanced flavors that are both salty and sweet, and fresh, tender ingredients. Huaiyang dishes emphasize light, slightly sweet tastes, with cooking techniques like braising, stewing, steaming, and frying. The cuisine is celebrated for its variety, vibrant colors, and elegant presentation.

The development of Huaiyang cuisine benefited from its geographic location, as Huai'an and Yangzhou were important transportation hubs and cultural centers. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, Huaiyang cuisine blended northern and southern flavors, becoming one of China's four great classical cuisines. It remains a significant part of Chinese culinary heritage due to its unique techniques and rich history. Below, Hills recommends four distinctive Huaiyang cuisine restaurants in Shanghai for you.

1. Lvyangcun Restaurant (绿杨邨酒家)

Rating: 4.2/5 (3313 reviews, Source: Dianping)

Per capita: 138 RMB

Business Hours: 11:00-14:00, 17:00-21:00

Address: Room 11, No. 133 Tianyaoqiao Road, Xujiahui Street

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Founded in 1936, Lvyang Village Restaurant is a renowned century-old establishment in Shanghai, famous for its Yangzhou-style cuisine. With a rich history, the restaurant has been a symbol of culinary excellence, blending Sichuan and Yangzhou flavors under the expertise of Chef Lin Wanyun. Today, Lvyang Village is more than just a dining spot—it is a representation of traditional culture merged with modern culinary techniques, recognized as a famous Shanghai trademark and a protected intangible cultural heritage.

Recommended Dishes:

• Lvyang Huadiao Chicken: This dish features premium free-range chicken, steamed for 40 to 50 minutes using only Huadiao wine, scallions, and ginger, with no added water. The cooking process is meticulously sealed to retain the chicken's moisture and aroma. The result is tender, juicy chicken infused with a rich wine fragrance, preserving maximum flavor and nutritional value.

• Braised Snowflake Beef: Select cuts of premium beef are slow-cooked over a low flame to absorb the rich flavors of the broth. The beef is tender and flavorful, melting in your mouth with each bite. The dish is known for its delicate texture and aromatic profile, making it a highly acclaimed main course.

• Signature Mushroom Vegetable Bun: This vegetarian bun features a soft, fluffy dough filled with finely chopped mushrooms and greens. The filling is prepared centrally to ensure consistency, and strict controls are maintained over steaming time to guarantee a delightful bite. Despite its simplicity, this bun is a top recommendation among diners for its harmonious blend of flavors and textures.

• Crab Roe Meatball (Crab Roe Lion’s Head): A classic Huaiyang dish made with pork and crab roe, the meatballs are golden brown and incredibly tender, with a rich, savory flavor. The dish’s delicate texture and complex flavors are enhanced by a fragrant broth, making it a favorite among patrons.

2. Yangzhou Restaurant (扬州饭店)

Rating: 3.8/5 (3809 reviews, Source: Dianping)

Per capita: 150 RMB

Business Hours: 11:00-14:00, 17:00-21:00

Address: No. 345, Fujian Middle Road

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Yangzhou Restaurant is a historic establishment and a Michelin Bib Gourmand recommendation in Shanghai. It is known for its delicate Yangzhou cuisine, which highlights light, fresh flavors and emphasizes precise knife work and controlled cooking techniques. The restaurant’s dishes maintain the elegance and subtleties of Jiangnan-style cooking, making it a popular choice among locals and tourists alike.

Recommended Dishes:

• Yangzhou Stewed Tofu Shreds (Yangzhou Zhugan Si): A signature dish known for its meticulous preparation, with tofu cut into thin matchstick strips and simmered in a superior chicken broth. The tofu absorbs the soup’s essence, resulting in a smooth texture and a delightful blend of bean and broth flavors that are both refreshing and satisfying.

• Crab Roe Tofu: This dish combines tender tofu with fresh crab roe, creating a harmonious blend of soft and rich textures. The tofu absorbs the flavors of the crab roe, creating a delicious and memorable taste experience. The dish is both delicate and flavorful, offering a perfect balance of savory and creamy notes.

• Squirrel Mandarin Fish: A must-try dish featuring fish with a crispy exterior and tender interior, shaped to resemble a squirrel. The fish is topped with a sweet and sour sauce, providing a balanced flavor profile that is both tangy and sweet. The dish is not only delicious but also visually appealing, making it a favorite among diners.

• Crab Roe Soup Dumplings: These dumplings are filled with a rich broth made from pork skin, old hen, and ham, combined with stir-fried crab roe. Served with a straw for sipping the hot soup, the dumplings offer a burst of umami flavor without being overly greasy, providing a satisfying and unique dining experience.

3. Yan Hua San Yue (嫣花叁玥)

Rating: 4.8/5 (4742 reviews, Source: Dianping)

Per capita: 276 RMB

Business Hours: 11:00-14:00, 17:00-20:30

Address: No. 4-13, 4th Floor, IFC Center Mall, No. 8 Century Avenue

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Located in the IFC Mall in Lujiazui, Yan Hua San Yue is a modern Huaiyang cuisine restaurant created by Yongfu. It combines the light flavors of Huaiyang cuisine with the boldness of Sichuan dishes, offering a unique dining experience. The restaurant's high cost-performance ratio and exquisite dishes make it a popular destination for professionals in the Lujiazui area.

Recommended Dishes:

• Stir-Fried Soft Eel (Chao Ruan Dou): This dish uses tender eel fillets stir-fried at high temperatures in a sizzling hot iron pot, retaining the eel's softness while infusing it with a rich, savory flavor. The dish is seasoned with a hint of pepper, adding a subtle spiciness that complements the eel’s delicate texture.

• Shrimp Roe Meatball (Shrimp Roe Lion’s Head): Made with shrimp roe and pork, these meatballs are lightly colored and soft in texture, paired with seasonal sweet peas for a fresh, balanced flavor. The unique aroma of the shrimp roe enhances the dish, creating a harmonious blend of flavors and textures.

• Marinated Red Crab with Aged Sorghum Wine: This signature dish features fresh red crab from the East China Sea, marinated in aged sorghum wine for a rich, aromatic flavor. The crab meat is cool and smooth, with a texture reminiscent of ice cream, providing a refreshing and flavorful dining experience.

• Roast Duck: The roast duck features crispy skin and tender, juicy meat. Served with traditional spring roll wrappers, the dish combines crunchy and tender textures, creating a rich, flavorful experience. The roast duck is a must-try for its exceptional taste and preparation.

4. You Yan Yi Pin Huaiyang Restaurant (Wanda Reign on the Bund, Shanghai)

Rating: 4.9/5 (3075 reviews, Source: Dianping)

Per capita: 398 RMB

Business Hours: 11:30-14:00, 17:30-22:00

Address: 5th Floor, Wanda Reign Hotel, Shanghai, No. 538, Zhongshan East 2nd Road

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Yu Yan Yi Pin Huaiyang Restaurant, located in Wanda Reign on the Bund, Shanghai, offers "Grand Huaiyang" cuisine, blending the culinary traditions of Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, and Shanghai. The menu features premium seafood and freshwater ingredients, providing a diverse range of flavors and textures.

Executive Chef Cai Yi, with 20 years of experience, creates seasonal menus based on the principles of "eating according to the season." Influenced by Huaiyang cuisine master Jiang Yingrong, he carefully selects ingredients from various regions to highlight the authentic flavors of Huaiyang cuisine.

The restaurant's decor is inspired by Jiangnan officials' residences, featuring traditional Chinese music played on instruments like the guzheng and pipa, creating an elegant and romantic dining atmosphere.

Recommended Dishes:

• Jianghuai Casserole Immortal Chicken: This dish features Langshan chicken, layered with slices of old ginger at the base, combined with pork knuckles and pork belly. Instead of water, a whole jin of aged Huadiao wine is used, along with a secret sauce, to braise the whole chicken slowly over a salt bath for six hours. The resulting dish has glistening chicken skin, juicy, flavorful meat, and a rich aroma. The base ingredients of tender pork knuckles and succulent pork belly add an extra layer of flavor and a boost of collagen.

• Clear-Braised Lion’s Head Meatball: Made with high-quality pork belly with a balanced fat-to-lean ratio, this dish is uniquely prepared by simmering in clear water rather than broth. This bold approach results in a light, clear soup with tender, flavorful meatballs that are soft and melt in the mouth, showcasing the traditional essence of Huaiyang cuisine.

• Braised Tofu Shreds: A traditional Huaiyang delicacy, this dish features finely shredded tofu and chicken shreds in a rich chicken broth. The tofu shreds are pure white and aromatic, with the flavors of ham and dried shrimp (kaibai) infusing each strand. The dish is meticulously prepared to ensure no trace of oil or bean odor, delivering an exceptionally fresh and delicate taste.

• Yuhua Stone Dumplings: These dumplings are crafted to resemble Nanjing's famous Yuhua stones, a specialty snack from Qinhuai. The dumplings are brightly colored and contain a sweet sesame filling. They are soft and chewy on the outside and filled with fragrant, sweet sesame paste inside. A sip of the sweet broth that accompanies them enhances the dining experience, evoking the feeling of being in a Jiangnan water town.