Shanghai, a dazzling international metropolis, embraces tourists and expatriates from all corners of the globe with its open and inclusive spirit. Nestled amidst the bustling streets and secluded alleys of this city lie numerous treasures of tantalizing Southeast Asian cuisine.
Renowned for their distinctive tangy and spicy flavors, abundant use of spices, and diverse cooking techniques, Southeast Asian cuisines transport one's senses to the embrace of lush tropical rainforests.
Signature dishes like Thailand's Tom Yum Goong (spicy and sour shrimp soup), Vietnam's Pho (a fragrant noodle soup), and Singapore's Laksa (a coconut-milk-based noodle dish) all embody the essence of these regional flavors, each bite igniting a symphony of tastes. In Shanghai, indulging in these authentic Southeast Asian delicacies is undoubtedly a gastronomic feast not to be missed.
1.FAT PHO (Xujiahui Brunch)
Rating: 4.4/5 (5823 reviews, Source: Dianping)
Per capita: 77 RMB
Business hours: 10:30-21:30
Specialty: Vietnamese cuisine
Address: 1st Floor, Tengfei Building, 333 Tianyaoqiao Road
(1) Google Map (2) Apple Map
A blend of Vietnamese, Chinese and Australian essence, this restaurant mainly serves Vietnamese pho, affordable prices, authentic taste, is a good place to experience Vietnamese food.
Recommended dishes: M9+Rangers Valley Wagyu Beef Pho
The bowl is covered with a full layer of beef, large pieces of beef with beautiful texture, the waiter pours hot soup in the bowl directly cooked, so that the beef is tender and can melt in the mouth. P.s. the soup has boiled for 24 hours with 100 catties of Australian beef bones.
Combination Beef Pho:
Deluxe Pho, beef slice + beef ball + beef tendon + beef louver, if you want everything, order this one is absolutely right. The soup is rich, the pho is smooth, and the taste is authentic.
Lemongrass Pork Chop:
The meat is tender and delicious with a sweet and sour sauce.
Vietnamese fried chicken wings:
Two chicken wings and two chicken legs, freshly cooked, although the waiting time is a little long, but fortunately taste really good: fried crisp, juicy, not greasy, 4 are not enough to eat.
Tiger Prawn Rice Paper Roll:
It is filled with prawns and vegetables. It is very refreshing and suitable for fat loss people.
2.Singapore Food at Sin Chew Restaurant (Huarun Times Square)
Rating: 4.7/5 (3242 reviews, Source: Dianping)
Per capita: 91 RMB
Business hours: 11:00-21:30
Specialty: Singaporean cuisine
Address: Room L603, 6th Floor, Huarun Times Square, 500 Zhangyang Road
The Singapore food is the mainstay of the Singapore food, and its dishes such as durian fly cake and Roche shrimp are well received, affordable and cost-effective.
Recommendation: Hainanese chicken rice
The chicken is cooked just right, the meat is fresh and tender, and the skin is smooth and not greasy. Served with a special chilli sauce and grated ginger, each bite pays homage to traditional flavours. The rice absorbs the essence of chicken oil, and the aroma is overflowing, which makes people can't help eating again and again.
Singapore Laksa:
A rich coconut milk soup base, with flavorful spices and shrimp, is rich in content, and every bite is full of Southeast Asian flavor.
Bak kut teh:
The rich broth is spicy with white pepper and cinnamon aromas, and the pork ribs are stewed and tender, and the meat becomes boneless with a gentle sip. With fried dough sticks, it is the essence of the soup base to absorb, every bite is full of happiness.
Kaya toast:
As a dessert, Kaya toast is the perfect choice. Toast with a crispy crust and a soft interior, served with homemade kaya paste that is sweet but not greasy, is the perfect way to end a good meal.
3.Mithai
Per capita: 231 RMB
Business hours: 11:30-15:00 17:00-22:00
Specialty: Thai cuisine
Address: 2nd Floor, No. 195, Anfu Road, Hunan Road Street (near Urumqi Middle Road)
The restaurant's signboard is full of Michelin plate awards, and the recommendation of a Black Pearl one diamond shortlisted restaurant. It's an affordable Michelin that doesn't require a reservation a year in advance (if you don't have a reservation, and just happen to have a table, you need to finish in 2 hours). The chef is Thai, overall taste is good, and the restaurant often serves many foreigners.
It's very atmospheric. The decoration is retro, a second back to Southeast Asia water house. Open kitchen, you can see chef’s cooking. it’s like sitting in a bistro, sitting at the bar with a few friends in the evening is really cool!
Recommended: Hot spring egg
With dry fried basil leaf and fried garlic slices, so innovative.
Padi Thai:
The combination of crushed peanuts, paprika and pad Thai takes my taste buds to the next level, a perfect pad Thai that always reminds me of its taste.
Tom Yum Seafood:
Authentic Thai taste, hot and sour, very appetizing, the seafood inside is very fresh and has a sweet taste. You can order soup for one person (68 yuan), a large portion (188 yuan) can be divided into four bowls。
Green Curry Chicken:
The chicken is tender, the curry is fragrant with coconut milk, and it has asparagus and cauliflower. Recommended to go with rice.
Braised pork neck:
crispy skin, rich gravy, served with sweet spicy sauce and apple, which can cleanse the palate.
4.HiwKao (Thai Food)
Per capita: 123 RMB
Specialty: Thai food
Address: No. 666 West Yan 'an Road
The owner and the staff are Thai, and the owner is a Bangkok Chinese who speaks a little Chinese. The store is small, with two floors.
Order directly at the bar, no need to scan the code to order. The prices are affordable and the decor is really Thai, like a street restaurant in Bangkok. Local Thais also eat there.
Pad Pong Karee Beef slice with Curry powder soft eggs:
The rare restaurant in Shanghai that will do curry with eggs, really looks exactly like what others eat in Thailand! There is a lot of beef, each piece is wrapped in a rich curry egg sauce. The sauce is sweet, feeling salty when eating more. Eating with rice is the best!
Thai Grilled Chicken with homemade sauce:
The chicken is really tender, juicy, and the skin is thin and crispy.
Thai milk tea:
In some restaurants, drinks are full with ice, but not here, still a full cup of Thai milk tea even though without ice.It's very rich, like what you get locally in Chiang Mai.
Palm Fruit with Coconut Ice Syrup:
Thai dessert, taste amazing! Very refreshing, sweet but not cloying. If you don't like coconut, you’d be fascinated by this coconut dessert. The only ingredient inside is palm fruit. If you are used to eating desserts with various toppings such as pearl, taro ball, red beans, you may find this monotonous. Palm fruit is chewy, but there are two other options: rambutan and longan.
5.BENJARONG (IFC Store)
Rating: 4.4/5 (5676 reviews, Source: Dianping)
Per capita: 338 RMB
Business hours: 11:00-21:30
Specialty: Thai food
Address: L4-5, 4th Floor, International Financial Center Shopping Mall, No.8 Century Avenue
(1) Google Map (2) Apple Map
Known for its exquisite Thai court cuisine and elegant dining environment, BENJARONG is the place to go to experience high-end Thai cuisine. There is a restaurant in Bangkok, and this one in Shanghai is also certified by the Council of Thai. The chef is a two-star Michelin chef. The utensils are cloisonne utensils used by the Thai royal family, and the dish is well-displayed, very delicate and exquisite.
Outside there is a large terrace where you can see three typical architectures in Lujiazui, sitting there with a wide view can immerse yourself in the luxury of the Shanghai Bund. The environment alone is just enjoyable.
It is worth mentioning that their menu includes not only those traditional Thai dishes such as Pad Thai and fried shrimp cutlets, but also a lot of specialties, and some local dishes only seen in Bangkok.
Slow-cooked Tom Yum Soup with Hot-seared Prawns:
The extra-large prawns are firm and chewy, with a delicious taste. After slow cooking, they are served hot and satisfying. The spicy and sour Tom Yum soup is super appetizing.
Roasted Baby Lobster with Thai Crispy Rice:
The base is topped with Thai crispy rice, which complements the bouncy and tender baby lobster meat to create a rich and incredibly flavorful experience. Absolutely delicious! Make sure to enjoy it while it's hot.
Golden Curry Crab:
The waiter will bring crabs to you in advance for selection, weigh them on the spot, and confirm your choice, to ensure that they are cooked fresh. The meat is plump and full of crab roe, and the crab leg meat wrapped in rich curry flavor is extremely satisfying! Every bite is pure delicacy.
Durian Musang King with Sweet Sticky Rice:
Even before lifting the lid, the rich and distinctive aroma of Durian Musang King fills the air, mingled with the sweet scent of cream. Just one deep breath and my mouth starts watering uncontrollably. Drizzled with a sweet-savory coconut milk sauce, the soft, sticky, and sweet flavor hits right in the heart of my taste buds.
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