Places to eat in Shanghai

Another VTer asked me for a list of recommended Muslim restaurants, so here is a list from a Muslim friend of mine (I am assuming they are all Halal). I apologize for some incomplete addresses and others without phone numbers......

1,001 Nights (Middle Eastern)
Hengshan Road

Hong Chang Xing (Hot Pot Dishes)
East Nanjing Rd., 10th Floor, BaoXiang Mansion
Phone 63529700

Hui Feng Lou (Traditional Chinese)
Phone 6328 1795

Dong Yi Shun (Muslim)
Middle Zhejiang Rd.

Uighur Restauran (Muslim)
No. 775, Quyang Rd.
Phone 6554 8366

Gong De Lin (Vegetarian)
West Nanjing Rd.
Phone 6327 0218

Jue Lin (Vegetarian)
East Jin Lin Rd.
Phone 6326 0115

Islamic Restaurant
North Sichuan Rd.
Phone 5666 0045

Hooters Shanghai is about as American as a restaurant in Shanghai can get. Buckets of chicken wings, picthers of cold beer, college basketball on the TVs, and of course, HOOTERS............paraphernalia for sale everywhere. If you are looking for a traditional Chinese meal, or traditional Chinese culture, you should stay as far away from this place as possible. You will be sadly disappointed.

This was Mao's first, but most likely not last, visit to Shanghai Hooters. Although the place is way out in Hongqiao and is not easy to get to during rush hour (or worse, when its raining and you can't hail a taxi), it is definitely worth the trip for Americans who are missing Hooters, or for those of you who have not yet seen Hooters.

In summary, Mao loves Hooters and hopes you do too.

For Mao's Shanghai Hooters Travelogue, please see: http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/60bc9/#TL

Favorite Dish: I only go there for one reason - the Chicken Wings.

Since I live in PuDong, it is always nice to find a restaurant within walking distance. Lagun Sari is a good Indonesian restaurant on PuDong Avenue (PuDong Da Dao), a half of a block up from the Novotel Atlantis Hotel.

Since there aren't any Indian restaurants on the side of the river (at least none that I have come across), if I am in the mood for some curry, I now have a respectable option that does not require anything other than me and my two feet (as well as a some RMB).

Favorite Dish: We had the Chicken Curry, Mee Goreng (noodles, veges, & seafood), Fried Prawns with Oyster Sauce (small shrimp, not prawns by any stretch).

For something a little different (if you like tofu) try the Tahu Telor, tofu drizzled with a sweet and tangy pineapple and peanut sauce (have them cut it up for you otherwise you will have to deal with the large mound with chopsticks alone).

Best lamb hot pot! they are different from many other hot pots in shanghai, no spicy sources supply for it, but the food especially meat here r very fresh! I love shrimp,lamb, beef here, damn good!(yes damn good!haha)
it`s not hard to find it, coz of they have many restaurants in shanghai and other cities, yes multiple restaurants!;-)

Favorite Dish: LAMB LAMB LAMB,food here r very fresh and clean, different from many hotpot, but still very cheap!yummy yummy!! ;-)

the price is for two person which I applied, but for me well I can spend more than that since I have a huge stomach!LOL

UPDATED:

The Hard Rock Cafe has officially closed and been replaced with a Gucci and a Marc Jacobs boutique........This is music to a Shanghai gastronomer's ears becuz the food was haaaaaaaaaaarable and extremely overpriced...... Head to MALONE'S around the corner for the best burgers in Shanghai.

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THE ORIGINAL REVIEW:

Compared to Hard Rock Cafes in the States, the food at the Shanghai branch is below average.

Also, the prices are ridiculously high for what you get. Lunch for 4 of us was almost US$100 and all we had was a couple orders of Fajitas, a quesadilla, nachos, and soft drinks (one person ordered 2 cocktails).

I won't ever go back again, as there are way too many better places in Shanghai to eat for a much better price.

If you are absolutely missing the USA, and want to go someplace familiar, then head to the Hard Rock Cafe. Otherwise, it is not worth the visit.

Favorite Dish: Fajitas were OK, but nothing special.

Hot Pot is enjoyed by both locals and visitors to Shanghai.

You sit around a table that has it's own burner and a large soup pot, usually divided into mild (clear broth) and spicy ( dark red broth), which is placed in the hole at the table after you sit down.

Next comes a waiter with the cart holding all of the "make your own sauce" ingredients that include sauces, spices, and chopped cilantro. You use this sauce to dip the cooked meat (or veggies or tofu) into before you eat it.

Hot pot is basically a communal pot of soup heated over a gas fire. Raw meats, vegetables and herbs are thrown into the boiling broth to slowly cook before being plucked out with chopsticks and eaten.

There a variey of meat and vegetables that you can choose from, but our group seemed to enjoy the meats and tofu more than the veggies.

Also, be advised that if you aren't used to spicy foods, don't ask for too spicy a broth. My group consisted of seasonsed spicy-food lovers and we ordered "medium-spicy". Even so, we all paid for our decision the next day.

If you have never tried it, Hot Pot King will be the perfect introduction to Hot Pot. If you are familiar with Hot Pot, Hot Pot King is a little more pricey and touristy than you might care for.

Favorite Dish: Beef, pork, and lamb in the spicy hot pot broth.

Also, the cucumber salad helped cool down the palate as I ate the spicy meats.

Here is the description on their card about this place:

The Door, a restaurant and bar designed to bring you into an ancient time period where you experience the secrets and roots of the Chinese culture and history amongst its new age setting. The Door specializes in weaving the delicious falvors from around the globe creating a distinctive cuisine and wine list amongst its elaborate setting.

If you are not on a budget travel, this restaurant is a must-see place if you visit Shanghai.

If you have not tasted NanXiang Xiao Long Bao you have missed out something heavely!
NanXiang Xiao Long Bao Restaurant is located at the side of JiuQu Bridge in ChengHuang Miao area in Shanghai.

Xiao Long Bao are steamed buns with a thin layer of skin, with meat fillings with juicy soup inside the bun. There are some with crab meat and crab roe.

The pricing is 16 buns for RMB8 (where u queue at level one).
Go to the 2nd level (Pleasure Boat Hall) and pay for 16 buns for RMB15 with crab meat.
At 3rd level (Chang Sing Hall) there is a minimum spending of RMB25 per pax and their Xiao Long Bao cost 6 for RMB20 with crab roe and their single big steam bun cost RMB20 and a straw is given with each order to suck up the soup.
There is a 4th level (Ding Xing Hall) where you can order other dishes like Super Rank Steamed bun, Shrimp ball with crab roe, spring roll with crab roe, mushroom soup, big steam bun, cake with salty cashew nut.
The 4 steps to eat Xiao Long Bao are:
1) bite a small whole
2) blow some air into the filling
3) suck the juicy soup
4) put the whole Xiao Long Bao into your mouth and savour slowly

Favorite Dish: Xiao Long Bao
Prawn Ball (similar juicy soup inside)