Xiao Nan Guo, Shanghai

4 more images

As you enter the Zhengda Guangchang Super Brand Mall you go "wow" then escalate your way to the top floor to find this wonderful resteraunt, tastefuly decorated, modern Shanghai, great service, wonderful views, very very good service with great tastey food .......!!!!!

Favorite Dish: You know i love beef but must say the frog dish really was the best!!!

4 more images

Located on Nanjing West Road is Xiao Nan Guo Restaurant. It is recognised by brighly lighted neon lights depicting palm trees. Smartly dressed ladies in purple costume and bowler hats greet you as you enter and usher you into the elevator to the restaurant, decorated with chandeliers. The service is efficient, prompt and attentive.
There are several branches of this restaurant all over Shanghai but the most convenient for the average tourist is the Nanking West Road branch.

Favorite Dish: Freshly steamed fish: There are many species of fish available on the menu. Check with the waitress for the market price as fresh fish is sold by weight. Be prepared to pay around RMB 500 for a medium sized fish. You will be shown the live fish in a plastic bag and told of its weight (measured in Chinese units called katis and taels).
Glutinous rice with turtle meat: Slices of turtle meat are placed on top of glutinous rice in a bamboo dim-sum basket.

Xiao Nan Guo (meaning Little Southern Country) is an excellent local chain serving delicious and affordable Shanghainese cuisine. I went to the Rui Jin Bin Guan branch, which was busy with local diners, had pleasant decor and good service. There is a picture menu, which may be helpful if your Chinese is not so good. Very good value for money.

Favorite Dish: Kao fu - a Shanghainese appetiser of bean curd and beans. Tang xin lian ou - sweetened lotus root stuffed with glutinous rice. Yummy!

Xiao Nan Guo serves good Shanghainese food with reasonable price. There are a few branches in Shanghai, I have tried Hong Mei Lu branch, Nanjing Xi Lu (close to Hard Rock) and Pudong (close to Pearl TV Tower). The one at Nanjing Xi Lu offers a good view of the exibition center next to JC Mandarin. The Exibition center is with Russian archetecture.

Favorite Dish: Pork Trotter - One of the better pork trotter I tried.
Wenzhou Crab - Raw crab soak in Chinese wine
Deep Fried Snake - one of their signiture dishes.

If you like traditional no nonsense excellent Shangaiese cuisine, this is the place. No fancy staff and décor like what you will find in ShinTienDi, but exquisite and delicate soup dumplings, cold cut pork, and delicious hot and sour soup. And the price is half of what you will find at those fancy fusion places so hip locally right now.

Favorite Dish: Hot and Sour Soup, by far the best "real" Chinese hot and sour soup I have had in Shanghai. Not really white pepper enhanced, the taste is just right.

Don't get me wrong, I don't dislike Xiao Nan Guo. After all, it was the first meal I ever had in Shanghai when I first visited in 1999.

However, since my first visit, I have found better restarants serving local food at the same (or better) prices.

It is great for large family-style meals and you can either choose a table in the main dining room, or for a little more privacy, ask for a private room (for an aditional fee) so you and your guests can dine in (relative) peace.

Xiao Nan Guo now has7 locations throughout Shanghai and they always seemed to be pretty busy.

Favorite Dish: Snake. I ate my first (but not my last) snake here and always order it for old time's sake.

Xiao Nan Guo meaning "Little Southern Country" in Chinese. Following a tip from a retired Hong Kong food critic, I visited this renowned Shanghai restaurant. They have 7 brances of restaurants in town, while the one located inside a hotel in Huanghe Lustill considered best best, both in food quality and amosphere.

2 more images

These were some of the food that we ordered for 4 persons. Cost us less than 200 RMB for about 5 dishes. Really value for money.

Favorite Dish: Pig Trotter
Fried Pigeons
Toufu with crab's roes