JIANGUO328 | SHANGHAI

Till now, each time my Hong Kong friends mentioned Dan-Dan Noodles (擔擔麵) as they mean Shanghai Noodle, I'm quite not used to it, actually we never have noodle called Dan-Dan in Shanghai, and as all I know, the name Dan-Dan comes from normal egg noodle in Sichuan/Cheng Du cuisine. So, what is Shanghainese favorite noodle? Dry noodle with special soy sauce, I shall rank this one as the No.1.

It is a very simple noodle dish, with normal round-shape egg noodle which should be soft, elastic but still chewy and not sticky. Just to use a lot fried spring onion and secret sauce made from soy sauce, (sesame) oil, sugar and other ingredients, to dress up the warm noodle. It is without soup, but the noodle is fully covered with enough sauce and oil, so you won't have a 'dry' taste. The beauty of this easy noodle is its incredible fragrance and smooth taste. We call it Cong-You-Ban-Mian (蔥油拌面).

'A THOUSAND' CHOICES FOR SHANGHAI'S NIGHTLIFE (NIGHTCLUBS) | SHANGHAI

(Photo of Bar Rough)

If pub/bar crawl in Shanghai (Read my previous post about those bars in Shanghai) is just appetizer for you, I guess you need another list of nightclubs as main course. I just recognized, in big Shanghai, there are two many nightclubs if you are having a serious exploring list on hand. You have Chinese nightclub along Heng Shan Lu, or you are searching for higher and luxury ones? Better to switch to Middle Huai Hai Road, coz you have Fu Xin Park, Xin Tian Di, and the ones along the Middle Huai Hai Road. If you are expat fellow, go to the Bund, and People's Square area, or another corner of Shanghai, French concession. I didn't visit a lot during my recent trip back to Shanghai, while I did frequently drop at several nightclubs during my stay, which makes me confident to say something about them.

‘A THOUSAND’ CHOICES FOR SHANGHAI’S NIGHTLIFE (BARS) | SHANGHAI

(Photo: Pocho's classic Mojito)

The nightlife in Shanghai is not less colorful than in Hong Kong, but just scattered in the city and you maybe need someone’s suggestion. In general, there are some famous blocks that you could enjoy the nights; the Bund, Huai Hai Road (close to People Square side), Xin Tian Di, French Concession Area, Tian Zi Fang, Jing An area. In the past 3 weeks, I went to some places those I have never been to, and finally get a list to share.

THE COMMUNE SOCIAL | SHANGHAI

The Commune Social

511 Jiang Ning Rd, Jing An District, Shanghai, 200041

+86 21 6047 7638

info@communesocial.com

Tue to Fri. 12nn - 2.30pm & 6pm - 10.30pm

Sat. 12nn - 3pm & 6pm - 10.30pm

Sun. 12nn - 3pm

(close in all Mons, Sun evenings & public holiday)

Happy Hour. 5pm - 7pm (Tue to Sat)

THE COMMUNE SOCIAL. Facebook | Weibo | Instagram

Mentioned the name, Jason Atherton, Hongkong Easters should have a basket of comments, simply for the well-known restaurant in Wanchai neighbor - 22 SHIPS. The Commune Social is another successful creation of modern tapas bar & restaurant in Shanghai. You can have a twisted fine dining experience there with creative tapas, desserts and Spanish-inspired cocktails from the menu and the little black boards. Plus, my eyes and cameras are well feed by 'lab-designed' dining space and the wonderful view of open kitchen.

ABBEY ROAD | SHANGHAI

Abbey Road

45 Yue Yang Rd, Corner of Dong Ping Rd, Xuhui District, Shanghai

+86 21 6431 6787 

Mon to Fri. 4pm till late night

Sat & Sun. 10am till late night

Happy Hour. 4pm - 8pm (Daily)

Weekend Brunch. 10am - 4pm

ABBEY ROAD. Weibo

The restaurant has two parts, outdoor terrace and indoor bar & dining place. Even indoor, it is well separated into smoking (bar) and non-smoking (dining) area, while of course, you can have your meal/snacks wherever you prefer. For it's quite popular in expats, the overall culture of this bar & restaurant is international and English-speaking. Classic American cuisine, you won't miss burgers, fries and maybe the yummy potato dishes; but also they have simple pasta to serve, as most of western restaurants do nowadays. What I love is their casual environment for a drink or for a meal, and for sure, the attractive deal in the happy hours.

POCHO SOCIAL CLUB | SHANGHAI

Pocho Social Club

376 Jianguo Xi Lu (West Jian Guo Road), near Tai Yuan Lu (Rd), Xuhui District, Shanghai

徐家匯建國西路376號，近太原路 (Line 9, Jia Shan Lu Station)

+86 21 5419 8727

"School Nights"/ Weekday. 7pm - 2am

Weekend & Holiday. 7pm - 4am

Went to Pocho, is just a random decision when I was searching some potential bars in Shanghai. The thick wooden door covers the whole bar, which is well located in the quiet Shanghaiese blocks. Magically, since my first visit, I could spend over 3 hours there every time. For what? maybe, their good cocktails and creative and smart bartenders to make you customized drinks always; maybe, the lovely and friendly bar owners to share his love to tequila and willing to tell me a lot professional knowledge about tequila; maybe, the Latin America musics with passion and happiness in the bar all night...

LIQUID LAUNDRY | SHANGHAI

LIQUID LAUNDRY KITCHEN & BREW

2/F, Kwah Centre, 1028 Middle Huai Hai Rd, Shanghai, 200030

+86 21 6445 9589

info@theliquidlaundry.com

Sun to Tue. 11am - 12am

Wed to Sat. 11am - 2am

LIQUID LAUNDRY. Facebook

Chic restaurant opens in the end of April, 2014. It follows the group (Box Cat) concept to present a casual pub/bar style, while it is also run as a modern chic restaurant, a little bit high standard with a large selection of quality crafted brews, and special cocktails. Alcohols, undoubtedly, is the main role in this restaurant.

A GOOD AFTERNOON IN SHANGHAI | SHANGHAI

(Photo from the Internet)

Good? Bad? Afternoon tea, highly depends on the place where you have it. In Shanghai, I’m pretty sure you have a hand of good choices no matter you are a Bund View fan, or old Shanghai taste of French Concession Area. Well, I’m over-expected the High-tea experience along the Bund, enjoying the rooftop terrace and star-labeled restaurant service. Those little cafés pleased me a lot in adverse. 

SINMEI TEA 川善居 | SHANGHAI

SinMei Tea 

川善居

35 Shao Xing Lu, Xujiahui, Shanghai 

上海徐家匯紹興路35號（近陝西南路）
Tel. +86 136 5178 4392

Wed to Sun. 11.30am - 8pm

SINMEI TEA. Facebook

The Most Traditional and Normal Shanghainese Breakfast | SHANGHAI

In real Shanghainese family, what do they have for every normal morning? In my childhood, bread with milk or steamed bun with milk, are two most frequent sets of breakfast, but in fact, it is not Shanghainese tradition, it's just a rushing poor student who want to keep good morning breakfast habit. 

For breakfast, I'm not sure how many young generation still remember those BIG FOUR, Roasted Flatbread (shāobǐng), Fried Twisted Bread Stick (yóutiáo), Bean Curd and Chinese Rice Roll. Luckily, the morning of my best friend's wedding ceremony, we have three of them with the whole big family.

Popular Taiwan Herbal Jelly Dessert | Shanghai

Herbal Jelly is quite typical Taiwanese dessert. I remember my first herbal jelly experience is from Taiwanese milktea shop. Guessing many people has tried many times. Herbal jelly has a kind of strange flavor to me, a little bitter but fresh like fake mint. It's quite summer food for its natural cooling-down feeling when you 'swollen' it. I have no idea why there are no specialized Taiwanese herbal jelly shop in Hong Kong, while luckily when I come back home, I have a lot of choices (and super cheap) in Shanghai. MeetFresh （鮮芋仙）is one of them, and probably the first Taiwanese Herbal Jelly shop in Shanghai, thus it earns great first-entry advantage to be popular now.

Home-style Italian 'Inn' | PASTA INN | SHANGHAI

Pasta Inn, a little Italian restaurant opened by a Shanghai family, locates on Si Nan Road. Far way from the noisy Middle Huai Hai Road, to keep quiet. Glass door with metal structure, while curtain cover everything inside. Passenger is rarely recognize this opening eat-in place when passing by it quickly.  


這家上海人開的小意式餐廳是朋友帶著去的，位於思南路的中半段上，地處較為僻靜些，門面也十分低調，鐵質框架的玻璃移門，拉的密密實實的白色窗簾把這間餐廳隱蔽起來，若是不留心那塊懸掛在門把上的“營業中”字樣，絕對是要錯過的。

Upgraded 麻辣燙？！| 一線燙撈 | SHANGHAI

麻辣燙曾幾何時是大學時代每週必吃的一餐，可謂是風雨不動。即使知道麻辣燙既不衛生也不健康，甚至致病致癌，百毒集一身，但奈何其熱滾滾的湯頭，香辣重口的刺激口感，以及大雜燴式的“滿漢全席”讓人好似上癮一般的迷戀。

麻辣燙, I don't know the official English name of it, I just consider it as mini Chinese hot pot. It's the must item for each university student living in school every week, probably every Friday have it. All is clear about the healthy problem of it, actually it's the top 1-3 of the most poisonous & unhealthy food list, coz the soup is boiling all day that the indigents will release a lot poisonous metal elements... While it's still very popular for its spicy and hot tasting.

一夜藍蛙 Casual Night with Blue Frog | Shanghai

上海的獨立bistro 不算多，能夠做到獨樹一幟且地道又價格相宜的少之又少。藍蛙，算是較為大眾化的連鎖bar& restaurant，綜合式的餐牌大多以意式為主，夜晚也設有happy hour時間段，價格中上水平，餐廳通常以昏暗配上螢光藍為主調，每一桌都有燭光添加氣氛，restaurant的氛圍較濃些。

There's not many interesting bistro in Shanghai, and not mention the impressive one which is affordable to normal consumers. Blue Frog, has developed chain shops in Shanghai, a kind of bar & restaurant style. The menu is typically mixed with world flavor based on Italian food or American. Normally there's a fantastic environment inside with candle lights and blue lighting.

Why HK don't have Mister Donut?! | MISTER DONUT | SHANGHAI

Donuts 是我每每回上海必食之物，實在可惜香港沒有美仕唐納滋的分店，讓我長時間想念那些造型可愛，選擇多多，彈牙又甜蜜好食的圈圈們。

Donuts is the must sweets every time back home. Still cannot figure out why there's no Mister Donut in Hong Kong. I always miss Mister's colorful, cute, and chewy donuts so much.

Snowy Winter & Sunny Spring 【小小花園 & 小花咖啡館】| Shanghai

小小花園是我上海的一個死黨在我沒來香港那會就嚷嚷著要去的咖啡店，那陣子“花園系列”應該還沒發展起來，不料僅僅過了一年半，這次回到上海特地約上朋友一探究竟，盡在網路上發現已儼然發展處“花園系列”咖啡館，更是遍佈上海各大知名“隱蔽”+“小資”區域，基本都具有大棵梧桐樹，非主幹道小徑以及市中心等幾大特點！

Wonderful House of Italian | COLABO | SHANGHAI

上海市徐家匯音樂學院圈，向來就不是個平凡地，租界、領館、音樂學子徘徊之處，這些元素聚集在一起便有了神秘又讓人欲罷不能的摩登風情。這一區最多的要屬bar & cafe，若是有心人也能繞進弄堂，找到隱藏在改頭換面的石庫門老洋房中的西餐廳。Colabo 就屬於這樣一間，地處汾陽路，但其實是在三路交匯的地帶；餐廳與另一間以品酒為特色的餐廳共處一幢三四層樓高的舊時老洋房，若想要入餐廳，必要彎進社區小道，確實夠隱蔽！

【舊博精選】我就是喜歡壽喜鍋的甜醬油！| 食道園 | SHANGHAI

濛濛細雨的傍晚跟一班老友相約長樂路上的一處僻靜食肆享用晚餐外加交流感情

本來一心想著要吃次火鍋的，正好【食道園】主打日式火鍋，想來日式火鍋一向以清淡為主，且也算是火鍋吧自己又甚為慚愧盡然從來沒有吃過日式火鍋，這次就決定由著老友的大眾點評推薦，來這裡一探究竟！

聽說生意還幾好呢，雖說是定了位子，但卻有兩個小時的時限，因為突然雨勢漸猛的樣子，唯有早早的就來到並不難找的店家里躲雨

店面不大，也算是深深的藏在街后了，雖說是臨街的店鋪但不卻有份難得的僻靜，到底長樂路不比一街之隔的淮海中路那樣喧囂，細雨中倒也別有一番風味

【舊博精選】石庫門*樓頂*美酒佳餚【The Roof】| Shanghai

每次回上海跟同樣的人總是要去同類型的地方 

為的就是小左幾口外加可以肆無忌憚的聊八卦 這日夜晚便依著老友的推薦去到一個名為The Roof的Bar 享受晚餐+宵夜

位置倒是不偏不倚處於鬧中取靜的好地方 再加上位於一藝術園區內的最高層 更是有露天的好風景 又被周遭頗具上海風格的老式洋樓包圍 四周也是鬱鬱蔥蔥的老梧桐樹 雖是夜色中 但整個園區內映射出的那幾道紅紅綠綠的螢光 再加上遠處透過來的路燈以及鬧市區的燈紅酒綠 

也把這片小天地的天空照的格外亮堂

【舊博精選】棗子樹下的齋味 | 棗子樹 | SHANGHAI

棗子樹位於奉賢路上 雖然說是被美琪和伊勢丹層層包圍住了 極不起眼 

但正所謂好味道不怕巷子深 這家以素菜為主打的菜館生意可是格外的好

一行6人雖說已是提早到達參觀 可還是因為桌子安排的問題 排隊等了好長時間才得以府內享用美食

不過一幫老友 也正好趁著排隊等位的機會聊天 也不覺得有多難熬

入內后背安排在比較靠大堂正中的位置 正巧坐在一部大型冷氣機正下方 分外清涼

周圍也都是些形形色色的人 有一家子來的 也有小年輕一對的 看來現在的人也是相當注重飲食上的清淡啊~ 不過實際證明 即使是素菜也油分不少 一點都不差于吃個川菜來著~