A budget Shanghai snack for hairy crab fans. 1. Xie ke huang (crab shell pie, 蟹壳黄) Why we love it: Although those hairy crustaceans from Yangcheng lake aren’t available year-round, xie ke huang, aka the poor Shanghainese man’s hairy crab, can be found around the town in any season. Baked in a clay oven until golden brown, these little oval pies are stuffed with sweet or savory fillings. The name is inspired by its appearance -- freshly baked xie ke huang look like crispy golden crab shells. Where to get it: We've been coming back for Wuyuan Bingjia’s savory xie ke huang for years, despite the grouchy service. Try the cong you-flavored ones (spring onion and lard, RMB 1) for the most authentic Shanghainese taste. Wuyuan Bingjia (吴苑饼家), 255 Yanping lu, near Kangding Lu 延平路255号, 近康定路, +86 21 6256 5556, 6 a.m.-11 p.m. These yummy buns are well worth the blisters on your tongue. 2.Sheng jian (fried bun, 生煎) Why we love it: It’s hard to resist succulent pork buns, especially when they are fried and garnished with fresh spring onion and toasted sesame. They taste best just out of the pan -- totally worth the blisters on your tongue. Where to get it: Xiao Yang Sheng Jian is the best-known fried bun restaurant in town, but our favorite place is a little joint named Bu Cuo Sheng Jian Wang on the corner of Fujian Zhong Lu and Guangdong Lu. For RMB 6, you can get four sinfully delicious buns. Bu Cuo Sheng Jian Wang (不错生煎王), 90 Fujian Zhong Lu, near Guangdong Lu 福建中路90号, 近广东路, +86 21 6373 1944, 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Kick-start your day with a filling rice ball. 3. Ci fan (rice ball, 粢饭) Why we love it: Ci fan is one of the most popular breakfast foods in Shanghai. These glutinous rice balls have everything you ever needed for an energetic start to your day. Typical stuffing includes a you tiao (fried dough stick), pickled vegetables, pork floss, white sugar and sometimes eggs and ham. Tastes best when hot. Where to get it: Hit the corner of Nanyang Lu and Xikang Lu for the most authentic Shanghainese ci fan. With a secret homemade meat sauce and delicious fried egg stuffing, this 20-year-old ci fan stand is hands-down the best in Shanghai. 100 Nanyang Lu, near Xikang Lu 南阳路100号, 近西康路, no telephone, around 7-10 a.m. Shanghainese deep-fried pork chop usually come with a couple of rice cakes. 4. Pai gu nian gao (pork chop with rice cakes, 排骨年糕) Why we love it: The best part of this Shanghainese dish is neither the deep-fried pork chop nor the sweet-soy sauce glaze, it’s the nian gao. Made of glutinous rice flour, nian gao has a compact texture that seals the subtle, fragrant taste of sticky rice from any heavy sauce. Where to get it: Proudly naming itself after the dish, Xiandelai’s pork chops and rice cakes are a must-try. Remember to sweet-talk the ayi behind the counter to giving you a freshly fried serving because it tastes like heaven while piping hot. Xiandelai Pai Gu Nian Gao (鲜得来排骨年糕), 9 Yandang Lu, near Xing’an Lu 雁荡路9号, 近兴安路, +86 21 6386 8377, 7 a.m.-9 p.m. Nothing tastes more Shanghai than these porky dumplings. 5.Xiaolongbao(soup dumpling, 小笼包) Why we love it: RMB 4 usually gets you eight of these velvety and delicate Shanghai classics. The cure for any hunger pang, these are seriously good. Where to get it: Everywhere. That is the greatest thing about xiaolongbao -- they can be ordered at five-star restaurants, malls, food courts and street stalls. Our favorite, though, are from the stall on the corner of Yunnan Nan Lu and Jinling Dong Lu. Corner of Yunnan Nan Lu and Jinling Dong Lu 云南南路金陵东路路口
Find these tasty soupy wontons on Jingling Dong Lu, if you're lucky. 6. Chai Pan wonton (柴爿馄饨) Why we love it: Nothing beats a bowl of warm wonton soup at 3 a.m. on a freezing winter night. We know the soup is laden with MSG, and the cart and cookers haven’t been cleaned for at least a decade, but one bite of the translucent wrapper and its tasty pork stuffing, and you’ll know it's worth it. Where to get it: Chaipan Wonton stands used to be seen on every street corner after 8 p.m., but only a few remain. Take a stroll down Jinling Dong Lu after a night on the Bund; you should be able to cap your Mo?t and foie gras with RMB 5 worth of joy in a bowl. Jinling Dong Lu, between Sichuan Zhong Lu and Jiangxi Lu 金陵东路，在四川中路和江西路之间, around 11 p.m.-later One of the easiest Shanghai street foods to grab and go. 7.Cong You Bing (green onion pancake, 葱油饼) Why we love it: The best green onion pancakes are cooked up by little old grannies (and grandpas) who get up at 6 a.m. to cook, knead and slap these petite bing in the city’s many longtangs. Where to get it: Our favorite cong you bing stall lies behind a big black gate on Xiangyang Nan Lu, run by a local granny. Follow your nose and the huge line to find the most authentic Shanghai scallion pancake (RMB 1.5 for one). Spoil yourself by asking for an extra egg on top of your bing (RMB 3 for an egg pancake). Ah Po Cong You Bing (阿婆葱油饼), Lane 578 Xiangyang Nan Lu, near Zhaojiabang Lu, 襄阳南路578弄口, 近肇嘉浜路, no telephone, Monday-Friday: 2:30 p.m.-later
Have a Shanghainese "donut". 8. Tang gao (deep-fried donut, 糖糕) Why we love it: Shanghai’s answer to donuts, these deep-fried Krispy Kreme look-alikes are made from glutinous rice flour and coated with white sugar. They look seriously greasy, but taste seriously good. Where to get it: You can find tang gao at almost every breakfast stand in the city. Grab a freshly made one (RMB 1.5) to go with a cup of non-sweetened soy milk. The breakfast stand on Zhejiang Zhong Lu, near Fuzhou Lu 浙江中路靠近福州路上的早饭摊, no telephone, around 7 a.m.-10 a.m. A relatively new face in Shanghai's street food scene, duck blood soup has attracted some die-hard followers. 9. Yaxue fensi tang (duck blood and glass noodle soup, 鸭血粉丝汤) Why we love it: Brought to Shanghai by a few duck-loving Nanjing natives more than a decade ago, yaxue fensi tang is what many Shanghainese consider the go-to choice for a quick but hearty lunch. It’s got everything: duck soup, duck blood and entrails, green vegetables and glass noodles. What more could you ask for? Where to get it: There are numerous chains around town, but our favorite is Zhouli, thanks to their generous portions and friendly prices (RMB 12). Zhouli Laoya Fensi (妯娌老鸭粉丝), on Qipu Lu, near Zhejiang Bei Lu 七浦路, 近浙江北路, no telephone, 7:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Deep-fried and salted, these rice cakes are an old-school Shanghai breakfast. 10. Ci fan gao (deep-fried rice cake, 粢饭糕) Why we love it: Sometimes, simple is best. This salted glutinous rice cake doesn’t have fancy stuffing or pretty garnish, but one single sheet will instantly hit the spot. Where to get it: The ci fan gao stand on Zhejiang Zhong Lu has never disappointed any hungry soul. Deep-fried until golden brown, these cakes are crispy on the outside and soft and tender inside. 125 Zhejiang Zhong Lu, near Fuzhou Lu 浙江中路125号, 近福州路, no telephone, around 7 a.m.-10 a.m.
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