Best Local Breakfasts and Eateries in Shanghai

The best breakfast foods in Shanghai can mostly be found in tourist-free streets, which are always crowded and busy in the morning.

The normal breakfasts in Shanghai are scallion pancakes (jian bing), rolled rice cakes, fried dough sticks, soybean milk, pan-fried buns (sheng jian bao), and soup wontons.

If you’re looking for cheap, authentic, and time-honored eateries in Shanghai, pick up one of the below to start your food adventures.

1. Shanghai Pan Fried Pork Buns (Shengjian Mantou)

Shanghai is home to pan-fried buns, which come with a crispy bottom and soft skin on the top, inside with savory and juicy pork and spring onion fillings. The meat melts into the soup inside, and extra caution must be taken when biting into it; it’s hot! The best way to eat is to dip them in rice vinegar or chili oil, it can be accompanied by a small bowl of clear soup.

Where to Eat

A San Sheng Jian

• Price: 9 RMB for 4
• Address: No.1493 Caobao Road, Minhang District, Shanghai

Da Hu Chun

• Price: 30 RMB per person
• Address: No.136 Middle of Sichuan Road

Yang Dumpling (M2 Hong Kong Metropolis)

• Price: 8 RMB for 4
• Address: F1 No.489 South Henan Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai

2. Scallion Pancake

Many versions of scallion pancake can be found in the humble street stalls and restaurants in China. The authentic Shanghai Scallion Pancake is fired with cooking oil in a high-temperature pan, equally layered but smaller, chewy, and crispy, with sprinkled scallions throughout and toasted sesame seeds over it.

Where to Eat

A Da Cong You Bing 

• Price: 10 RMB for one piece
• Address: No.120-4, Ruijin 2nd Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai (Close to Yongjia Road)

Ti Lan Qiao Lao Tan Tou Cong You Bing Yi Hao

• Price: 6 RMB for one piece
• Address: No.328 Xikang Road, Jingan District, Shanghai

3. Fried Dough Sticks, Soybean Milk

The fried dough sticks and soybean milk are basic breakfasts in China; these kinds of stalls are in every corner of Shanghai. Shanghai people prefer salty soybean milk, while other areas in China prefer sweet soybean milk. Fried dough sticks have a slightly salty, crunchy exterior with a fluffy texture, they often go with soybean milk.

Wang Ayi Dou Jiang You Tiao Dian

• Price: averaged 17 RMB per capita
• Address: No.28, Pushan Road, Zhabei District (Zhong Hua Xin Road), Shanghai
• : 28

Da Pai Xiao Dang

• Price: averaged 20 RMB per capita
• Address: B2F, Jing Tie Plaza, Putuo District (Exit 3 of Line 13)
• : B2

TAO YUAN VILLAGE

• Price: averaged 40 RMB per capita
• Address: No.405, Taizhou Road, Jing'an District, Shanghai
• : 405

4. Rolled Sticky Rice

There are two types of rolled sticky rice: fried sticky rice balls and another is like rolled sushi, with meat floss, squash, pickles, and fried dough sticks wrapped inside. Sticky rice is available in white and blood glutinous rice, they are different in color and taste.

Where to Eat

Zhen Yuan Zi Fan Tuan

• Price: 8 RMB for a piece
• Address: No.993 West Nanjing Road
• Address in Chinese 993

Nan Yang Lu Ci Fan Tuan

• Price: 9 RMB for a piece
• Address: No.100 Nanyang Road, Jingan District
• Address in Chinese 100

5. Shanghai Wonton

Shanghai-style wonton uses square-shaped wrappers stuffed with a mixture of pork ground and Chinese bok choy (shepherd’s purse), cooked in boiling water and added with shredded egg, shrimp, seaweed, squash, and parsley before serving. You can also add chili oil or sesame seed oil as you like.

The wonton soup is boiling, bring a spoonful of soup close to your lip and feel the heat before putting it into your mouth, otherwise, it may burn your tongue.

Where to Eat

Nong Tang Xiao Hun Tun

• Price: averaged 17 RMB per capita
• Address: No. 714 Weihai Road (near North Maoming Road)

Er Guang Hun Tun

• Price: averaged 30 RMB per capita
• Address: Xintian Building, No.84 Anyuan Road, Shanghai

Gunag Ming Cun Da Jiu Jia

• Price: averaged 50 RMB per capita
• Address: No.588, middle of Guangming Road, Shanghai

6. Plain Noodles (Yang Chun Mian)

Yangchun Noodle is only served with noodles and soup. The fine and thin noodles are white as snow, and the soup is clear like spring, hence the name. The noodle soup is made of three materials to keep the flavor: chicken bones, pig bones, and eel bones.

One important ingredient for traditional Shanghai Yang Chun noodles is lard, people like to add a pinch of sprinkled scallions and a bit of lard into the soup before serving it to the table.

Where to Eat

De Xing Mian Guan

• Price: averaged 40 RMB per capita
• Address: No. 471 Guangdong Road, Huangpu District (near Fujian Road)

Wu Yue Ren Jia Mian Guan

• Price: averaged 25 RMB per capita
• Address: No.642, Manufacturing Bureau Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai

Yi Gui He Yang Chun Noodle Restaurant

• Price: averaged 20 RMB per capita
• 290

What Time is Breakfast Traditionally in Shanghai

The time for breakfast in Shanghai is usually between 6:30 am and 10:00 am. Most local strollers and eateries open in the early morning at 6:30 am, best to go before 8:00 am, where a variety of breakfasts are available.

Find the Most Authentic Breakfast Restaurants in Shanghai with China Travel

We know where to eat in the tourist-free area, just eat like a local. Discover the breakfast strolls hidden behind the bustling pedestrian streets and lanes on foot. These stalls are where you’ll find the classic, traditional foods of Shanghai, as well as the locals who cherish them.

• Shanghai Food Tour Recommendation: Shanghai Night Street Snack Food Adventure(3-hour)
• Contact us for further exploration!

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