The Best Traditional Restaurants near Yu Garden in Shanghai

Which traditional restaurants near Yu Garden in Shanghai serve the finest meals? The Yu Garden area is a bustling commercial hub, brimming with local shops, restaurants, street vendors, shopping malls, and vibrant markets. It’s not only a fantastic spot to discover great deals but also to relish traditional Shanghainese cuisine. In this article, I am unveiling a selection of traditional restaurants near Yu Garden that have earned the locals’ stamp of approval.

The best traditional restaurants near Yu Garden

Restaurants near Yu Garden offer a delightful range of traditional Shanghainese cuisine, providing a glimpse into the rich tapestry of Shanghai’s traditional way of life. Behind each of these culinary establishments lies a unique story and a slice of captivating history.

• Huxin Pavilion (湖心亭茶楼),  257 Yu Yuan Rd. Shanghai (上海豫园路257号)
• Nanxiang Steamed Bun Restaurant (南翔馒头店), 85 Yu Yuan Rd. Shanghai (上海豫园路85号)
• Ningbo Tangtuan Shop(宁波汤团店), Yuyuan New Rd, (上海豫园老街104号)
• Lü Bo Lang (绿波廊), Yuyuan New Rd,  Shanghai (上海文昌路10号)
• Chunfeng Songyue Lou(春风松月楼), 23 BaiLing Rd. Shanghai, China (百翎路23号)
• Shanghai Lao Fan Dian (上海老饭店), 242 Fuyou Rd. Shanghai (福佑路242号)

Huxin Pavilion (湖心亭茶楼)

Background

Huxin Pavilion, a venerable establishment near Yu Garden, stands as Shanghai’s oldest and most renowned tea house. Constructed in 1784, it transitioned into a teahouse in 1855. Nestled at the heart of the Zigzag Bridge (九曲桥) overlooking the lotus pond outside Yuyuan Garden, this historic tea house boasts a storied past, drawing esteemed political figures and global celebrities. Notably, it had the privilege of hosting Queen Elizabeth II, representing the city of Shanghai. Huxin Pavilion is a cherished relic of Shanghai’s heritage, welcoming visitors to relish in its rich history and tea traditions.

Specialties

Indulge in a classic Chinese-style afternoon tea at Huxin Pavilion, a charming experience. Explore a variety of renowned teas like West Lake Longjing, Anji White Tea, Oolong Tea, Qimen Black Tea, Biluochun, Pu’er Tea, and Taiwan Oolong. For the best atmosphere, head upstairs. Choose a comfortable spot, order a pot of premium tea, and take a leisurely break after visiting Yu Garden. Don’t miss out on the local tradition of pairing tea with delightful Dim Sum (点心) like small glutinous rice dumplings. Sometimes, a pot of tea comes with some local sweet and salty snacks to complement your tea time.

Nanxiang Steamed Bun Restaurant (南翔馒头店)

Background

Nanxiang Steamed Bun Restaurant (南翔馒头店) is renowned for its delectable Nanxiang Steamed Buns (小笼包). Situated adjacent to the picturesque Zigzag Bridge (九曲桥) and just next to the Huxin Pavilion (湖心亭茶楼), this historic eatery has a fascinating backstory. In 1900, its founder, Wu Xiangsheng, originally operated a restaurant in Nanxiang, Jiading. Recognizing the influx of temple-goers in this area, he astutely expanded his business to this location.

Soon, Wu Xiangsheng’s culinary innovation extended beyond the restaurant’s walls as he started providing his signature buns to nearby tea houses. These delightful steamed buns quickly became a favorite among tea house patrons, who enjoyed them as a perfect complement to their tea-drinking sessions. Today, Steamed Buns (小笼包) are a popular breakfast food or snack among the locals.

Specialties

Sometimes, locals call these tasty treats “Steamed Soup Buns” (小笼汤包). What makes them special is the jelly broth inside that turns into delicious soup when the buns are steamed. The dough for the buns is made carefully from different flours, and every 100 grams of it makes a tray of Xiaolongbao. These steamed buns look like cute little pagodas. Nowadays, the restaurant offers lots of different fillings to suit all tastes. It’s a common sight to see both locals and tourists waiting in line outside, lured by the amazing smell and taste.

Ningbo Tangtuan Shop(宁波汤团店)

Background

Tangtuan (汤团), or Tangyuan, are the star attraction here. These little rice balls originate from Ningbo in Zhejiang Province, a place famous for its delectable cuisine. They’re a special treat often enjoyed during festivals like the winter solstice (冬至) and the Lantern Festival (元宵节), which marks the end of Chinese New Year, bringing families and friends together for a warm celebration. But nowadays, you can enjoy Tangtuan all year round, whether for a delightful breakfast, a sweet dessert, or a tasty snack to satisfy your cravings.

Specialties

The Tangtuan you find here are wonderfully round, symbolizing happiness and family unity, especially during Chinese New Year. They come in various sizes and are filled with delightful sweet and meaty surprises. One beloved filling combines rich black sesame paste with flavorful pork lard.

Lü Bo Lang  (绿波廊)

Background

Lü Bo Lang is right next to the Zigzag Bridge (九曲桥). The three-story building has an architectural style of Ming and Qing Dynasties and is in harmony with the artificial lake and its pavilion. Lü Bo Lang has hosted many celebrities, such as the former US President Bill Clinton, Queen Elizabeth, Japanese Prime Minister Takeshita, Prime Minister of Iceland, and Australian Prime Minister.

Specialties

It is famous for its Shanghai-style of snacks. Its snacks are fresh, each in small size, and beautifully shaped. One of the common snacks locals like to order is Pan-Fried turnip Cake (萝卜丝酥饼). The main ingredients are grated turnips, dried shrimp, mushrooms and little spring onions. Another one is Crispy Jujube Cake (枣泥酥饼), whose main ingredient is jujube paste.

The restaurant also offers Shanghai traditional dishes. Some of its dishes use made from crab meats. The location is absolutely the best. If possible, you should try some food when you are in the area. It is one of the traditional restaurants near Yu Garden whose name is famous both domestic as well as international.

Chunfeng Songyue Lou (春风松月楼)

Background

Established in 1910, this is Shanghai’s oldest vegetarian eatery. Its founder, Xu Huijia, began his culinary journey as an apprentice, mastering the art of vegetarian cooking. With experience in hand, he ventured to open his own restaurant. Personally overseeing everything from ingredient selection to food quality and cooking, Xu’s dedication paid off as his establishment gained recognition among the city’s elites, who became devoted customers.

The dishes here feature common ingredients like tofu, mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and other garden-fresh vegetables. To mimic the textures of meat, soy protein takes the spotlight, while wheat gluten provides a chewy, meat-like consistency that’s easily tailored to suit various dishes.

Specialties

The menu here offers vegetarian versions of some classic Shanghai dishes. A standout is the Su Cai Bao Zi, or vegetarian steamed buns. Packed with a delightful blend of Shanghai green vegetables, mushrooms, bamboo shoots, flavourful bean curd, and wheat gluten, these buns offer a burst of freshness and flavour with every bite. The bun’s skin is soft and non-sticky, making the experience even more enjoyable. Not only are they budget-friendly, but they are also exceptionally delicious.

For many locals, it’s a common practice to purchase ready-made dishes for family meals at home. That’s why you’ll find a takeaway area on the ground floor. The food here is budget-friendly yet boasts authentic tastes. Upstairs, you’ll discover a comfortable seating area where you can order dishes and enjoy them right there in the restaurant.

Shanghai Lao Fandian (上海老饭店)

Background

Established in 1875, this restaurant boasts over a century of rich history. Its founder, Zhang Huanying from Pudong Chuansha, originally pursued a career as a chef. In 1875, he secured a modest dwelling not far from the current location and inaugurated a quaint eatery known as Rongshun Restaurant. Zhang personally took charge of preparing the dishes, while his wife served them. Despite its modest beginnings, the restaurant featured an array of authentic Shanghainese home-style dishes. Quickly, it gained popularity within the local neighbourhood, prompting Zhang to rename it Lao Fandian (老饭店).

Specialties

Shanghai Lao Fandian is renowned for its signature dish, Ba Bao Ya (八宝鸭), or Eight Treasure Duck. This delectable duck is generously stuffed with eight ingredients: lean pork, bamboo shoots, gingko nuts, dried chestnuts, lotus seeds, dried shrimps, dried mushrooms, and jujubes. To render the duck fat, the chef fills it with glutinous rice, which absorbs the duck’s rich flavors during steaming. This culinary masterpiece is then steamed for hours, resulting in tender meat infused with the distinctive charcoal essence that signifies its signature status.

Another beloved Shanghainese classic is Flash-Fried River Shrimp (油爆河虾). This dish calls for skillful preparation, as it involves small river shrimps, vinegar, sugar, salt, soy sauce, spring onions, ginger, cooking oil, and cooking wine. The key is achieving perfectly crispy shrimp shells, which locals are adept at devouring if you can’t be bothered to remove them yourself.

Shanghai Lao Fandian prides itself on offering top-notch food quality, excellent service, and a bilingual menu. If you’re in search of affordable, authentic Shanghainese cuisine, look no further than Lao Fandian.

Conclusion

With every delicious bite you enjoy at these restaurants near Yu Garden, you’re not just experiencing the wonderful flavors of Shanghainese cuisine; you’re also tasting the amazing history and stories that make Shanghai so special. So, as you discover these culinary treasures, remember that each meal is like a journey through time, a way to celebrate tradition, and a taste of Shanghai’s fascinating past.