Authentic Local Food Tour in Central Shanghai
Recommended by 100% of travelers
Shanghai, China
- 3 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Enjoy a more immersive way to explore popular Shanghai areas such as Xintiandi and the French Concession—and sample many traditional dishes—on this small-group food tour. With your guide in the lead, discover sights and bites you'd miss on your own. Look forward to sampling Shanghainese dishes such as scallion oil noodles, soup dumplings, steamed buns, and more, and learn about the history and culture of the city.
- Discover multiple Shanghai areas, bites, and eateries in one tour
- Choose from morning, lunch, evening, or late-night tours
- Includes all food and drink tastings: enough for a generous meal
- Enjoy a more personal experience on a small-group tour
What's Included
- Local guide
- Food and drink tastings (enough for breakfast, lunch or dinner)
- Local beer or desert for late night session
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- 333 Huai Hai Zhong Lu, Huang Pu Qu, Shang Hai Shi, China, 200021
Please meet up at Exit 2, Site of the first CPC national congress-South Huangpi Road Metro Station (Line 1). Or Take Didi (the Chinese version of Uber) to No333 Huaihai Road which is the front door of Xintiandi Plaza. 你好，请带我去上海地铁1号线一大会址-黄陂南路站2号出口，或者淮海中路333号新天地广场正门.
End point
- People's Square, Huangpu, Shanghai, China
Tour will end around the People Square.
Itinerary
Find your way to a central meeting point in Shanghai, where you meet your guide and small group. Depart on foot for the Xintiandi area.
Make your first stop at a local restaurant serving up the best soup dumplings in the city. Find a table among the locals, then taste the famous dish and participate in an in-depth discussion on the flavor and consistency of the broth, the quality of the meat filling, and the texture of the dumplings' skin. Learn about the history of this dish as a Shanghainese staple.
Then, set off to the French Concession, home to historic shikumen houses. This atmospheric neighborhood is home to many top restaurants where you can try local dishes, and see how residents eat. Taste dishes such as spring rolls, roasted duck, scallion oil noodles, and red-braised pork.
Between stops, cleanse your palate with green or black tea and listen to your guide's commentary on Shanghai's culinary culture and traditions.
This tour ends at the People's Square.
Make your first stop at a local restaurant serving up the best soup dumplings in the city. Find a table among the locals, then taste the famous dish and participate in an in-depth discussion on the flavor and consistency of the broth, the quality of the meat filling, and the texture of the dumplings' skin. Learn about the history of this dish as a Shanghainese staple.
Then, set off to the French Concession, home to historic shikumen houses. This atmospheric neighborhood is home to many top restaurants where you can try local dishes, and see how residents eat. Taste dishes such as spring rolls, roasted duck, scallion oil noodles, and red-braised pork.
Between stops, cleanse your palate with green or black tea and listen to your guide's commentary on Shanghai's culinary culture and traditions.
This tour ends at the People's Square.
1
Xintiandi
45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Former French Concession
50 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
3
People's Square (Renmin Guang Chang)
50 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Wheelchair accessible
- Children under 3 are free of charge
- Stroller accessible
- Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
- Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
- Service animals allowed
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- Near public transportation
- Please wear comfortable walking shoes
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
- Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
5.0
based on 1,447 reviews
Dominique_A, Mar 2026
Amazing! It was our one and only evening in Shanghai and what a great introduction to the city via food! We had an insightful, friendly and welcoming host who took us to 5 restaurants - the food was more than enough and we felt well fed with our small group - would highly recommend!
Stephen_M, Mar 2026
Excellent tour by Jade, informative and great selection of food stops.
Jade was exceptional at providing gluten free alternatives when required for my wife. Nothing was compromised. Recommend Jade highly.
Anthony_H, Mar 2026
Jade was excelent as a guide through a wonderful evening tour if the Shanghai food scene. Ienjoyed a variety of dishes from restaurants I might not havw gone to myself.
Owen_R, Mar 2026
Jade was a great guide she was always smiling and laughing! She had great knowledge on the local food and could answer any question I had. I would recommend the tour to anyone!
Kara_G, Mar 2026
Jane and Cindy were excellent guides! What an enjoyable experience full of delicious authentic food, great scenery, and fun people.
Favian_M, Mar 2026
This was one of the best food tours I have been to. Cindy was such an AMAZING host. My whole group would give her a 6/5 stars if we could. She was kind, approachable and funny. Food was diverse and tasty. Arrive hungry!
Gina_Z, Mar 2026
I recently took an amazing food tour in Shanghai with Jade and Alex, and I can’t recommend it enough! There was a good variety of foods that we tried and they all were delicious. I enjoyed the company of our guides. They were very knowledgeable and helpful and very cheerful.
Emily_K, Mar 2026
TJ was an excellent guide! We had AMAZING food and loved our entire experience. We got to learn some history and enjoy new things!
Joanne_V, Mar 2026
Jade was an excellent guide taking us to some awesome local places. Loved it all Learnt how to tackle soup dumplings and enjoyed finishing with tea. Lovely walk through the local park in the middle.
David_E, Mar 2026
Wonderful and intimate experience sampling several local dishes and teas. Certainly didn't leave hungry! Cindy was a marvelous host and a pleasure to be with.
Leah_S, Mar 2026
Jade gave us everything, fantastic food, a feel for the city, incredible photos and even a little snack for the next morning when we got too full! I got to try so much that I would have never discovered alone and had a lot of fun doing it. Jade was so funny and made us comfortable eating and hanging out.
Lena_Y, Mar 2026
Excellent food tour. Jim was a great guide, a local but speaking impeccable English. We had a great selection of food, from soup dumplings (xiao long buns) to kebabs to Michelin starred dining. Highly recommend.
Cindy_M, Mar 2026
Jade was a wonderful tour guide! She was full of personality and very knowledgeable. There was a nice variety of food and a fun tea experience. We also had a beautiful walk through some parks. I would highly recommend!
Lainey_B, Mar 2026
Jaime and Jim were beyond wonderful, and so was the food (but they were the highlight). Come hungry because you will eat your weight in delish snacks and dinner dishes
Akshai_L, Mar 2026
Jim and Jamie were great hosts. Some great places that we would never have gone before. Generous amount of food. Highly recommend this tour.
EdgarYunel_A, Mar 2026
So glad we booked this. Our guide TJ was an absolute highlight , funny, warm, and incredibly knowledgeable about the city. She didn’t just take us to eat, she told us the history and stories behind the food and the neighborhoods, which made the whole experience so much richer.
Every single stop was worth it. Great variety, loads of different dishes to try, and honestly nothing disappointed. We enjoyed every single bite. Whether you’re a big foodie or just someone who loves eating well, this tour delivers.
TJ’s energy and passion for Shanghai is contagious , she genuinely loves what she does and it shows. Our whole group had a fantastic time.
100% recommend. One of the best experiences of the whole trip!
Dan_S, Mar 2026
Lovely trip, nice way to enjoy an interesting evening with colleagues.
Jim was a great guide and host
Dorota_K, Mar 2026
We had the opportunity to try delicious regional food and drinks with company of very friendly and passionate guide
Alan_D, Mar 2026
Jim was an outstanding guide. Not only did he take us to several food places and explain the intricacies of the preparation, he also took us to a local grocery store where we were able to sample any of the fruits and vegetables that we desired. The evening was well paced, and nobody left hungry. This was probably one of the best tours I have ever taken. Thank you, Jim.
crombo, Mar 2026
It’s a real life experience that gives you better idea of how the local communities live and function. A special mention to Jim who made the experience all the better !
Jeffrey_T, Mar 2026
The nighttime food tour was so much fun and delicious! I highly recommend Jim and this tour. Jim was knowledgeable and personable, and he always gave us insights about what we were eating and the cultural significance of the food. We ate at places that we would have never encountered otherwise and visited neighborhoods not cluttered with tourists. The night went by quickly and our only disappointment was that it had to end. Our experience was as enjoyable as it was educational and we will repeat this tour the next time we visit Shanghai.
xiaboo_H, Feb 2026
Great food tour. The places were thoughtfully chosen and each stop had real character and flavor. TJ’s knowledge about the city and the food made the tour even more interesting. Well-paced and genuinely worth it.
Jones_C, Feb 2026
I’ve done many food tours around the world, and even with high expectations, this one truly exceeded them.
We sampled over 15 different dishes, spanning a wide range of regional flavors — from northwestern specialties to classic Shanghai local cuisine, and even some creative fusion dishes. The variety and pacing were excellent.Definitely good value for the money!
One of my absolute favorites was the scallion oil noodles (Cong You Ban Mian). It’s such a simple dish, yet so flavorful and comforting — and definitely something I wouldn’t be able to find back home. If you’re in Shanghai, this is the place to enjoy the authentic version!
A big thank you to our guide, Jim, a true Shanghainese local. He shared so much about Chinese customs, traditions, and daily life, giving us insights we would never have discovered on our own.
Thank you for bringing us the very best of Shanghai — through both its food and its culture!Wishing you all a happy Chinese New Year.
Deborah_A, Feb 2026
Jade was a great guide. Even during the New Year closings and crowds, she took us to many great local places to try many yummy foods. Was a great experience all around.
Liarne_B, Feb 2026
I had an absolutely amazing time with TJ as my food tour guide in Shanghai. TJ is incredibly knowledgeable on Shanghai culture, traditions and its delicious food. I loved how she explained things about the food as we tried it and seeing the local history with my own eyes and hearing how connected the local people are with their city. TJ took me to delectable food places and I definitely have a new favourite cuisine! I highly recommend this food tour especially with TJ, she is so kind and friendly and her wealth of knowledge made this a really enjoyable experience. Thank you!! 10/10 from me :)
Stephen_T, Feb 2026
A very enjoyable evening with some great food and a few drinks. Kurt, our guide, showed us some great places to eat and was a very pleasant and knowledgeable guide. Thanks for a great evening, Kurt. More than happy to recommend this trip.
Arnold_B, Feb 2026
After having done a spectacular foodtour in Bangkok, we decided to repeat this in Shanghai. It was a true dissapointment: The tour guide explained 2 or 3 city highlights which were completely not interesting in the French corner of the city. Though the worst was the food. Our expectations were high, as chinese food we consider one of the nicest cuisines in the world. However we only liked 1 out of the 5 restaurants we visited. We could not understand that when we ate dumplings in the 2nd restaurant and half the food was not eaten, that this signal was not understood and in the 5th restaurant we again were given dumplings. We paid USD 75 per person for the tour and we believe that not more then USD 20 was spend on food. It was a real dissapointment and do not feel we had the real taste of Shanghai ;-(
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Hi Arnold, thanks for your feedback. We apologized for you bad experience. It's one day before Chinese New Year. We're sorry that food choices we picked are not the best since most small shops closed.
Paul_D, Jan 2026
The food on this tour was excellent throughout, with some truly great dishes, making it a very enjoyable experience. Kurt was social and clearly enthusiastic. However, he may have missed the opportunity to properly introduce the group at the start, which made things a little awkward, though it never took away from the overall experience.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Hi Paul, thanks for your feedback. We're sorry for your experience in the beginning. Weather was terribly bad that night. He worried more about the group walking 5 mins under rain and wind for a bad start.
Ryan_P, Jan 2026
Great evening with Kurt who was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic. Lots of different dishes to try and some wouldn’t have picked but which surprised me. There was plenty of food and variety and the pace of the evening was just right. Thanks for a very memorable experience Kurt!
Justin_K, Jan 2026
Jade was a very fun and friendly tour guide, taking us to five amazing stops with a variety of great unique, local cuisine. It’s always fun to go to places you wouldn’t normally discover on your own.
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