Shanghai Night Food Tour: Regional Eats & Drinks, Nanjing Road

Summary

Shanghai’s flavors after dark from family kitchens to lively streets

You’ll wander through Shanghai’s backstreets with a local guide, tasting over 15 regional dishes—from flaky pork mooncakes to spicy lamb skewers—and sharing drinks with locals along the way. Expect laughter over language slips, stories behind each recipe, and a real sense of how Shanghai eats after dark.

What’s the experience like?

We started just north of Nanjing Road, right where the city seems to breathe out after work—people everywhere, bikes rattling past, that warm smell of fried dough and something sweet in the air. Our guide, Li, waved us into this tiny place I’d never have noticed on my own. The first bite was a Shanghainese pork mooncake—flaky and salty-sweet—and I swear I could taste the lard in my fingers for ages after. Li told us it’s a breakfast thing too, but honestly it felt like a midnight snack kind of food. She laughed when I tried to say “xianrou yuebing” in Mandarin—probably butchered it. Still ate two.

We kept moving—ducking under laundry lines and neon signs—into another spot packed with families sharing bowls of noodles. There was this cumin smell coming from the kitchen that made me think of northwest China (Li said the chef was from Xi’an). The lamb skewers were spicy and smoky; I got chili oil on my shirt but no one cared. At some point we tried baijiu with our food (I’ll be honest: it burns) and someone at another table toasted us just because we looked like we needed encouragement. That’s Shanghai at night for you.

I didn’t expect to learn so much about the city’s layers—how every dish comes from somewhere else but feels at home here. Walking those old lanes near Nanjing Lu, hearing snippets of Shanghainese and Mandarin mixing together, it hit me how much history is tucked between these restaurants. We ended near Jing’an Temple, bell towers glowing in the distance, and Li handed out this little packet with more food tips than I could ever use in one trip. I still think about that mooncake sometimes when I’m hungry late at night.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Evening Shanghai local food tour

• Join UnTour Food Tours at sunset
• Taste local Jiangnan and regional dishes
• Pair food with local beers and spirits
• Explore neighborhood north of Nanjing Road
• Learn about colonial history and famous locals
• End near historic Jing'an Temple
• Get subway or bar recommendations from guide

Top questions

How many tastings are included on this Shanghai night food tour?

The tour includes more than 15 different tastings from various regional Chinese cuisines.

Does the tour include drinks or alcohol?

Yes, Chinese beers and spirits (or soft drinks) are included during the tour.

Where does the Shanghai evening food tour start?

The tour begins in a centrally located residential neighborhood just north of Nanjing Road.

Is there hotel pickup included?

No hotel pickup is included; guests meet at a designated location near Nanjing Road.

Is this food tour suitable for children?

Yes, children can join if accompanied by an adult; infants can ride in prams or strollers.

Can dietary restrictions be accommodated?

Yes, but you must advise specific dietary requirements at booking so arrangements can be made in advance.

How does the tour end?

The tour ends near Jing’an Temple with easy access to public transportation or nearby bars.

Is public transportation available nearby?

Yes, public transportation options are available close to both start and end points of the tour.

What’s included

Your evening includes all samplings of food and drink throughout the tour (over 15 tastings), guidance from a professional local guide who shares stories and context as you walk between stops, plus a post-tour welcome packet full of restaurant recommendations and travel tips for exploring more of Shanghai on your own.