16 Best Chinese Noodle Restaurants in Shanghai

Where the East meets the West, the vibrant metropolis Shanghai is famed for a diverse mix of culture and cuisine, and teemed with excellent cafes, Western restaurants, Chinese restaurants and noodle shops that cater to all tastes. We’ve filtered through recommendations from thousands of foodies to dig up the top Chinese noodle restaurants in Shanghai.

What is the Shanghai Style Noodles

Shanghai noodles, with their unique and diverse flavors, tell memories and stories about the city. From the traditional Yangchun noodles and yellow fish noodles to the innovative crabmeat noodles and crayfish noodles, each of them carries Shanghai people's ultimate pursuit of ingredients and unique understanding of flavor.

Shanghai noodles are uniquely seasoned. For example, the soup for yellow fish noodles is made from yellow fish bones, which is fresh but not fishy. The spicy sauce for the spicy meat noodles is made from a mixture of dried chili peppers, peppercorns, and Pixian bean paste, making the flavor spicy and delicious.

Shanghai noodles cooking skills are very fine. The noodles of Yangchun Noodles are thin and elastic, and they are boiled and passed through cold water to maintain the gluten and texture of the noodles. Shredded pork with snow vegetable noodles are deep-fried to crispiness, stir-fried with snow vegetable and then poured over the boiled noodles for a delicious flavor.

Shanghai noodles come with a wide selection of toppings, including a variety of meats, seafood, and vegetables.

Shanghai noodles focus on the balance of flavors. They are neither too light nor too heavy. The seasonings and ingredients are well matched, making the noodles rich in flavor.

Most famous Shanghai noodles include Yangchun noodles, yellow fish noodles, crayfish noodles, bullfrog noodles, shredded pork noodles with snow peas, spicy pork noodles, scallion oil noodles, large intestine noodles, large pork chop noodles, shredded eel noodles, popped fish noodles, and Luohan noodles with veggies.

Those small noodle houses hidden in the corners and alleys of Shanghai, seemingly inconspicuous, but, often, amazingly delicious.

>> Recommended China Gourmet Food Tours

For Spicy Meat Noodles (辣肉面)

1. 220 Noodle Restaurant, Shanghai (220辣肉面馆)

For local Shanghainese, 220 Noodle Restaurant is the first choice of spicy meat noodles. The red chili oil mixed with minced meat offers you a best flavor possible of spicy noodles.

2. Yongxing Noodle Restaurant (永兴面馆)

Most famous noodle restaurant in Shanghai for its duck leg noodles, Yongxing also has excellent spicy meat noodles, with spicy meat of authentic Shanghahi flavor.

>> Related reading: 8 Famous Noodles to Try in China

3. Chunhe Noodle Restaurant (春和面馆)

You’ll have to queue up at lunch time for their noodles. The soup is cooked by cow bones.

For Chitterlings Noodles (大肠面)

4. Dayan Noodle Restaurant (大眼面馆)

Developed from a steamed bun shop, Dayan noodles are favored by local people with fresh toppings, full-bodied soup and soft, good-smelled chitterlings.

5. Xianggeli Noodle Restaurant (香阁丽面馆)

The Shanghai style noodles look spicy and greasy, with lots of chili oil and seasonings, but are the foodies’ favorite, especially in winter.

For Yellow Croaker Noodles (黄鱼面)

6. Aniangmian Noodle Restaurant (阿娘面)

The most renowned Lane Noodles (弄堂面) of the Old Shanghai, A Niang Noodles are full of memories. Yellow croaker noodles are the specialty.

>> Related reading: 7 Most Popular Traditional Chinese Rice Noodles

7. Youxin Shanghai Dessert (有心上海点心)

The noodles are handmade, without any additive, and taste absolutely smooth. The yellow croakers are the best of its kind and cooked within 12 hours after caught.

• 1378, Huamu Rd, ShiJi GongYuan, Pudong (花木路1378号浦东嘉里城商场)
• 179, Maotai Rd, Changning (金光绿庭商场)

For Seafood Noodles (海鲜面)

8. Shi Mian Huan Teng Noodle Restaurant (十面欢腾)

The green crab noodles (with soup or without soup) are the most recommended.

• Price: around RMB60yuan per person
• Address: 795 Dingxi Rd, Changning District (长宁区定西路795号)/352 Changle Rd, Luwan District (卢湾区长乐路352号)

9. A Li Jia Noodle Restaurant (阿莉家的面)

The only noodle shop in Shanghai that offers Antarctic crayfish noodles, it combines the Japanese flavor with local Shanghai flavor. Enjoy the fresh seafood and delicious seasonings.

For Pork Liver Noodles (猪肝面)

10. Baotai Noodle Restaurant (宝泰面馆)

One of the top four noodle restaurants in Shanghai's Luwan District, Shanghai, it is an after-hours restaurant.

>> Related reading: 15 Signature Dishes of Authentic Chinese Food

11. Kingkong Wonton & Noodle Restaurant (金刚馄饨还有面)

As the name indicates, this Shanghai noodle restaurant is famous for offering Shanghai’s best wontons, as well as the pork liver noodles.

For Bullfrog Noodles (牛蛙面)

12. Haling Noodle Restaurant (哈灵面馆)

The good reputation has brought it numerous customers every day. A bowl of bullfrog noodles includes two or three bullfrogs, and can be shared by two girls.

For Sliced Eel Noodles (鳝丝面)

13. Fuhai Noodle Restaurant (福海面馆)

Another one of the top four noodle restaurants in Luwan District, Shanghai. 

14. Xiaoguan Noodle Restaurant (小管面馆)

The noodles with the ingredients are of typical Shanghai cuisine flavor and retain the old Luwan taste.

For Noodles Mixed with Scallion (葱油拌面)

15. Weiman Noodle Restaurant (味满)

Here the noodles recall local people’s childhood memory…

16. Laodifang Noodle Restaurant (老地方面馆)

A very small noodle shop in Shanghai, but with very high popularity! Give it a try on your Shanghai tour if you are a noodle lover. 

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