Shanghai Food and Culture Tour (10 dishes, 5 eateries)
Overview
Available languages
3 hours 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
This is a public food tour. We'll discover the most authentic and delicious Chinese cuisine and dessert spots, sharing the fascinating stories behind the food. Along the way, we’ll pass iconic landmarks like Nanjing Road, People's Square, and the Bund, uncovering the untold histories behind them. This experience is perfect for both first-time visitors and long-time residents alike.
Tour Highlights:
1. Enjoy authentic food in Shanghai at five time-honored restaurants
2. Savor 10 dishes like crab roe soup dumplings, pork chops, egg pancakes, dessert, and more – enough to keep you full until dinner!
3. Admire the Bund and learn about its role in a defining moment of Chinese history.
4. Visit a lesser-known spot with stunning views of the Pudong skyline.
5. Experience the vibrant People's Square, once a racecourse.
6. Walk along Nanjing Road and hear stories of China’s first department stores.
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
Operates in all weather conditions (except for the extreme ones), please dress appropriately
Please wear comfortable shoes as there will be approx. 3-4 km of walking
Infants (age under 3) are welcome to join free of charge; however, please note that we do not provide infant seats in taxi
Children must be accompanied by an adult
This tour can be enjoyed either in the morning as a breakfast tour or in the evening as a dinner tour. There will be difference in food selection between the two, while the itinerary remains the same. The sequence of stops will be adjusted to fit the morning or evening schedule
Not recommended for gluten-free guests due to the common use of soy sauce in local cuisine
The options for vegetarian guests may be limited, although we will do our best to accommodate
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Nanjing Lu (Nanjing Road)
Once the commercial center of Shanghai 100 years ago, it remains bustling with shops and stores today. Discover China's first department store and its pioneering initiatives of that era
Visit 2 traditional time-honored restaurants. First stop is an egg pancake and rice sweets restaurant, a brand since 1875. Taste the soft, chewy glutinous rice sweets from a beloved restaurant that has been a staple on Nanjing Road for over 100 years. With a perfect blend of sweet red bean and nutty sesame fillings, each bite is a delightful combination of flavors. Don't miss their made-to-order Chinese pancake, paired with a cup of soy milk. (this is only for breakfast tour) Second stop will be a soup dumplings restaurant, a brand since 1986. Gently bite into a soup dumpling, and the savory crab roe juice bursts in your mouth. Taste the delicious soup-based little wontons, another Shanghai classics.
What‘s Included
Local English-speaking guide
Enjoy a big traditional Chinese breakfast at five or more sit-down restaurants - local favorites! The portion would keep you full for hours after the tour!
Taxi from Xinghualou to the Bund
Vegetarian friendly (please notify us in advance)
A local dining guidebook
Pickup or drop-off to your hotel / preferred location
Gratuities
Options
Breakfast Tour
Dinner Tour
Special meal for dinner: The food selection on the dinner tour is slightly different from the breakfast tour, which includes a formal dinner
Reviews
50 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Food tour with Dawn Gu
Βαρελας Γ,,Feb 13, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00It was a wonderful experience Dawn Gu our guide was very friendly, kind and she knew many things about history, culture and food This experience is also a food tour and a history tour We are blessed to enjoy it
Highly Recommended Private Food Tour in Shanghai
Gabriel T,,Dec 29, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00We had a fantastic private walking food tour in Shanghai with Wen Jie, who was incredibly friendly, knowledgeable, and accommodating. As an English-speaking guide, she made everything easy and enjoyable. Our private tour included a great variety of food stops—our favourites were definitely the crab roe xiao long baos and the sheng jian baos. The experience ended with a nice walk along the Bund, where Wen Jie shared interesting facts and history about Shanghai. It was not just a food tour, but also a really informative introduction to the city. Highly recommended!
Excellent tour
vinkov315,,Dec 24, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Tour was great,it was our second day in Shanghai and our guide Roy showed us interesting locations and gave us deep insight into local cuisine and culinary tradition. He also gave us some fun facts about Shanghai and overall Chinese history. Excellent way to get to know Shanghai for any first time visitor.
Highly Recommend!
Beth L,,Nov 21, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00So enjoyable! Jerry was a gracious guide - we were able to taste some iconic local dishes that were really delicious. He also shared many interesting stories and history.
Top guide Michael did it...
cm1840,,Nov 17, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Top guide Michael did fine. Good food, interesting info and nice walk. Definitely recommended.
Great intro to Shanghai
dougmC5607TS,,Oct 29, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a great time on the tour! Our guide Jerry was super knowledgeable and flexible, tailoring the tour to our interests. It was a great way for us to get acclimated on our first day in the city.
Fabulous!
KealeyS7,,Oct 27, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I’m a kiwi girl and had Jerry as my guide. Jerry was incredible. He was helpful, knowledgeable, friendly and funny. The food was delicious and filling. The sightseeing was amazing. This tour is well worth the money
Eating our way around Shangai
WernergT,,Oct 26, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Had a lovely day with Jerry, eating our way around Shangai. Would highly recommend Jerry for a local tour. I would suggest that he offer to take more photos of the guests
Excellent introduction to Shanghai
937michelley,,Sep 15, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I live in Shanghai, but when I get visitors it's nice getting help with "tour duty". I really enjoyed this tour as it not only took us through quintessential Shanghai breakfast foods, but Xirui, our guide, also showed us cultural highlights from the city. Definitely recommend this tour if you want the best of both worlds - excellent food and an introduction to Shanghai history and life. Make sure you're hungry, because you'll be rolling home.
The BEST food tour in Shanghai
ashleybI8004RN,,Jun 18, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Come with an empty stomach and leave with a full heart! You’ll eat the best food on this tour, and you’ll learn a lot about Shanghai from friendly and knowledgeable guides. Because it’s a private tour, we were able to have really good genuine conversations with the guides. We learned about life in Shanghai and China more generally. Every dish we ate is in competition for the best thing I’ve ever eaten. Definitely take this tour!
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Operated by Eastbound and Beyond