Founded by Tang Ruifang in 1987, Lanxin is an established Shanghainese restaurant known for rich, dark-sauced dishes and an informal old-lane atmosphere. It has received Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition; check the current listing before treating an award as current.
Choosing a branch
- Jinxian Road main branch
- 130 Jinxian Road, near Maoming South Road. The ground floor has only five or six small tables, a 1990s interior and a talkative owner. Expect cramped seating, shared tables and queues at busy times.
- L+Mall branch
- 8/F, L+Mall, 899 Pudong South Road. A brighter, more spacious option with private rooms for families or friends and no shared tables; prices may be higher than at the main branch.
- Sinar Mas Plaza branch
- In Hongkou, with a relatively comfortable setting that we recommend combining with an evening visit to the Bund.
Dishes to order
- Red-braised pork
- Square pieces of glossy pork, rich without excessive greasiness, in a sweet-savoury sauce. Order rice alongside; green pepper provides contrast.
- Stir-fried pork liver
- Thin slices of liver in a concentrated savoury sauce, cooked to stay tender and best eaten with rice.
- Sautéed clover with baijiu
- Tender clover leaves lifted with baijiu and wok fragrance; a fresher counterpoint to the richer dishes.
- Sizzling shredded eel
- A traditional Shanghainese dish of tender shredded eel in a rich, dark sauce.
- Deep-fried river shrimp
- Small river shrimp fried until the shells are crisp, with tender meat and a sweet-savoury balance.
- Yanduxian soup
- Cured pork, fresh pork and spring bamboo shoots simmered into a rich, savoury-sweet soup.
Before you go
- Hours
- For reference, 11:00–14:00 and 17:00–21:00 as usual hours. Arrive early or just after opening, and confirm the branch's current hours.
- Price
- For reference, CNY 70–120 per person, with relatively small portions designed to accompany rice.
- Queues and expectations
- The Jinxian Road branch does not take reservations. Arrive about 20 minutes early for a queue number, and expect close-set tables, noise and a sweet-savoury style of cooking.