Weixiangzhai is an established noodle shop known for rich sesame-paste noodles and Shanghainese snacks. We prefer the Nanchang Road branch while warning about queues and tight seating.
What to order
- Sesame-paste noodles
- Springy noodles tossed with rich sesame paste, house soy sauce and spring onion until every strand is coated.
- Beef-offal noodles
- A rich broth with tender, well-seasoned beef offal in a generous portion.
- Scallion-oil noodles
- The simple Shanghai classic: noodles infused with fragrant scallion oil and sauce.
- Shengjian
- Crisp-bottomed, juicy fried buns offered as an additional carbohydrate-heavy pairing.
- Fried tofu and vermicelli soup
- A savoury broth with tofu puffs and slippery vermicelli to balance the rich noodles.
Branches and timing
- Nanchang Road main branch
- On Nanchang Road in Huangpu. Mealtime queues can last 30–60 minutes; we recommend the 10:00 opening or an off-peak afternoon visit.
- Other branches and hours
- If the flagship queue is too long, choose a convenient branch around Xujiahui or Pudong. The food is essentially the same and the setting may be more spacious. Hours are roughly 10:00–20:00, but early sell-outs or closing are possible; confirm on the day.
Ordering and what to do nearby
- Divide the queue and the seats
- Order and pay first, then wait for your number. At busy times one person can queue while another finds a seat; takeaway is the alternative.
- Rich flavours and a neighbourhood walk
- The sesame and offal noodles are rich and savoury. Balance them with soup or request less sauce, then walk around Sinan Mansions, Fuxing Park or Maoming South Road.