Archive · 20 Sep 2025
Shanghai Breakfast: Must-Try Dishes
Shanghai's breakfast scene is all about tasty, unique dishes.
Popular choices include rice rolls, sesame pancakes, and rice porridge.
Rice rolls are like filled sticky rice, while sesame pancakes are crispy on the outside and chewy inside.
You can also enjoy fluffy bao buns and silky tofu pudding.
There are also wontons in broth, and fried crullers.
These breakfasts are a little lighter and sweeter compared to other Chinese food, offering a special way to start your day in Shanghai.
Shanghai's breakfast culture offers a variety of dishes.
Rice rolls are popular, filled with pork and vegetables or with a sweet filling.
Da Bing, or sesame pancakes, come in savory and sweet versions.
Congee, or rice porridge, is served with various toppings.
Bao buns, wontons, and fried crullers are also common breakfast choices.
- Who
- Locals and visitors in Shanghai
- What
- Various traditional breakfast dishes
- When
- Morning
- Where
- Shanghai
- Why
- To experience the unique breakfast culture
- Popular Dishes
- Rice rolls, sesame pancakes, rice porridge, bao buns, tofu pudding, wontons, fried crullers
- Rice Rolls fillings
- Pork, pickled vegetables, hard-boiled egg, black sesame, sugar
- Da Bing (Sesame Pancake)
- Crunchy outside, chewy inside, rectangular (savory), round (sweet)
- Congee (Rice Porridge) served with:
- Pickled vegetables, fermented tofu, peanuts, eggs or meat
- Bao Buns Filling
- Pork and cabbage, mushrooms, vegetables, sweet pastes and even chocolate
- Wonton Filling
- Pork