Japanese @ Watami, Shanghai

A popular Casual Japanese Restaurant Chain, Watami is an Izakaya that has restaurants across South East Asia and East Asia. We paid a visit for a quick lunch at their Raffle City Mall location in Shanghai.

Salmon Sashimi

The Sashimi wasn't very fresh.

Caesar Salad

The Salad was my favorite dish. The dressing had a mild tang but was quite balanced and the Egg was perfectly poached.


Fried Chicken Wings

The Fried Chicken Wings were tossed in a honey sauce. It was crispy but lacked meat.


Bibim Bap

The Bibim Bap was ok. The rice had a nice crisp at the bottom but was a little too oily.


Food: 3.5/5
Service: 2.5/5
Ambiance: 3.5/5
Price: $ (Approximately USD $10 per person)


Contact Information
Address: Raffles City Shopping Mall, Unit 06, 6/F,No.268 Middle Xizang Rd., Shanghai, China
Tel: +86-21-6340-3260
Web: www.watami-int.net/shop/list.html#shanghai

Stir-Fried Noodles with Black Truffle @ Yue, Sheraton Hongkou, Shanghai

We were staying in Sheraton Hongkou and decided to have lunch at their Cantonese Restaurant, Yue before we headed out. The restaurant offered Dim Sum but the choices were very limited.


Stir-Fried Noodles with Black Truffle



Poached Spinach in Superior Stock



BBQ Pork and Roast Pork Platter



BBQ Pork in Puff Pastry



Vegetable Spring Roll



All the Dim Sum we had were mediocre. Their Roast Pork was little too salty and dry and their BBQ Pork was too sweet. The one thing we really enjoyed were the Stir-Fried Noodles with Black Truffles. The combination of Truffle and the Soy Sauce went really well together.


Food: 3/5
Service: 4/5
Ambiance: 4/5
Price: $$ (Approximately USD $25 per person)


Contact Information
Address: No. 59 Siping Road, Hongkou Shanghai, Shanghai, 200080, China
Tel: + (86)(21) 26010088
Web: www.starwoodhotels.com/sheraton/property/dining/index.htm...
Map:

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Malaysian Food with a Twist @ Cafe Sambal, Shanghai

Cafe Sambal is a popular Malaysian Restaurant/Bar in Beijing that recently opened up their latest branch in Shanghai. The restaurant is known for serving authentic Malaysian Food with a slight twist from its Malaysian Owners.


Vietnamese Rice Paper Prawn Rolls and Mango Rolls


Our complimentary starters for the night. The Prawns were plump and really fresh and the mangoes were very sweet and soft. We were given a fish based dipping sauce and also a peanut dipping sauce.


Sup Ekor

Malay Style Ox-Tail Soup. The soup was really aromatic from the spices and was creamy in texture from the potatoes.


Baked Salmon

The Salmon was perfectly cooked and topped with a mild yellow curry sauce. This was really good!


Stir-Fried Free Range Organic Chicken and Mushrooms with Cognac

My favorite dish of the night. The Chicken free-range chicken's flavor was heightened through the use of Cognac and the earthy mushrooms.


Stir-Fried Mixed Vegetables

The mixed vegetables were amazing. I had the best thing ever there.

All of the dishes we ordered that night were Malaysian Chinese Dishes except for Sup-Ekor. And all were very well executed especially their Baked Salmon and Stir-Fried Chicken. Anyone looking to try some excellent Malaysian Food should definitely give Cafe Sambal a visit.


Food: 4.3/5
Ambiance: 4.5/5
Service: 4/5
Price: $$ (Approximately USD $25 per person)


Contact Information:
Address: Jiashan Market, 37A, Lane 550 Shanxi Nan Lu,
Tel: +8633689529
Map:

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Lamb Skewers @ Xinjiang BBQ Restaurant, Shanghai

Our second night in Shanghai we decided to give Xinjiang BBQ Restaurant for two reasons. The first it was located just right next to our Hotel which saved us the taxi ride and second, I've never had any Xinjiang Food in China before.

BBQ Lamb Skewers

The Lamb Meat was really tender and the seasoning used really drew out the flavor of the Lamb.


Combination Lamb Skewer

This skewer contained Lamb Gizzard, Lamb Fat, Lamb Meat and Lamb Heart. It was also really good although I preferred the Lamb Skewer.


Braised Lamb Soup

The Soup was rather bland in my opinion. It contained a mixture of Braised Lamb pieces, tomatoes, potatoes, tofu, mushrooms and glass noodles.


Braised Cabbage

This was quite good. The Cabbage had a nice crisp texture that's also soft. The translucent gravy was thickened with corn starch but was seasoned just right to give it a nice clean flavor.



Food: 3.5/5
Service: 3/5
Ambiance: 3.5/5
Price: $$ (Approximately USD $15 per person)


Contact Information
Address: 1928 Gonghexin Road, Zhabei, Shanghai, China, 200072
Daning International Commercial Plaza
Tel: +86 21 2602 2222 ‎
Web: www.starwoodhotels.com
Map:

Lihat Peta yang Lebih Besar

Japanese BBQ @ Akasaka Tei, Shanghai

Akasakatei is an upscale Japanese BBQ Buffet Chain that has several locations in Shanghai. It is a restaurant I always visit whenever I am in Shanghai for its variety and quality cuts of meats.


Grilled Chicken Cartilage

The chicken had a nice crust and was really tender. What I really loved was the soft bones that were sandwiched in between the Chicken.


Grilled Mackerel

The Mackeral was grilled just right leaving the skin crisp and the meat still moist. It was also salted nicely.


Akasaka Tei Salad

One of my favorite salads anywhere. This is because of it's garlicky dressing that goes really well with the greens and also fried anchovies.


Pork Neck

One of my favorite BBQ Pork Cut. I enjoy the neck for its flavor and also texture.


Pork Shoulder Loin

The Pork Shoulder had a little too much fat for my liking.


Salmon Sashimi

The Sashimi served here is actually ala Carte quality. The slices are cut thick and tasted fresh


Assorted Meat Platter

The platter consisted of Pork Neck, Shoulder Loin, Lamb Rack and Beef. The Beef as you can see was very well marbled.


Ox-Tongue

A favorite of mine. The Ox-Tongue is cut thick which gave it a nice texture after being grilled.


Baked Scallop

This was so-so. The scallop was overcooked.


Lamb Rack

The Lamb Rack slices were a litte too thin. It should have been cut thicker.


Prawn Tempura Maki

The roll was not bad. The rice however was a little too hard.



Food: 4/5
Service: 3/5
Ambiance: 3.5/5
Price: $$$ (Approximately USD $35 per person)


Contact Information
Address: 3F, 1918 Gonghexin Rd, near Daning Rd, Zhabei district
Tel: N/A
Map:

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Lunch @ Kunshan Restaurant

We were working in Kunshan for the day and had lunch at a small restaurant near our factory. Like many other Chinese Restaurants the restaurant serves a variety of Dishes from different regions of China.


Pickled Cucumbers




Vinegar Chicken Feet




Century Egg




Chicken Soup

The soup was ok. It's definitely not as good as Cantonese Chicken Soup


Stir-Fried Yao Mak



Braised Cabbage in Superior Stock

One of my favorite dishes. The Cabbage is braised till its fork tender and the Chicken Soup is rich in Chicken Flavor.


Braised River Fish in Pickled Vegetable Stock

The Fish slices were cooked just right and was served in a Chicken Stock that is a little sour and spicy from the Pickled Vegetable and Chilis.


Fried Egg with Noodles

This was a rather typical and bland noodle dish. The soup tasted like water and the noodles were too soft.


Sauteed Prawns in Tomato Sauce

The Prawns although really small were good. The sweetness of the Tomato Sauce actually complemented the flavor of the Prawns.


Shanghainese Braised Pork

The Pork wasn't braised long enough making some pieces a little chewy. The flavor however was decent.


Steam Lu Fish

The fish wasn't really my favorite. It was steamed just right but the meat texture was a little too firm for my liking.


Fried Corn Cakes

Another favorite of mine. The Corn was very crispy and went really well with the Condensed Milk.


Green Tea Pastry with Taro

These were actually really good. You could taste the mild Green Tea Flavor from the Pastry Crust and it went well with the Taro Filling which wasn't too sweet.


Food: 3/5
Service: 3/5
Ambiance: 3/5
Price: N/A


Contact Information
Address: Kunshan City
Tel: N/A
Map: N/A

Peking Duck @ Xindalu China Kitchen, Hyatt on the Bund Shanghai

I've read a number of reviews about Xindalu Restaurant at Hyatt on the Bund. It is supposedly the place in Shanghai for Peking Ducks. Ducks are specially imported from Beijing which are then roasted in a specially made Clay Oven on Red Date Wood. In addition to their Peking Duck, the restaurant also serves a number of dishes from Shanghai, Suzhou, Beijing and Hangzhou.




Picked Raddish with Soybean

This was our Amuse Bouche. The Pickled Raddish was sour and salty which was a good pallet opener.


Peking Duck


Our Chef presented our beautifully Roasted Duck and carved the Skin and Meat out Table Side.


Peking Duck Crepe

For such an expensive Duck one would think they made the Crepe from Scratch. With an open Kitchen we caught one of the chefs opening a brand new packet of pre-made crepes.


Peking Duck Condiments: Assorted Dipping Sauces and Cucumber and Green Onion


Our Peking Duck was served with some Hoisin Sauce, Sugar and another Dip which I don't know what it is. The Hoisin Sauce was very mild compared with other places.


Peking Duck Skin



Like the other Peking Ducks I've had in China I found the Duck Skin to be very fat and oily. The Skin was roasted really well but contained a lot of Fat that wasn't rendered out. It has to be eaten with the Crepe because upon biting the crispy skin all the Duck Fat came oozing out. It wasn't something you could eat more than a couple of pieces of.


Peking Duck: Meat

Ironically this was the best part of the Peking Duck. The Meat was very flavorful and Tender.


Shanghai-Style Smoked Fish

A Shanghainese Cold Dish recommended by our Waitress. Like Fu1088 it was served hot with the Fish Deep Fried and then tossed in a Sweet Sauce. The Fish was very crispy with the meat not overcooked. However the sauce was way too sweet.


River Prawns with Long Jing Tea Leaves

A typical Shanghainese Dish with a twist where Long Jing Leaves were added. The Prawns were very smooth in texture and was firm to the bite. However I could not taste the flavor of the Long Jing Leaves.


Stir Fried Peas

Stir-Fried Peas was part of their Seasonal Menu. The Peas had a nice crunch and was nicely salted from the use of Chinese Cured Ham/Bacon.


Mui Choi Pork

Recommended by our Waitress. The Pork was very good. It was very tender and was not too sweet. The Fat literally melts in your mouth.


Dessert Sampler: Tearamisu, Fried Banana Spring Rolls, Shanghainese Rice Cake, Mango with Sago and Fresh Fruits






This was probably my favorite course of the night. I enjoyed all their desserts particularly their Tearamisu.


At the end of our meal we felt the food at Xindalu was over rated. It was definitely above average but the prices were definitely on the steep side. The Peking Duck although perfectly roasted and crisp, contains way too much Fat making me feel nauseous. Maybe it's just my personal preference but I still prefer the Peking Ducks served in Thailand and Malaysia where the Skin is Crispy and contains very little fat.


Food: 3.5/5
Ambiance: 4.5/5
Service: 4/5
Price: $$$$ (Approximately USD $40 per person)


Contact Information
Address: 上海上海市虹口区黄浦路199号, China
Tel: +86 21 6393 1234 ‎
Web:
Map:

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