Authentic Local Food Tour in Central Shanghai

This tour allowed me to truly experience Shanghai, a city of gourmet delights, with an authentic local vibe! Our guide, TJ, was fluent in English, Chinese, and Korean, and possessed excellent cultural and humanistic knowledge. It felt less like simply visiting local eateries and more like a "culinary documentary with a Shanghai native." It was incredibly engaging as she explained not only the food but also the daily life, culture, and various backgrounds of Shanghai's cuisine. TJ, being bright and sociable, led the tour thoughtfully and comfortably, ensuring no participant felt left out. And the core of a food tour: the food itself! Her chosen itinerary was perfect! From scallion oil noodles with various toppings, Shanghai duck, fruit, xiaolongbao, shengjianbao, to mango sago… every dish we ate on the tour was truly delicious. The restaurants were clean, full of local charm, and had a rich history! You could tell a lot of thought went into planning the route. We walked, ate, walked some more, and even took a car (she arranged for a high-quality, comfortable car). I was so proud of myself for booking this tour on my first day in Shanghai! Instead of just going to restaurants you see on blogs and YouTube, you absolutely must book this food tour… This experience made me realize I need to try a food tour whenever I travel to any other city in the future ❤️ A big thank you to the best guide, TJ! ❤️

We had an amazing time with Jim! Our family really enjoyed getting to sample such a wide variety of local foods here in Shanghai. Our parents, who are seniors, especially appreciated the leisurely walk paired with Jim’s fascinating insights into the city’s history, architecture, flowers, and culture. If you’re a foodie and love Chinese cuisine, you’re in for an absolute treat! Thank you, Jim, for such a memorable experience!

Nico was an amazing guide and she was very personable. she was great for this tour and it felt like I knew her for awhile. she made the the tour, with great food and I would very much would love to do it again some day. Everything from the dumplings to the glutinous rice gelato was fantastic!

This tour was incredibly satisfying! I was so grateful that our guide was fluent in both Korean and English, which made the tour very comfortable and enjoyable! It wasn't just about tasting the food; the guide also provided brief explanations about the surroundings, making the experience truly enriching! Honestly, I was quite disappointed with all the Michelin-starred restaurants and popular Korean restaurants throughout the trip. But the guide's recommendations were the most memorable part of the trip, and they allowed me to leave Shanghai with positive memories of the cuisine! If you're unsure where to start with Shanghai cuisine, I highly recommend considering this tour. The food is served in shared portions (one or two dishes) to taste, and then you move on to the next location. So, if you find something you particularly enjoy, you can always order it to-go or try that type of dish at other restaurants. [If you're still unsure, I recommend checking out Trip Compony's YouTube video! That's how I found out about the tour =).] Oh! Tea lovers, this is definitely for you! 😆 Thank you so much to our guide, who speaks Korean so well! Thanks to you, I had a wonderful trip!

Jade was my tour guide and she was excellent! She took me to many local spots and even went off the beaten path. She even helped me learn how to use the Chinese specific apps to order ahead at local places. This was a great start to my trip In Shanghai and highly recommend to anyone looking to enjoy great food and explore Shanghai.

"I booked this tour on my first day in Shanghai, and it turned out to be the best decision I made. I ended up revisiting some of the restaurants in the following days—I never would’ve discovered them on my own. We stopped at seven different spots, and each one was fantastic. Our foodie guide, Patrick, was incredibly friendly and engaging, sharing fun facts about Shanghai as we ate and walked between locations. The tour was lively and enjoyable from start to finish. I returned to my hotel with a full belly and a big smile. Many thanks, Patrick!

A wonderful evening spent visiting many different food outlets and eating traditional Shanghai food. Jim was very knowledgeable about the food and drink and deliberately didn't fill us up on rice - it was all meat and vegetables. Plenty to eat - nobody left hungry. Thoroughly recommended.

I went on a food tour with TJ Guide. The guide spoke Korean very well and explained everything so kindly. We visited five local restaurants that only locals would know about and that you couldn't find by searching online, and all five were absolutely delicious! I was so full that I regretted not being able to eat more. If you're coming to Shanghai, I highly recommend doing the Shanghai food tour! I definitely recommend it.

Thanks to TJ, our guide, we had a wonderful time on our trip to Shanghai. He was fluent in both Korean and English, which made communication easy, and he gave us detailed explanations about Shanghai's food and culture. Above all, despite the rainy and cold weather, he was kind enough to guide us and sincerely helped us to taste as many different foods as possible. We were really grateful. I think I would have regretted not applying for the food tour. Thanks to him, I think I can go back with good memories of Shanghai. I confidently recommend this tour to anyone who is considering it!

The tour was great to explore parts of Shanghai that tourist wouldn’t normally know. The food was great, one of the best dumplings and potstickers I’ve had! Our guide, Jade is amazing with great energy. She’s also very knowledgeable and answered our questions about Shanghai. One thing that can be improved is the price of the tour. A bit expensive for 4-5 stops and samples. The cost is the same as the Xuyan Royal Banquet and River Dinner cruise and you get more food at those experiences. I believe more people will book if the cost was fair.