9 Food Tours in Shanghai to Book This Year

1.Authentic Local Food Tour in Central Shanghai

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,382 reviews · from $79Our pick

Walk from Huangpi Nan Road through Xintiandi, the Former French Concession, and People's Square while tasting soup dumplings, scallion oil noodles, roast duck, red-braised pork, tea, and sweets. Small groups of up to 15 join guides such as Jade, Kurt, TJ, Jim, or Helen. Morning, lunch, evening, and late-night times are available.

“The food on this tour was excellent throughout, with some truly great dishes, making it a very enjoyable experience. Kurt was social and clearly enthusiastic. However, he may have missed the opportunity to properly introduce the group at the start, which made things a little awkward, though it never took away from the overall experience.”

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2.Shanghai: 3-Hour Local Food Tasting Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 806 reviews · 3 hours · from $79

Meet your English or Chinese-speaking guide near Xintiandi and spend three hours eating through central Shanghai. You will visit three restaurants and a dessert shop, try soup dumplings, scallion noodles, red-braised pork, tea, fruit, and sweets, and walk between French Concession and shikumen-style streets. Guides may include Jade, TJ, Curt, Jim, Yu, Helen, or Ken.

“Our guide TJ was definitely the highlight of the tour. Her English was excellent and the local knowledge as well as the history and fun facts were really interesting. She had answers for all of our questions although some were a little tricky. its such an important part of being a tourist to understand why cusines are all different and how the all come together. I cant wait to go home now and use my knowledge gained to better understand our many Asian restaurants at home in Brisbane. Great food and great company. Thank you TJ.”

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3.Eat Like A Local: Shanghai Night Food Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 616 reviews · from $90

Join UnTour Food Tours at 6 pm for three hours of family-run restaurants, regional Chinese dishes, local drinks, and neighborhood history. Guides such as Li, Topher, Jasmine, and Paul lead small groups of up to 12, finishing near Jiangsu Road metro station after xiaolongbao and practical Shanghai dining tips.

“Six stops for a wonderful variety of regional food and drink. A fun evening with Lee to guide us through our food journey.”

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4.Shanghai: Half-Day Biking and Local Food Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 170 reviews · 3 hours · from $88

Ride about 11 miles through central Shanghai with an English-speaking guide such as Ellen, Alisa, Alyssa, or Li. The route links the French Concession, Xintiandi, Taikang Road, Old Town, and the Bund, with stops for local food, snacks, photos, and short walks. Bikes, helmets, water, entrance fees, and free photos are included.

“Fantastic way to explore Shanghai and to also get decent fitness. Very easy and anyone can complete. The food aspect intertwined into it was wonderful too. Alyssa our guide was super. Very friendly and knowledgable and a true asset to the tour company. Would highly recommend !”

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5.Private Shanghai Evening Street Food Walking and Cruise Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 123 reviews · from $133

Meet a private English-speaking guide, often including Annie, Roy, Shirley, Linda, or Mason, for a three to four-hour evening of Shanghai snacks, old-town lanes, and a one-hour Huangpu River cruise. Food tastings and drinks cover dinner, while the private format lets your guide adjust choices to your tastes and dietary needs.

“Sunny was very responsive in addressing my queries and helping to coordinate changes to the itinerary due to a sudden thunderstorm. Roy our guide also made adjustments to the plan due to the heavy rain. Both made the evening tour possible despite the bad weather. The tour was very informative and a good introduction to Shanghai.”

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6.Shanghai: Evening Walking Food Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 115 reviews · 3.5 hours · from $69

Spend 3.5 hours eating through Shanghai’s French Concession with an English-speaking guide such as Emma, Max, or Cathy. You’ll visit four local food stops for soup dumplings, noodles, pork belly, dessert, beer, and more. Expect generous portions, steady walking, and practical stories about Shanghai life. Vegetarian substitutions are limited, so share dietary needs before booking.

“Joy was a great guide, very kind and funny. She taught us a lot about the cuisine and answered all our other questions about Shanghai, too. The food was plentiful and delicious.”

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7.Shanghai Must-See and Foodie Test Bike Tour( Day & Night)

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 70 reviews · from $68Best value

See Shanghai by bicycle on a four-hour small-group tour limited to 15 people. Guides such as May, Mei, Mayfer, Mae, Vivian, and Jenny lead you from the Former Concession through Nongtang lanes, the Bund, Nanjing Road, and Yu Garden, with local snacks, photos, water, and a well-kept bike included.

“May was full of energy, highly organized and protective over the group. She took us to many locations in neighborhoods we would not have ordinarily seen including a stop at a special tea place and the marriage market in People’s Square. We would sign up again for another tour with May the next time we are in Shanghai.”

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8.Shanghai-Cooking Dumpling & Meal in Local Family-w/Vegan

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 36 reviews · 3.5 hours · from $82

Spend 3.5 hours in Jing'an learning dumplings from Bonnie and her mother. You will make wrappers and fillings from scratch, share a meal of local dishes, and get personal tips for Shanghai and nearby cities. The small group is limited to six, with vegan and allergy needs handled when arranged in advance.

“corso molto piacevole in compagnia di Bonnie e la madre (anche una zia ha fatto una capatina), conviviali, disponibili e accoglienti. Ci hanno preparato un piccolo benvenuto con snack e te verde, dopo una breve introduzione sulla storia dei ravioli ci siamo messi all'opera tutti insieme; preparati gli impasti ed i ripieni, formati i ravioli hanno allestito la cena con prelibatezze di ogni genere. Pura cucina tipica cinese e varia (opzione vegetariana e non): uova centenarie, uova salate, stinky tofu, funghi e maiale, medusa e cetrioli, pollo, tagliatelle di tofu e pokchoi, radice di loto e alghe piccanti, i ravioli ovviamente e tante altre cose, sempre accompagnate da te verde…”

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9.Late night food tour in Shanghai’s French Concession

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 31 reviews · 3 hours · from $88

Meet your English, Chinese, or Korean-speaking guide near Xintiandi for a three-hour evening walk through Shanghai’s French Concession. Try about 10 local foods and drinks, including dumplings, barbecue, noodles, and craft beer, while learning about Art Deco buildings and everyday Shanghai life. Guides such as Kurt, Jade, TJ, and Helen lead the route.

“TJ was amazing! So many great choices of foods I’ve never tried before! I’d recommend anyone to do this! She knows lots about the history of the food and Shanghai as a city. (And of course lots great flavours!) Thank you for the evening! 😆”

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