Often touted as Asia’s city that never sleeps (yeah, right, Tokyo would like a word), I take a look at whether Shanghai’s late-night food scene is actually worth staying up for, or if you’re better off just ordering room service.
In this guide, I’ll cover the best places to stuff your face after midnight, from proper soup dumplings to spicy crawfish that’ll make you question your life choices, as well as some straight-up tourist traps you should avoid. Here’s The Street Food Guy’s Shanghai Late Night Food Guide! Want the full insider scoop? Check out the complete Shanghai late-night food guide here →
What the Shanghai Late Night Food Scene
Right, so Shanghai doesn’t sleep. Or at least that’s what every travel blogger will tell you before they head back to their hotel at 10 PM. But honestly? The late-night food scene here is actually pretty bloody brilliant, and I’m not just saying that because I’ve spent the last decade eating my way through every dodgy street stall in this city.
Prices are cheap — about ¥20-50 will sort you out nicely — and many spots stay open until the sun comes up to judge your life choices. Whether you’ve just landed or you’re simply hungry again (we’ve all been there), this is where Shanghai feels most real: warm, noisy, and impossible to resist.
Best Late Night Restaurants Worth Missing Sleep For
Whilst there are loads of places serving food after midnight in Shanghai, that doesn’t mean they’re all worth your time. The following, though, are all proper decent, with the top 3 being absolutely excellent.
Top 3 Late Night Eats
3) Yang’s Fry-Dumpling (杨记煎包) — Quick Fix for Night Walkers
Yang’s has branches everywhere in central Shanghai, but the Wujiang Road one hits differently at night. The place is packed with locals and tourists all watching golden pork buns sizzling away on a massive iron pan. Bite carefully though — the hot broth inside doesn’t mess about and will absolutely burn your mouth if you’re not paying attention (yes, I’ve learned this the hard way. Multiple times.).
The buns cost ¥3-5, which is frankly ridiculous value, and most shops stay open until 2 AM. TripAdvisor gives it 4.2★ with one visitor noting “Fast, cheap, and perfect after drinks.” Cannot argue with that logic.
Address: Multiple locations, but Wujiang Rd. is your best bet Nearest Metro: Nanjing West Rd. (Line 2/12/13)
2) Huawei Spicy Crab (华为辣蟹) — Late Night Crawfish Madness
Crawfish season in Shanghai means one thing — getting absolutely covered in spicy sauce at Huawei Spicy Crab on Shouning Road. Buckets of bright red crawfish arrive at your plastic table, swimming in chili oil and loaded with garlic and peppercorns. Locals attack them with gloves on, down cold beers, and laugh until the entire street reeks of spices.
This is messy eating at its finest. You’ll look like you’ve committed murder by the end of it, and your hands will smell like garlic for days. But bloody hell, it’s worth it.
TripAdvisor rates it 4.4★, with reviews calling it “the liveliest place for crawfish until 3 AM.” Expect to pay ¥100-150 per person, and they accept Alipay or cards. The nearest metro is Dashijie Station (Line 8).
Address: Shouning Rd., Huangpu District
1) Jia Jia Tang Bao (嘉家汤包) — Soup Dumplings After Midnight
Right, if you only eat at one place on this list, make it Jia Jia Tang Bao. Just off People’s Square, this tiny spot serves what I reckon are the best soup dumplings you’ll find after midnight in Shanghai. And I’ve tried them all. Trust me on this one.
The place itself is nothing special — a few metal tables, plastic chairs, and steam absolutely everywhere. But the crab roe xiaolongbao? Bloody magnificent. Served piping hot, delicate, and filled with so much rich broth it’s basically a meal and a drink in one.
TripAdvisor gives it 4.3★, with one review nailing it: “tiny, chaotic and unforgettable.” A basket runs about ¥25-35, and it’s cash or WeChat Pay only. They usually close around 1 AM, so don’t faff about.
Address: Just off People’s Square Nearest Metro: People’s Square (Line 1/2/8)
Late Night Street Food Spots
Scallion Pancake (葱油饼) — The Smell That Follows You Home
Follow the sizzling sounds near Huanghe Road and you’ll find vendors flipping scallion pancakes on blackened griddles. The air fills with that onion and sesame oil fragrance that’ll cling to your clothes and make you smell like a walking Chinese restaurant (in the best way possible).
Each pancake is crispy on the outside, soft inside, and just the right amount of greasy. At ¥8-12, it’s the definition of cheap and cheerful. Most stalls run from dusk till after 2 AM. Grab one, fold it in half, and eat it whilst walking — that’s how the locals do it.
Address: Huanghe Road and Shouning Road areas
Beyond the Basics — When You Want to Sit Down
Late Night Hotpot in Shanghai — Because Why Not?
Some nights don’t end with noodles — they end with you sweating over a bubbling pot of spicy broth at 3 AM. Lao Matou Hotpot (老码头火锅) near Xintiandi and the Haidilao People’s Square branch both stay open until 4 AM, which is either brilliant or concerning depending on your perspective.
Locals gather around bubbling pots, tossing in sliced beef, lotus root, and tofu skin into spicy red soup that’s both numbing and weirdly addictive. Expect to pay ¥80-150 per person, and both places accept international cards. One TripAdvisor reviewer noted that “Haidilao feels like family even at 2 AM,” which is either lovely or says something worrying about their actual family.
Anar Kawap Shanghai — Uyghur Flavors After Dark
If you want spice that actually hurts (in a good way), Anar Kawap is your spot. Their charcoal grill sends cumin and lamb fat smoke drifting down Fumin Road, and you can smell it from half a mile away. Plates of hand-pulled noodles and roasted eggplant keep arriving whilst the chef flips skewers like some sort of grilling performance art.
TripAdvisor marks it at 4.5★, with people calling it “the perfect stop between bars and bed.” It’s Western Chinese cooking meets Shanghai energy, and they stay open till 1 AM. The flavors stick with you long after you leave — and I mean that literally. You’ll be tasting cumin for hours.
Address: Fumin Road
The Essential Street Food Spots
Huanghe Road — 24-Hour Soul of Shanghai’s Food Scene
Follow the smell of frying scallion oil near People’s Square and you’ll hit Huanghe Road — ground zero for Shanghai’s late-night food culture. This narrow street glows under tired yellow lamps, with steam clouds floating out from every shop door.
Most stalls stay open way past midnight, and you’ll spend about ¥20-40 per person. TripAdvisor reviewers call it “the best late-night street food stop in Shanghai for a quick, authentic fix,” and they’re spot on. You’ll be sitting (or standing) amongst taxi drivers and knackered students, and that’s when you realize this is what “24-hour” actually means here — no rush, no quiet, just food keeping the city’s heartbeat going.
Shouning Road — Spicy Crawfish & Beer Until 3 AM
Shouning Road doesn’t properly wake up until after 10 PM, which is my kind of place. Red plastic tables spill onto the street, buckets of crawfish glisten under harsh white lights, and the smell of garlic and chili is absolutely everywhere. It’s chaos — dishes clattering, people shouting for more beer (啤酒), another table taking photos of their mountain of shells.
One TripAdvisor traveler said “It looks dodgy but it’s awesome and exactly what I wanted when I searched ‘Shanghai late night food near me’.” Couldn’t have said it better myself. Crawfish here costs ¥80-120 per kilo, and you’ll want cold beer and possibly some lamb skewers on the side.
Pro tip from the locals: pick stalls with long queues. That’s your first safety check. Shouning Road goes till about 3 AM, by which point even the desperately hungry or brokenhearted have finally given up.
Wujiang Road — Where the Cool Kids Eat
Wujiang Road sits just west of Nanjing West Road and stays buzzing even after the nearby malls have shut their lights off. The crowd skews young — office workers, influencers taking photos of literally everything, and tourists with fully charged phones.
Lines form outside Yang’s Fry-Dumpling where pork buns crackle on iron pans, and fried noodles slide into takeout boxes. By midnight, cafés transform into dessert bars blasting pop music through glass doors, keeping the street properly alive.
Time Out Shanghai describes Wujiang Road as “a place that balances nostalgia with new flavors,” which is marketing speak for “it’s not gritty but it’s still good.” Most shops close around 1-2 AM, and ¥30-60 will fill you up nicely. It’s where late-night food Shanghai meets its modern side — ring lights, iced milk tea, and groups of friends posing under neon signs before actually eating anything.
Address: Wujiang Road, near Nanjing West Rd.
Where to Drink After You’ve Eaten Too Much
Food is Shanghai’s beating heart, but the bars are where you exhale. After demolishing your last skewer, many head toward Manhattans Shanghai, The Nest, or Bar Rouge — the natural next step when you’re not quite ready for bed.
Manhattans keeps things classic with live jazz and proper martinis. The Nest does craft cocktails with a view that belongs in a film. Bar Rouge draws the crowd with its mental skyline views, though drinks run ¥80-120, which is either reasonable or robbery depending on your budget.
These spots are all within stumbling distance of the major food streets, perfect for when you’re too full for another queue but fancy a drink. It’s the proper finale to Shanghai’s nightlife circuit — slowing down with a glass in hand, letting the city finally cool around you.
Practical Stuff You Actually Need to Know
Ordering Smart — How to Avoid Spicy Disasters
Menus at late-night joints can be a gamble, especially since “spicy” warnings aren’t always obvious. Learn these phrases: “bú yào là” (不要辣) means “no spice” and “yī diǎn là” (一点辣) means “just a little.” Your mouth will thank you later.
Many stalls mark spicy dishes with little red chili peppers. If you’re not sure, just smile and point — locals usually get it. And if all else fails? Take the hit like an adult and order more beer.
Payment — Cash or Scan?
Most small stalls only take cash or mobile payments. Some places now accept Visa or Apple Pay through Alipay’s tourist pass, but honestly? Carry about ¥100 in cash or be ready to scan QR codes through WeChat. The big chains like Haidilao or Yang’s take cards, but street vendors? Not so much.