Stewed, grilled or barbequed, crayfish always passes test

Crayfish is popular with many Chinese in the summer. There are several different ways to enjoy the delicious dish and the choice where 13 spices are added to the pot is the most popular. To help readers select the best, Shanghai Daily sent its roving reporters to the streets and into the city’s restaurants to find out which one passes the taste test.

Xiamantang

The crayfish here is chewy and stretchy. The flavor is a little spicy but very tasty. each crayfish is big, fresh and fat. 

The restaurant is also famous for its barbecue. You can enjoy a feast with crayfish, mutton shashlik, baked scallops and needle mushroom.

Address: 454 Jiangwan Rd E. 

Tel: 6607-8603

Average cost: 184 yuan (per person)

Hongkuijia

Most of the crayfish here have big pliers and a hard shell. Though the sauce is rich and spicy, the crayfish itself is not so tasty. The flesh is soft, while a little tasteless. 

Besides the 13-spice flavor, iced crayfish and stewed crayfish are also recommended.

Address: 323 Tianyaoqiao Rd

Tel: 5425-2373

Average cost: 192 yuan (per person)

 Fumao

This crayfish’s flavor definitely stands out from the others. The sauce is special as it has a herb flavor, which divides opinion in the foodie community, but it is delicious to those who love it. spiced salt crayfish and grilled crayfish with scallion are also recommended. Paired with rice cake, the dish tastes even more appetizing.

Address: 141 Shaanxi Rd S.

Tel: 6437-0370

Average cost: 126 yuan (per person)

Duanshi

Insteead of using a heavy source, duanshi focuses on the original taste of the crayfish — clean and sweet. 

The restaurant has many side dishes, including spiral shell, clam, green soy bean, peanut and so on.

Address: 20 Tianhong Rd

Tel: 137-8898-8017

Average cost: 101 yuan (per person)