22/09/2025: This is my 19th day in Italy, and this is my fourth Chinese restaurant. This is the best Chinese restaurant I've ever been to. Even when combined with Italian food, it's second only to the T-bone steak I had in Pienza (at Trattoria da Fiorella). If you're in Milan and feeling a bit tired of pizza and pasta, this is a restaurant worth visiting. The value for money is second to none.
It's my 19th day in Italy, and this is the fourth Chinese restaurant I've visited. Without a doubt, it's the best one yet. In fact, it's probably the second-best meal of my entire trip, right after the incredible T-bone steak I had in Pienza (at Trattoria da Fiorella). If you're in Milan and feeling a bit tired of pizza and pasta, this place is definitely worth a try.
15/09/2025: On the day of my travel from the City of Lights, with my itinerary for the Matterhorn scheduled for early the next morning, I happened to pass by this restaurant here in Milan, and from the start I was drawn to it.
I felt a certain affinity with the red neon lights in the dark city and the lanterns, which seemed out of place in the medieval cityscape.
I was starting to feel a bit bored of Italian cuisine, so I can now say that my decision to head there was inevitable.
Before entering, I took a quick peek inside to gauge the clientele. There were two groups of people, both of whom seemed to be picky about food, and one couple. Hmm, not bad. In fact, it was good.
That introduction has been long, but following my initial sense of familiarity and instinct, I entered this restaurant and it was undoubtedly a hit.
Looking at the menu, I was awed by the sheer variety. They had everything you could want: meat, seafood, vegetables, hot pot, noodles and rice, soup, and Tianjin.
Even more surprising are the prices. Cheap. Incredibly cheap. It's almost a mystery how this restaurant has managed to survive in its current form.
You might think that cheap food would mean the food was just so-so, but no, that's not the case.
Delicious. Every dish is consistently delicious, a testament to the chef's experience and skill.
First up is the hot and sour soup. It has a tangy spiciness with a subtle, yet definite, sour note. The umami of the shiitake mushroom, the texture of the bamboo shoot, and the sweetness of the egg intertwine to create a complex yet delightful experience as the flavor you'd imagined fills your mouth.
Next up is the sweet and sour fried rice. This extremely simple fried rice, made with just egg, is enveloped in a soy-based sauce made with pork, shrimp, squid, cabbage, bok choy, and bean sprouts. That's it. Washing it down with Tsingtao beer conjures up images of a hometown that never existed.
Next up are the pan-fried dumplings. The result is what appears to be boiled dumplings turned into pan-fried dumplings. But that's not what would bring the restaurant down. While at first glance they may seem a bit strange, the soy sauce, vinegar, and chili oil provided on the table make them the perfect companion to the Tsingtao.
The chili oil is the key.
Finally, we have the stir-fried water spinach, which could be said to be the star of the dish.
Some gentlemen and ladies may be skeptical of a green vegetable at the end, but its arrival at this timing is very reassuring.
The green flavor brings the meal together in a refreshing way, while the garlic and oil keep your appetite going until the very end. Of course, the combination with the Tsingtao is also a must-try.
I never imagined I would be treated to such high-quality Chinese cuisine in Milan.
It's clear that having encountered Shanghai Restaurant will make tomorrow's meals several times more enjoyable due to the synergistic effect.
And above all, I want to emphasize that the price is simply too low for the quality.
If this is the standard price for Chinese food in Milan considering this quality, it is frightening.
If there are people out there who are put off by Italian cuisine, I would recommend Shanghai Restaurant as their first choice.
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