Shanghai China Snippets Observations about living in Shanghai and China in general

It’s been some time since I added a review of a restaurant despite the nice category Shanghai Restaurants.

Last weekend I got inspired again though as we went to Ikea, around 10:30 on a Saturday. I visited this place already a couple of months ago to see what is was like. It was like I expected, too full of shoppers, a lot of pushing as the aisles were cluttered and yes, some good deals. That day we ended for the first time in the Ikea restaurant. Food was good but too many people thought the same so it was like a constant chair dance.

Arriving there early makes all the above inconveniences go away. It’s quiet, there is no waiting at the counter, the coffee machines are there for you alone, (they have three) and the prices are so low.

It’s easy to fork out 200 Kuai for a buffet brunch at one of the top hotels. This place is the real deal though. Just make sure you are of there around 11:45 as the crowds start to close in you.

Ikea
No.126 Cao Xi Road Shanghai /Inner Ring.( Opposite to Hua Ting Hotel. Still can’t find it. Look around for some immense blue building with yellow letters)
Tel:+86–21-54254532
Open daily: 10:00 – 22:00

How to get there:
Metro Line #1 Shanghai Stadium
Pearl Line Caoxi Rd.

Hooters apparently exists already a year here in Shanghai.

Still haven’t visited the place and chances are it will take a lot more anniversaries before I will even contemplate actually going there.

No anniversary without a special evening including the unavoidable National Miss Hooters Competition which is more or less the Shangai National Miss Hooters Competition but who cares.

Some quotes from the article:

Zhou said she has worked at Hooters for one year and felt, well, “lucky” to be a Hooters waitress.

“I can meet new friends, broaden my mind and have fun,” she said. “Hooters makes me happy. I can’t change the weather but I can change my mood.”

Shanghai Hooters officials said the restaurant is popular among expatriates and Chinese white collar professionals consider it “charming.”

Address:

Hooters
Unit B1, Shanghai City Centre,100 Zunyi Road, by Xianxia Road
Changning
Tel: ６２３７００８０
Visa and Master cards accepted

Related:
Shanghaiist has an in-depth interview with one of the waitresses.

Source: Shanghai Daily

I just had dinner but in case you haven’t, take this menu as your inspiration.

The waitress told me later they had used software for the translation.

The terrace of Bar Rouge, part of Bund 18, is a good spot to enjoy the city from the standpoint of an early 20th century citizen, mixed with views on all things modern that Shanghai is building.




I have it in my list of Shanghai favorites for things-to-do when you have a visitor. The view is very much included in the pricing of the drinks. The menu gave us a choice of 6 teas. According to the waiter (who was friendly enough to interact) 4 of them were sold out. Tea, that is sold out around 15:00….. these must be very special teas. I settled for the green tea. The same special Chinese tea my neighborhood restaurant pours for free. It costs only 50 Rmb.

It is nice to sit outside, on an elevated terrace on Nanjing Xi Lu.

During weekdays it will probably be rather smoggy but it was Sunday, sunny and the traffic was low.

Element Fresh Restaurant is on the premises of the Ritz Portman Complex. The interior looks indeed rather fresh and they serve big breakfast sets on weekends.

A big Americancosts 60 Renminbi and includes a cholesterol and caffeine boost with 4 eggs any style and bottomless cups of cofee. Ordering a Healthy Start is both cheaper and … well likely to be healthier.

I ordered the 4 eggs and I must say they were good. There were some other things on my plate too. Very over fried bacon, some substance that might be a potato salad relative and some tasteless french toast.

Then again, the coffee was good. The healthy part was not bad at all, especially since the bread here was real.

Brunch-wise it’s a good deal provided the weather is nice enough.

Read more reviews of shanghai restaurants

We have made it a habit to brunch out in the weekends. Actually we do this for the reader. I mean what better reference than an honest blog…., not as we are rather biased and subjective when it comes down to food.

Sharing my joy or stomach pains with you will from now on happen weekly. I have never been to Brazil myself so I am not even sure whether Brazilians are as BBQ crazy as Australians, Americans or Dutch people.

In China though the word BBQ is connected to Brazil. Several Baxi (Brazil in Chinese) restaurants have sprung up. It’s all you can
eat meat from huge skewers that are carried around by waiters. They carve/cut pieces of huge chunks of meat, juices dripping on your plate, providing you with unlimited chicken kidney’s and they even have grilled bananas. A salad buffet is available for the healthy friends.

There are many and we chose Real BBQ in the Raffles City, 3d floor (see floorplan). I mean, why choose a fake one.

You pay around 55 Kuai for the food which is a reasonable deal. The meat could be more abundant but it’s still ok. The salad buffet is not bad at all, they even have egg salad.

Drinks are pricier but if you stick to hot water I am sure you will walk away feeling like a happy pig yourself. Next weekend
we go up market.