With the arrival of autumn, the city of Shanghai, China is enveloped in special excitement. This atmosphere announces the long-awaited arrival of Shanghai crab (Da Zha Xie) season. While Shanghai crab is famous worldwide, it’s known globally as a representative of Chinese gourmet culture.
Now, while the image of “Shanghai crab equals steamed crab” has become established internationally, it’s actually enjoyed through various cooking methods locally, each with its own unique charm. This time, we’ll introduce the diverse ways to enjoy Shanghai crab that only insiders know about, along with restaurants where you can savor authentic flavors at reasonable prices.
The Unknown World of Shanghai Crab
Actually, crab dishes come in countless varieties
When most people hear “Shanghai crab,” they probably think of steamed crab eaten with black vinegar. Indeed, with its rich roe and delicate meat, this ingredient is delicious enough even with simple steaming.
However, in local Shanghai, Shanghai crab is actually enjoyed through much more diverse cooking methods. Beyond steamed crab, various dishes utilizing the roe and meat grace restaurant menus. Sometimes as casual home cooking, sometimes as luxurious dishes for special occasions, Shanghai crab has become an indispensable part of Shanghai people’s dining tables.
So let’s introduce this diverse world of Shanghai crab cuisine through representative dishes.
Representative Shanghai Crab Dishes
Qing Zheng Xie (清蒸蟹) – Traditional Steamed Crab
Steamed crab is the most traditional cooking method. This is probably the first dish that comes to mind when you hear “Shanghai crab.” Because of its simple cooking method, you can fully taste the original umami of Shanghai crab. The basic method involves steaming live crabs for 15-20 minutes, and it’s traditionally eaten with black vinegar and ginger sauce. Particularly, enjoying the roe under the shell and the inner and outer roe with white rice is said to allow you to taste the true essence of Shanghai crab.
Xie Ban Fan (蟹拌飯) – Luxurious Crab Rice
Xie Ban Fan is a luxurious dish where crab meat, crab roe, and inner/outer roe are mixed and served over white rice
One of the most beloved dishes among Shanghai people is Xie Ban Fan. This is the ultimate dish made by mixing steamed Shanghai crab meat and roe with white rice. The crab’s umami permeates every grain of rice, and its golden appearance is also appetizing. The ease of enjoying crab flavors is one reason why it’s loved by locals.
Xie Huang Mian (蟹黄面) – Rich Crab Noodles
A luxurious noodle dish using abundant crab roe and inner/outer roe. The chewy noodles and rich crab flavor create an exquisite harmony. The elegant soup utilizing crab flavors combines with chewy hand-pulled noodles, and the local way of eating involves finishing with cilantro according to preference – truly a blissful bowl.
Zui Xie (酔蟹) – A Delicacy Evolved from Ancient Preserved Food
Zui Xie, also known as “drunken crab,” is a traditional fermented food made by marinating in yellow rice wine, and has evolved into a refined crab dish in modern times. Characterized by its unique aroma and umami from fermentation, its surprisingly refreshing taste pairs excellently with wine. It’s generally served chilled before eating, and its delicate flavor has captivated many gourmets.
Characteristics and Taste Differences Between Male and Female
Going slightly off-topic, Shanghai crabs have different charms between males and females. Male crabs are characterized by their roe (gao) and have a rich, concentrated flavor. Autumn is their peak season, especially October, and they’re externally characterized by narrow, pointed abdomens.
The one with a rounder abdomen is female (left front), the one with a pointed triangular shape is male (left back)
On the other hand, female crabs’ greatest attraction lies in their two types of eggs: inner and outer roe. Their peak season is slightly later than males, in November, and they’re characterized by rounded abdomens.
When selecting Shanghai crabs, it’s important to check their liveliness through leg movement if possible, and confirm the shell’s luster and weight. These elements serve as important indicators for judging the crab’s freshness and quality.
Recommended Restaurant Introductions
Now, after this lengthy introduction, let me introduce recommended Shanghai restaurants for each menu item mentioned earlier. Shanghai crab is, in a sense, a demanding cuisine where price and quality correlate perfectly, but the restaurants introduced this time are selected mainly for their reasonable prices, accessible even to budget-conscious travelers.
First, Xie Huo Ji (蟹伙記), known as a famous restaurant for Xie Ban Fan, is a chain brand with stores centered in Shanghai. The popular store located near Shanghai’s tourist destination, Yu Garden, is especially popular due to its accessibility. It enjoys tremendous popularity among both locals and tourists. It’s relatively reasonable and allows you to casually enjoy authentic flavors.
Yu Xing Ji – Xie Huang Mian Guan (裕興記 – 蟹黄面館) is a noodle restaurant located in Qibao. Yu Xing Ji is a chain brand, and while the store near Jing’an Temple is particularly popular with tourists, if you want to eat Xie Huang Mian, this Qibao store is definitely recommended. They continue to preserve traditional noodle-making techniques and provide dishes where hand-pulled noodle texture and crab flavor harmonize beautifully.
Xie Tai Tai (蟹太太), famous for delicious Zui Xie, is also a crab cuisine specialty restaurant with multiple locations throughout Shanghai. Due to its location, the Lujiazui store is easily accessible from the airport and city center, making it personally valuable. In addition to steamed crab, their Zui Xie is especially reasonable and exquisite. Many regular customers give it their stamp of approval.
Summary
Shanghai crab can be enjoyed not just steamed, but through various cooking methods. The ingenuity and tradition embedded in each dish tells the story of Shanghai’s deep food culture. From Qing Zheng Xie to Xie Ban Fan, Xie Huang Mian, and Zui Xie, each has different charms, allowing you to feel the richness of Shanghai’s food culture.
Also, by understanding the characteristics of both males and females and enjoying them with appropriate cooking methods at the right time, you can experience deeper flavors. During the best season from October to November, you can choose and enjoy the rich concentration of male crab roe and the delicate taste of female inner and outer roe according to your purpose.
The restaurants introduced this time are all renowned establishments with reliable techniques. While they are chain brands, they have proven quality backed by multi-store operations. They are trusted stores loved by locals for maintaining tradition while providing authentic flavors at reasonable prices. When visiting Shanghai, please be sure to visit them.
Shanghai crab, with its deep flavors and diverse ways of enjoyment, will surely captivate you.
