Revisited: Ginger Modern Asian Bistro, A Shanghai Institution

Ginger is a modern Asian bistro housed in a three-story terraced building in the former French Concession. It’s basically time-honored brand at this point—the name has been around since 2005 and there were once three locations in Shanghai.

It’s a cozy spot with plenty of character. (Read: great for dates.) The second floor is the main dining area with a lovely tree-shaded terrace; more seating on the third floor, which can also host larger groups.

Ginger is a modern Asian restaurant in Shanghai.

About The Food at Ginger

The menu draws from chef/owner Betty Ng’s Singaporean roots and inspirations from around the world, adding Mediterranean, Moroccan and Japanese influences to the mix.

I think Ginger serves the best Laksa in Shanghai. It’s a signature dish and has been on the menu for as long as the restaurant has been around.

Curry laksa at Ginger, a modern Asian restaurant in Shanghai. Photo by Rachel Gouk @ Nomfluence. — **Ginger Laksa (¥115)** – Rice noodles in curry coconut broth served with black tiger prawns, clams, fish cake, puffed tofu and hard-boiled egg.

It comes real close to that taste of home. The curry broth is rich and thickened with a house blend of fresh and dried spices. It’s also served with some real fancy seafood, unlike the bowls you’d get from the street side stalls of Malaysia and Singapore. Aces.

The menu at Ginger is seldom updated, but sometimes stars like the new Gochujang Braised New Zealand Short Rib (¥350) make the cut, and it’s all for the better.

Braised short rib at Ginger, a modern Asian restaurant in Shanghai. Photo by Rachel Gouk @ Nomfluence. — Gochujang Braised New Zealand Short Rib

It’s a heaving pot of slow-braised short rib with kimchi, rice cakes, potatoes and radish. One of these can easily serve as a main course for four with a couple starters.

Here are some of the other dishes on the menu:

Iberico pork satay at Ginger, a modern Asian restaurant in Shanghai. Photo by Rachel Gouk @ Nomfluence. — **Spanish Iberico Pork Collar Satay (¥160/6pc, ¥300/12pc)** with almond peanut dip, ketupat (packed rice squares), cucumber and raw onion. The requisite ketupat makes this dish complete, and very few restaurants serving satay bother adding this onto the plate.

Tofu salad at Ginger, a modern Asian restaurant in Shanghai. Photo by Rachel Gouk @ Nomfluence. — **Homemade Nigari Tofu (¥88)** – A fresh tofu salad with shredded daikon and arugula served with sesame dressing.

Hokkaido scallops at Ginger, a modern Asian restaurant in Shanghai. Photo by Rachel Gouk @ Nomfluence. — **Seared Hokkaido Scallops (¥98)** with salmon roe, lime peppercorn oil and celery sprouts.

String bean prawn cake at Ginger, a modern Asian restaurant in Shanghai. Photo by Rachel Gouk @ Nomfluence. — **String Bean Prawn Cake (¥95)** with homemade sweet chili sauce.

Hot & Sour clams at Ginger, a modern Asian restaurant in Shanghai. Photo by Rachel Gouk @ Nomfluence. — **Hot & Sour Clams, Chilies & Coriander (¥95)** – One dish I’ll be craving come the dead of winter.

White miso chocolate mousse dessert at Ginger, a modern Asian restaurant in Shanghai. Photo by Rachel Gouk @ Nomfluence. — **White Miso Chocolate Mousse (¥55)** with salted caramel and baked almond milk powder.

Coconut sago with pandan ice cream at Ginger, a modern Asian restaurant in Shanghai. Photo by Rachel Gouk @ Nomfluence. — **Coconut Sago with Pandan Ice Cream (¥58)** and palm sugar meringue.

Everything Ginger flourless cake at Ginger, a modern Asian restaurant in Shanghai. Photo by Rachel Gouk @ Nomfluence. — **Everything Ginger (¥68)** – The house specialty dessert. Flourless ginger cake with candied ginger, ginger ice-cream and ginger jam.

There are also dishes that cater to vegan and vegetarian diets, and they have flourless desserts and healthy juices.

In Summary: Timeless

I’ve been coming back for the classics for years. The food still tastes the same, and some have even gotten better over time. Here’s to revisiting a gem of a restaurant.