gubigubi is a Chinese fusion bistro with Ningbo roots, located on Yongjia Lu in the former French concession.
It emerged August 2024, instantly catapulting to wanghong status with lines that could test even the most patient diners. These days, the frenzy has settled — now you can actually stroll in for lunch without fussing about a booking.
The Space
The charm begins with the setting. It’s a picture-perfect lane house on the corner dressed in eggshell white with baby blue shutters. It looks like it was plucked straight out of a small Mediterranean town and gently deposited onto one of Shanghai’s most popular “city walk” streets. The airy, café-style ground floor gives way to a more intimate bistro vibe upstairs.
The Food
It’s operated by a Ningbo native (so mentioned the server and Dianping comments). Hence, the menu weaves in regional touches (rice cakes and hair tail fish) without being too gimmicky or forcing its fusion. Speaking of, the fusion is deft — comforting yet intriguing.
The Shepherd’s Purse Shaomai (¥42) presents dumplings that masquerades as Southeast Asian in look but tastes distinctly Chinese. Packed with shepherd’s purse, bok choy, Jinghua ham, and crunchy water chestnuts, it’s served over a “Korean hot cream sauce,” which gave it a nice kick of flavor and was only mildly spicy.
I zeroed in on the Roasted Seasonal Vegetables (¥58) during my visit, searching for a healthier alternative to my usual meat-filled diet. I was pleasantly surprised to find a vibrant platter of asparagus, portobello, zucchini, and more, lightly seasoned and paired with a light salted egg yolk mayo.
The real stars are the Grilled Zhoushan Mackerel (¥88), its skin crisped to perfection and flesh juicy beneath a gingery, bright “pesto,” and the Seafood Ningbo Rice Cake (¥78), where chewy rice cakes (closer to gnocchi than the usual slabs) swim in a milky, xuecai-laced sauce. The xuecai, pickled mustard greens, add a subtle richness, a combination of saltiness, tanginess, and funk. Within are also tender pieces of squid.
Only the Roasted Pork Ribs (¥98) underwhelmed; decent but shy on flavor. Their barbecue sauce needed more punch, and the nut crumble garnish felt like an afterthought. A few pieces were just a tiny bit dry. Still, the misstep is minor and can/should be easily fixed.
gubigubi delivers more than just looks. I’d return!
