The Shanghai Scoop is a monthly column dedicated to the latest food and drink news happening in Shanghai.
Click here to read the last Scoop.
New openings this season: Smokin’ Bowls, Le Zink, Verdant, Times, Love Sushi, Down To Earth.
Big-name closures: Bistro 321 Le Bec and Green & Safe. A few more are also on the chopping block, with Salt-Less and The Odd Couple set to close their doors this month.
6 New Restaurants in Shanghai
Smokin’ Bowls: Bowls & Burritos by Smokin’ Hog
Smokin’ Hog is expanding! They’ve launched Smokin’ Bowls, a sister concept serving rice bowls, burritos, tortas, and cinnamon rolls. It’s conveniently located right next to Smokin’ Hog on Wuding Lu, previously Pho Mi.
Le Zink: French with Asian Accents & Wine Bar
Opened last December, Le Zink is a French bistro and wine bar brimming with personality, located on Changle Lu. Behind the project are several F&B veterans, including Arnaud and Laurent, both front-of-house, who previously worked at Chez Jojo. The kitchen, led by Arnaud, is also powered by young talent formerly of Phenix at The Puli.
The menu is rooted in traditional French cooking, with subtle Asian touches — gochujang makes an appearance, and there’s even a “banmian.”
Verdant: Taiwanese Fusion Bistro
Verdant is a new Taiwanese-fusion bistro tucked into the “Tang Wu 272” lane complex on Wuxing Lu. The idea is to give night market classics and homestyle favorites a subtle modern update.
Running the kitchen is Chef Dante, a Taipei native who cooked at big name restaurants Frantzén and Enigma before making his way back to Asia. On the menu: roasted chili with century egg and tofu, a “Three Cup” preparation swapped out for duck breast, and taro and duck soup rice.
Times: Modern Cantonese Bistro Bar
Times, the latest from Shanghai OUD Group, is now open on Yongkang Lu. It’s a bistro-bar with Cantonese-inspired cocktails and small plates.
Cocktails sound really creative: Satay Soup (shacha beef soup with clarified tomato and cognac) and Sand Ginger Colada (whisky, sand ginger, Ovaltine, all spice) jump out from the menu. Bites feature contemporary Cantonese plates, including honey and aged mandarin peel wings, congee with surf clam, and wagyu steak with satay (shacha) sauce.
Love Sushi: New Omakase
Serial omakase restaurateur Sun-San (Ochiyo, Uni Shushi, Sushi Brother, etc.) has opened a new location at Plaza 66: Love Sushi (瑷鮨). It’s an intimate space with a ten-seater bar and a private room for four.
The restaurant is helmed by Ma Shifu (马建), a chef with over 20 years of experience, who previously served up his style of omakase in Shenzhen. Lunch is priced at ¥690 and ¥980, with dinner at ¥980 and ¥1,280+.
Down to Earth: Natural Wine & Vinyl Sets
Tucked away in the back lane of Shanghai next to Bastard is Down to Earth, a wine store by day, and listening wine bar at night, inspired by the intimate jazz kissa culture in Japan. It’s just a handful of seats, designed for those who enjoy an intimate session with good grooves on vinyl and natural wine.
Coming Soon
Beef & Liberty is opening at ITC Maison in May, making up for the outlet they closed last year at Kerry Parkside Pudong.
Avocado Tree is opening another location near Xintiandi soon. They also opened one at L+ Mall in Pudong last November.
After 12 years on Hankou Lu in Huangpu, French restaurant Épices & Foie Gras is relocating to Xuhui. The restaurant will reopen at 1720 Huaihai Lu this March.
Otanik, a Middle Eastern concept specializing in Levantine cuisine is opening on Nanjing Xi Lu, around the corner from the Starbucks Roastery. The brand has locations in Guangzhou and Yiwu.
Impending Closures
The Odd Couple To Close March 23
Cocktail bar The Odd Couple in Xintiandi is closing on March 23, ending their run with a bang with a grand send off featuring the original TOC gang. Co-founder Steve Schneider, Dre Yang (Pony Up), Satoshi Sugiura (Kokuto de Lequio ambassador), Lola, and Jiawei will assemble for the final shift. Expect the party to rage until the sun rises.
Salt-Less To Close March 31
Creative vegetarian restaurant Salt-Less in Jing’an will close its doors on March 31.
It’s a genuine loss. I really like what they’re doing.
I’ve written about this place before (here and here), and it always stood out for its thoughtful cooking, welcoming space, and sincere ethos. In Shanghai’s increasingly difficult restaurant climate, even places with good food and good intentions can struggle to stay afloat.
Until it closes, Salt-Less is offering 20% off the food bill. Click here to book a table while you still can.
Now Closed
Been a minute since the last Scoop, and since the January Big List of Closures. Sadly, a lot more places have pulled the plug since then. The two biggest names to bite the dust? Bistro 321 Le Bec and Green & Safe.
Bistro 321 Le Bec
Beloved French restaurant Bistro 321 Le Bec (Villa Le Bec) held its final service on Valentine’s Day, February 14. A fixture on Xinhua Lu since 2014, it was considered a Shanghai dining institution for many. The lease on the villa had simply expired.
However, the closing chapter gives way to a new one with the impending opening of Le Bec Bund, set to open at Bund City Hall this April. Read about it here.
Green & Safe
Green & Safe shut down all its Shanghai locations on February 28. It first opened in 2000 and was a pioneer in Shanghai’s healthy dining scene, promoting eco-friendly, organic food with a farm-to-table philosophy and locally sourced produce. The announcement of their closure was made on February 2 via their official WeChat account.
Bonus Gelato
Bonus Gelato on Wulumuqi Zhong Lu, closed its doors last November. Bonus was one of the city’s pioneers, if not the first, in creative gelato flavors, starting as a pop-up in 2017 before opening its permanent storefront.
Founder Xing Xing reflected on the decision: “There are too many gelato shops in Shanghai now. It’s hard… I don’t think there’s much of a future for a small gelato shop.”
The Hai
Beloved dive bar The Hai closed its doors on February 28 with a big send-off. This one was out of their hands — the same old landlord story. But they’re actively looking for a new spot to bring back their rowdy, fun-lovin’ vibe and terribly good karaoke nights.
Penicillin Shanghai
Penicillin Shanghai is on an extended hiatus following a dispute between its founders (HK) and its local partners. The news was all over social feeds (IG, Red Book & Dianping) on January 31. When will Penicillin Shanghai reopen? It’s anyone’s guess at this point.
Other Temporary Closures
OHA Eatery on Anfu Lu has temporarily closed pending relocation to Fengxian district. It’ll reopened this summer.
The OHA Group will keep the Anfu Lu lot for a different concept, word is it’ll be something “modern Chinese.”
Yunnan Eating Society (YES) has also closed due to rents, but is to relocate to a street-facing spot on Yongkang Lu very soon.
Other closures: Wulu Bistro, Cucurucu, Goto Ramen.
