Autumn is the best season to eat crab. Fresh and abundant in protein, crab is ideal seafood for diners to savor. The following is a listing of some restaurants in China for you to get a taste of this succulent seafood.
Old Shanghai Restaurant
As its name suggests, this restaurant recreates a 1930s Shanghai ambiance. Fans of Shanghainese cuisine can find authentic dishes here that are delicate, served in smaller portions and a bit sweeter in flavor.
The restaurant is currently featuring the famous hair crabs from Yangcheng Lake in Jiangsu Province. Old Shanghai Restaurant also offers a few tasteful Shanghai eats, including drunken chicken, sake goose liver as well as sour and sweet weever are all nice.
Fangliang Xieyan
As its name suggests, “xieyan”, means “crab meat banquet”, and this restaurant serves crab dishes allyear round, the most expensive dish served is drunken crab priced at 60 yuan each. Though this dining establishment is a time-honored brand in Shanghai, Fangliang Xieyan is a newcomer to Beijing. It features crab set menus at various price levels as well as Cantonese dishes like shark’s fin and abalone. Diners may also find some delicious appetizers here like royal court radish peel, bitter lettuce salad and baby cabbage chicken soup.
Beijinger Dajiulou
Beijinger Dajiulou currently offers crab promotions featuring fresh crabs at 68 Yuan each, a good deal for those who want to sample some crab in Beijing. As a Cantonese restaurant, Beijinger Dajiulou has been in the city for over 10 years. A recommended dish is foxiao piaoxiang, a vegetarian dish combining taro, lotus roots, gingko and lily bulbs, and its signature egg tart.
Xielaosong Xiangguo
This is a place where diners can find spicy fried crabs. Flown by air from Myanmar, these crabs differ from Chinese ones in that their shells are thinner and meatier. Xielaosong Xiangguo prepares these crabs following Southern Chinese Province Hubei-based, secret recipes. The crabs are seasoned with traditional Chinese medicine tonics. A glass of red wine makes a wonderful accompaniment to this gourmet dining experience.
Chenglonghang
For some gourmets, good food is not only what they look for, but also a pleasant environment. And Chenglonghang has both. Apart from the music and ambience, diners come to Chenglonghang for its distinctive menu. Its crab and shark’s fin dishes are superb, and other recommended dishes like fried crabmeat, crab meat and silver snow fish are fantastic when accompanied with warm ginger tea.
Wangchao Dajiulou
Translated as “dynasty grand restaurant”, this establishment definitely lives up to its name. The place is well known for its luxurious décor as well as its menu, featuring both Shanghai dishes and French dishes. Recommended dishes are Xiedou, fried crab meat balls made with egg and crabmeat, fried crabmeat, and a coffee-flavored chestnut. Customers who dine here get complimentary fruit and beverages.
Noble House Restaurant
As a high-end seafood restaurant, Noble House Restaurant is reminiscent of old Shanghai. Recommended dishes include crab meat and shark’s fin served in large portions, fried crab meat with bamboo shoots and crab roe stir-fried with rice.
Tu'an Xieweiguan
A cozy and quiet eatery hidden behind Shanghai Library, Tu'an Xieweiguan serves a variety of seafood including crab, abalone and shark’s fin. Couples can order a half set meal. Dishes definitely worth a try are crabmeat stir-fried with tofu, and pumpkin chicken soup. The service staff here can speak Chinese, English and Japanese.
