Cheap Date: Shanghai's Top 10 Bargain Eats(1)
1. Munchies梦奇屋
When you’ve got the munchies, head to… um, Munchies. With tie-dye clad staff, tasty American and Tex-Mex grub at low prices, and two cosy branches, it’s a cult favourite among thrifty Shanghai diners. The menu is gaudy, and filled with classics like hot dogs, burgers, sandwiches and tacos. Their desserts and drinks are great too (Tsingtao for 8 RMB! Milkshakes for 15 RMB!), and nothing on the menu costs much more than 40 RMB. They deliver as well – free within 1km.
Add: 74 Wuding Lu, near Jiaozhou Lu, Jing’An District, Shanghai
地址: 上海市静安区武定路974号, 近胶州路
Tel: 021 6218 4616
Opening hours: Sun-Thu 10:00-22:00; Fri-Sat 10:00-00:00
Add: No. 63 Shunchang Lu, near Jianguo Donglu, Luwan District, Shanghai
地址: 上海市卢湾区顺昌路563号, 近建国东路
Tel: 021 6311 3616
Opening hours: 10:00-22:00
2. Taco Loco
The day Taco Loco opened was a happy one for folk who don’t want to pay over the odds for a simple burrito. Taco Loco’s slim, white-walled café on Fumin Lu caters to the WiFi crowd who yearn for low cost Tex-Mex. Big, well-filled burritos and quesadillas for 28 RMB, juicy tacos for 12 RMB, all with a choice of pork carnitas, steak asada, or chicken, and dirt cheap Corona (15 RMB). ¡Arriba!
Add:185 Fumin Lu, near Julu Lu, Jing’An District, Shanghai
地址: 上海市静安区富民路185号, 近巨鹿路
Tel: 021 5403 2348
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 10:00-00:00
3. Adobo Latin Flavor
Once you’ve exhausted Taco Loco’s menu, try Adobo’s equally cheap offerings. Their late night happy hour between 10pm and midnight gives you nachos for 3 RMB and beers for 5 RMB.
Add: 139 Tai'An Lu, near Huashan Lu, Shanghai
地址: 上海市泰安路139号, 近华山路
Tel: 021 6281 4891
Opening hours: 11:00-00:00
4. Saizeriya Ristorante e Caffe 萨莉雅
You either love Saizeriya or you hate it. The concept is bizarre – Italian trattoria done Japanese style. We’re not sure exactly what this means, but one thing’s for sure: it’s cheap. Two people can dine like royalty for around 50 RMB, including wine. The quality isn’t great, but it’s fine for the price. Many branches, but most popular are:
Add: B1, Sanwu Building, 555 Nanjing Xilu, near Chengdu Bei Lu, Jing’an District, Shanghai
地址:上海静安区南京西路555号三五大厦B1楼(近成都北路)
Tel: 021 6255 3754
Opening hours: 10：00-23：00
Add: 319 Tianyaoqiao Lu, near Nandan Donglu, Shanghai
地址: 上海天钥桥路319号近南丹东路
Tel: 021 6464 2887
Opening hours: 10:00-05:00
Add: 2F, 32 Wanhangdu Lu, Jing’an District, Shanghai
地址: 上海万航渡路32号2楼
Tel: 021 6258 5815
Opening hours: 10：00 – 5:00
