Shanghai continues to solidify its reputation as a culinary hub, boasting the highest number of top-rated fine dining establishments in China for the eighth consecutive year, as revealed by the 2025 Black Pearl Restaurant Guide released on Jan 6.

Considered the Chinese equivalent of the Michelin Guide, the Black Pearl Restaurant Guide released by Meituan, a leading online service platform in China, handpicked 370 upscale dining venues from 34 cities, including three destinations from outside China — Bangkok, Singapore and Tokyo.

Shanghai is home to 61 of the establishments listed, including two three-diamond restaurants, seven two-diamond restaurants, and 52 one-diamond restaurants. Notably, nine restaurants, including culinary gems like Maggie 5, Fu He Hui, and 8½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana, have been featured in the guide's list for all eight years since its inception.

Adding to the city's culinary prowess, four entrants from Shanghai have been included in the list for the first time - Meet the Bund (Xintiandi branch), Ling Long, Wuxieju Kudo, and Wan Yan.

Shanghai's culinary landscape is a melting pot of flavors, with offerings spanning 22 distinct categories of cuisine.

Chinese cuisine reigns supreme, with 67.2 percent of the listed restaurants specializing in regional delights such as Cantonese, Sichuan, and Chaoshan cuisines. Shanghai has emerged as the country’s most diverse hub for regional Chinese cuisines.

Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang cuisines are highly represented, accounting for 31.1 percent of the city's Black Pearl restaurants.

Celebrating culinary excellence, three Shanghai restaurants have been honored with the Dish of the Year Award for their standout dishes crafted from humble yet exquisite ingredients, showcasing innovation and culinary artistry.

In a broader culinary trend, Meituan also reported a 30 percent year-on-year increase in the number of fine dining establishments in second and third-tier cities in 2024.

This growth has brought four new cities — Changzhou in Jiangsu, Wenzhou in Zhejiang, Quanzhou in Fujian, and Sanya in Hainan — onto the Black Pearl Restaurant Guide, highlighting the growing diversity of China's gourmet destinations.

Source: Shanghai Observer