As the summer approaches, many look forward to indulging in delectable crayfish. Chilled, spiced, or braised... the flavors are nothing short of tantalizing.

Here is a list of top spots in Huangpu district to help you enjoy the best spots serving crayfish. It's time to plan your first crayfish feast of the year!

1. Central Hotel Shanghai

A crayfish buffet in Central Hotel Shanghai is a beloved choice for many of the city's residents. This year, their crayfish buffet offers a succulent selection of six flavors: chilled, drunken, spiced, garlic, black bean chili, and braised.

Using antibiotic-free crayfish carefully selected for their quality, the four-star hotel ensures a top-notch dining experience. Their freshly peeled crayfish noodles are a highlight, combining crayfish with flavorful sauces, creating a mouthwatering experience.

The buffet also includes hotpot options with high-quality sliced beef and lamb, various meatballs, and vegetables.

Address: 2F, Coffee Shop, No 555 Jiujiang Road

Price: Monday to Thursday 268 yuan ($37.76)/person, Friday to Sunday 288 yuan/person

2. Shanghai Grand Hotel

Shanghai Grand Hotel offers a five-star crayfish buffet experience. With flavors like chilled, drunken, pickled cabbage, and spicy, along with creative crayfish dishes like crayfish noodles, crayfish xiaolongbao (steamed small dumplings in a basket), crayfish salad, and crayfish pizza, your crayfish cravings will be satisfied year-round.

You can also indulge in dishes made with Chinese yellow wine, fresh grilled beef and lamb, creative fusion dishes, handmade desserts, and six flavors of Häagen-Dazs ice cream.

Address: 1F, Coffee Shop, No 505 Jiujiang Road

Price: Monday to Thursday 268 yuan/person, Friday to Sunday 288 yuan/person

3. Shanghai Wanda Reign Hotel

Starting on May 1, Shanghai Wanda Reign Hotel is hosting a crayfish feast at their Food Gallery on the first floor. Chef-selected plump and tender crayfish are prepared in classic flavors like spicy, garlic, blanched, 13-spice, and drunken, inviting guests to indulge in a sumptuous crayfish banquet.

Address: 1F, Food Gallery, No 538 East Zhongshan Road Number Two

Price: Starting from 258 yuan/person

4. JW Marriott Hotel Shanghai at Tomorrow Square

JW Marriott Hotel Shanghai at Tomorrow Square presents a crayfish-themed buffet dinner, allowing you to revel in the joy of crayfish.

The small but plump crayfish with a bright, glossy shell are carefully prepared by the head chef to retain their tender meat while bringing out its naturally sweet and unique texture.

The buffet also features flavorful grilled skewers, including selected beef/lamb skewers, tiger prawns, saury, squid skewers, and other specialty delights, drizzled with secret sauces, exuding a tantalizing barbecue aroma.

Address: 38F, Marriott Cafe, No 399 West Nanjing Road

Price: Tuesday to Sunday 228 yuan/person

5. Hong Kui Jia

Hong Kui Jia is a famous crayfish restaurant in Shanghai. Offering various flavors, this restaurant is always full of customers.

It set a record for serving over 1800 tables a day and selling five tons of crayfish. The exquisite mix of lemon, Sprite, rum, vodka, and more are classics only available at Hong Kui Jia.

Address: Elevator to 2F at Exit 2 of Dashijie Station, Metro Line 8/14

Price: An average of 206 yuan/person

6. XNYT

The crayfish-themed restaurant XNYT pioneered the concept of mobile water dining, leaving a lasting first impression and adding a ceremonial sense of enjoying crayfish.

Beer is the perfect companion to crayfish and you can enjoy authentic German Paulaner Lager, a blend of pure malt fragrance and dense foam. Apart from crayfish, it also pairs well with the signature charcoal-grilled hanging chicken.

Address: No 788 South Zhongshan Road Number One

Price: An average of 168 yuan/person

7. Hu Xiao Pang

The newly launched spicy crayfish hot pot is a great choice for diners. With over 10 types of ingredients such as crayfish, beef slices, luncheon meat, beef balls, corn, and quail eggs... each one soaked in the secret spicy broth, the ingredients are plentiful. And the best part? It costs just 29.9 yuan ($4.1) per bowl.

Without leaving Shanghai, you can also enjoy Wuhan-style braised crayfish. Each crayfish, with its head removed, is deep-fried, stir-fried, and then braised in oil, gradually turning red in the fierce heat, exuding a fragrant aroma. Corn, lotus root slices, and other side dishes are also excellent!

The crayfish rice soup is also flavorful, with the sweet freshness of crayfish meat blending with a delicious broth. Sprinkled with a handful of coarse rice, the crispy layers are so delightful that it's unforgettable.

Address: 3F, No 1 Middle Huaihai Road

Price: An average of 283 yuan/person

Sources: Venues from above, "shhplyj" WeChat account