Summer in Shanghai is beautiful, but the scorching heat is unbearable. Shanghai residents have come up with many ways to deal with the annoying temperature, including staying indoors, making icy desserts, and eating mutton.

The last one may sound illogical, since mutton is something that makes you sweat even in winter. However, in Chinese medicine, there is a mechanism called combating poison with poison, and that's how mutton becomes useful when offsetting the heat.

If you want to find out whether it really works, here are several places that offer delicious mutton dishes in Shanghai.

 

📍 Zhuanghang town

The tradition of eating mutton in the height of summer has been followed by people in Fengxian district for over 600 years, and mutton in Zhuanghang town has been a star that stands the test of time.

The town's custom of eating mutton was listed in the intangible cultural heritage of Shanghai in 2009.

Zhuanghang Zhengxing Mutton Restaurant and Liji Mutton are among the most recommended spots to savor the summer delicacy. The textures of the mutton in both restaurants are tender and waxy, with flavorful gravy that leaves you wanting more.

Addresses:

Zhuanghang Zhengxing Mutton Restaurant: No 227 Lane 111 Zhuangliang Road, Zhuanghang town, Fengxian district

Liji Mutton: No 726 Pandian village, Zhuanghang town, Fengxian district

The texture of mutton is tender and waxy. [Photo/WeChat account: shanghaitourism]

 

📍 Zhangze town

In Zhangze town, soft mutton, sliced mutton and mutton chop soup make for a classic trilogy not to be missed. The soft mutton is stewed long enough that it seems to melt in your mouth. The sliced mutton is more solid, and the fragrance will gradually intensify as you bite into it. Although the mutton chop soup doesn't have an appealing look, the robust taste is more than enough to attract food enthusiasts.

The two recommended restaurants that serve Zhangze mutton are Xinming Barrel Mutton Restaurant and Zhangze Mutton Hotel. As the name indicates, mutton is boiled in wooden barrels in Xinming Barrel Mutton Restaurant, creating traditional flavors.

Addresses:

Xinming Barrel Mutton Restaurant: No 315 Zhennan Road, Songjiang district

Zhangze Mutton Hotel: No 22 Zhennan Road, Songjiang district

 

📍 Dachang town

Dachang town's tradition of eating mutton can be dated back to Song Dynasty (960-1279) when salt miners from the north gathered in Dachang town for the newly-built saltern. The unique technique of cooking Dachang mutton can remove the unpleasant smell and release the fragrance of the ingredients, maximizing the flavor.

Yaoyao Mutton Restaurant is the only eatery in Dachang town that keeps the traditional techniques. With its impossibly fragrant mutton soup, even plain noodles become extremely tasty.

Address: Yaoyao Mutton Restaurant: No 2925 Hutai Road, Baoshan district

 

📍 Chongming district

Braising is the most common way to cook mutton in Chongming district. After being slightly fried, the braised mutton presents a savory flavor. The added spices add complexity to the dish.

Ling Yidao Restaurant and Dongjiang Mutton Restaurant are both renowned for their mutton. Besides their classic dishes, you can also try mutton blood soup or braised mutton chops.

Addresses:

Ling Yidao Restaurant: No 8 Lane 1688, Cuizhu Road, Chongming district

Dongjiang Mutton Restaurant: No 7218 Tuancheng Highway, Chongming district

A bowl of braised mutton. [Photo/WeChat account: shanghaitourism]

 

📍 Zhengru town

Established in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), Zhengru Mutton Restaurant has a history of over 200 years. The sliced mutton here is so perfectly simmered that the marbled meat looks snowy, and its tantalizing aroma lingers in the air.

Address: Zhengru Mutton Restaurant: No 155 Beishi Road, Putuo district

 

📍 Zhoupu town

Many Shanghai residents link Zhoupu town with soft mutton dishes. Most mutton restaurants here are small, but there are always long queues outside in the summer season. The owners here often use their nicknames in their restaurant's names, such as Huang Dage,which means bro Huang, and Guangtou, which means skinhead.

Addresses:

Huang Dage's Mutton Restaurant：No 755, Liren village, Hunan Highway, Pudong New Area

Guangtou's Mutton: No 196 Zhoushi Road, Pudong New Area

Lao Zhang's Mutton: No 234 Yunpu Road, Pudong New Area

 

📍 Qibao town

The sliced mutton in Qibao town is very simple, but also extremely delicious. Instead of relying on various spices to get rid of the mutton smell, the cooks here know how to achieve the same effect by controlling the heat of the fire while cooking, thus maximizing the original flavor of the mutton. Simply dip the slices of mutton in the soy sauce, and you will be amazed by how delicious it is.

Addresses:

Jiangnan Mutton Restaurant: No 16 Nandajie Street, Qibao town, Minhang district

Baixiang Mutton Restaurant: No 37 Nandajie Street, Qibao town, Minhang district

Tianxiang Lou: No 17 Beidajie Street, Qibao town, Minhang district

A plate of sliced mutton in Qibao town. [Photo/WeChat account: shanghaitourism]

⚠ While indulging in the mutton, remember not to eat too much at one time.

 

Sources: culture and tourism bureaus of the above-mentioned districts, "zhoupufabu" "minhangnews" "shanghaitourism" WeChat accounts, Dazhong Dianping