Here are all the new restaurant and bar openings we featured in our January 2019 magazine issue.

Restaurants

HIYA

Image by Cristina Ng/That's

One of three restaurants in The Shanghai EDITION, HIYA is modeled after Chef Jason Atherton’s now defunct London-based restaurant, Sosharu. Like its predecessor, HIYA is a Japanese-style gastropub designed by Neri&Hu. In Shanghai, the kitchen is helmed by Christopher Pitts who previously worked with Atherton as the chef at Table No. 1. 

It might be confusing to read the words ‘izakaya,’ ‘gastropub,’ and ‘Japanese’ and then walk into HIYA. Instead of over-worked salarymen knocking back a few drinks after a long day at the office, you will find a stylish, well-heeled crowd enjoying a good time over fancy cocktails and beautifully presented dishes, while documenting the entire experience with countless selfies and foodporn shots for their Insta-Stories.

Total Verdict: 4/5

Price: RMB400-500 per person
Who’s going: Well-heeled locals and expats
Good for: leisurely lunches and fancy dinners

Read the full review here. See listing for HIYA.

The Pig Pocket

Image by Cristina Ng/That's

Previously located in a small alley off of Fuxing Zhong Lu, The Pig Pocket was a hidden gem where Taiwan-born chef Sophie Huang and her affable Hong Kong-born business partner Eva Lee quietly served a selection of pork-based plates at surprisingly good prices.

When we heard that this hole-in-the-wall was vacating its 12-seat space, it seemed like terrible news. After trekking out to Yangpu district to check out their new Daxue Lu digs and greatly expanded menu, we see this move in a much more positive light.

Total Verdict: 3.5/5

Price: RMB50-100 per person                       
Who’s going: Fudan University students and pork aficionados
Good for: casual dining and killer pork chops

Read the full review here. See listing for The Pig Pocket.

Ministry of Crab

Image courtesy Ministry of Crab

After months of renovation, Barbarossa has recently unveiled a new look to their famous People’s Park location and introduced a brand new concept to the mix. Occupying the first floor of their Arabian-style building, Ministry of Crab – one of the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants from Colombo, Sri Lanka – is now serving their famously large crustaceans in a variety of ways. If you’ve been struggling to find high-quality seafood that is comically large, you’re in luck.

Chef Dharshan Munidasa helms the original crab lovers’ haven. For the award-winning restaurant’s first venture outside Sri Lanka, they’ve sent over Chef Vimukthi, who’s worked with Munidasa for years, to oversee the kitchen.

Total Verdict: 4/5

Price: RMB400-600 per person                    
Who’s going: Business travelers from neighboring hotels and fancy local families
Good for: Gargantuan crustaceans in flavorsome sauces

Read the full review here. See listing for Ministry of Crab.

STACK

Image by Cristina Ng/That's

It takes a wise restaurateur to identify a hole in the market and fill it accordingly. In the case of Stack, a new burger-slinging operation on Wukang Lu, the Canadian-Chinese owner took over the space left behind by Rachel’s after a flour scandal knocked Franck Pécol’s empire down.  

Differentiating itself from its predecessor, Stack also specializes in towers of the #instafamous Japanese soufflé pancakes and generously-sized breakfast platters. 

Total Verdict: 3/5

Price: RMB100-200 per person
Who’s going: Mostly young locals and a few foreigners
Good for: Casual lunch/brunch and soufflé pancakes 

Read the full review here. See listing for STACK.

Bars

The Odd Couple

Image by Cristina Ng/That's

Something totally tubular is going on at Xintiandi. When news broke in September that two big name mixologists Shingo Gokan (Speak Low, Sober Company) and Steve Schneider (who rose to fame at NYC’s Employees Only) were collaborating on the 80s-themed neon-lit cocktail bar, booze enthusiasts immediately logged it on their ‘must visit’ lists.

Fast forward a few months and The Odd Couple materialized in a second-floor hideaway off the main Xintiandi drag. It’s small in stature but big on personality, with silver compact discs (remember those?) lining the walls. A game of Pac-Man (soon featuring avatars of the titular couple) is also projected on a big screen while the cocktail list is divided into two parts showcasing unique interpretation of shared flavor profiles.

Read the full review here. See listing for The Odd Couple.

[Cover image by Cristina Ng/That's]

Have you been to any of these venues? Post your reviews on their listings for a chance to win a Saucepan voucher. 

Read more Shanghai Restaurant Reviews & Shanghai Bar Reviews