Lots of people will know this already, but the enormous basement of Réel Mall in Jing’an is a veritable ~ treasure trove ~ of weird and frequently wonderful things to eat on the quick and cheap.
With delicacies hailing from all parts of Asia (well, mainly Japan and Korea) we visited with a mind to prove once and for all that Shanghai’s malls are rife with gourmet opportunity for even the most intrepid culinary explorer.
1. Whole panko-fried squid on a stick: RMBB20
We’ll admit it, we initially got this for the comedy factor of trying to eat an enormous whole squid, tentacles and all, on a stick. Stunned we were, then, to discover it tasted pretty excellent. Delicious, if cumbersome.
2. Bucket of miscellaneous tempura: RMB19
Probably the best value thing we tried, this sizeable tub of tempura-fried goodness was another surprise hit. Points if you guess what each item is before first bite.
3. Hello Kitty stuffed cakes: RMB25
Each of this little posse of baked Hello Kitty’s has a different flavor inside, best of which was still molten, richly flavored dark chocolate. Worst of which was warm durian, truly vile.
4. Chicken and vegetable Sichuan hot pot: RMB30-90
This enormous bowl of veggies, chicken and tofu seemed to be the order of the day in the Réel basement – just about everybody was eating it. You pick the veggies and meat from the counter and they throw it in the pot to cook. Big enough for two people at least.
5. Chocolate/mango cream stuffed waffles: RMB18
Another specialty from the Hello Kitty camp, these freezer fresh pre-stuffed waffles were something of a let down. They might look pretty but they sure don’t hold a candle to their hot Belgian counterparts.
Also not as exciting as their plastic counterparts in the display case.
6. Cheese-filled Korean rice cakes: RMB35
You already know these are gonna be good. Melted mozzarella-esque cheese within chewy rice cake, served in a stone pot with shredded beef, cabbage, onions, and peppers, white rice and soup on the side. AKA the king of lunch sets.
7. Korean puffed rice cakes: RMB10
The making of these flying saucer-shaped rice cakes is perhaps their most remarkable aspect – each one is born from a huge countertop machine, which violently spits them out into a sort of holding pen with a loud ‘snap.’
All these for only RMB10!
8. Black Magic chocolate cake: RMB46
More a piece of art than food, Black Magic sells expensive chocolate cake by the slice and nothing else. And why would they when their chocolate cake is a perfect recipe? We tried one with cherry inside and recommend you do the same. Serious chocoholics need only apply.
9. 'Sakura cream,' banana and 'yoghurt pon' donuts: RMB28, Mister Donut
You’re not likely to catch one of New York’s finest dipping these effeminate-looking donuts in their coffee. And you’re probably not going to find us doing it again either.
Neon-hued ‘Sakura cream,’ with a perfumed, oddly purple filling is no replacement for an old fashioned original. Curiosity usually pays off when it comes to experimenting with donut flavors, but sadly not this time.
10. Baymax and bird’s nest topped cupcakes: RMB40, Sweetizens Cupcakes
Cupcake vendor Sweetizens, which usually specializes in cakes decorated to look like potted cacti, is stretching its culinary wings and branching out to Disney's Big Hero Six character Baymax topped cakes instead. Big on visuals, but small on flavor.
Damn! Should have gone for original cacti flavor...
11. Durian flavor thousand-layer cake: RMB36, Miss Durian
What do you call a cake made from pancakes? A pancake cake? Well, if it’s stuffed with super pungent durian cream you call it disgusting. However if you’re a fan of the stinky south east Asian fruit, you might just love this delicately layered confection.
12. Cake in a jar: RMB25, Grosfairy
Does exactly what it says on the jar. Cake, cream and fruit easily packaged and probably perfect for picnics.
Also available in 'seaweed salad' flavor. Hmm.
13. Spam Bite sandwich: RMB21
Ok, ok we didn’t actually get to eat this, but certainly not for lack of trying – on our visit the canned ham and seaweed sandwich was literally sold out. As was the ‘Galbi Bite’ version with beef. Gotta move fast if you want a bite of the Spamwich, people.
14. Cheese popsicle: RMB30
Clocking in at a whopping RMB30, our initial disdain for this innocuous-looking popsicle was quieted when we realised it was literally frozen cheesecake filling on a stick. This filling icy treat could also double as a meal replacement, so go for mojito, watermelon and kiwi (below right) or strawberry milk and chocolate (below left) for a lighter flavored lolly.
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