Shanghai wakes up early. There’s a rhythm to the mornings here — the clatter of woks, the hiss of steam, and the scent of fried dough drifting through leafy boulevards. When I joined Lost Plate Food Tours again — this time for their Shanghai Coffee & Breakfast Tour — I knew I’d be in for something special.

As a returning Lost Plate guest, (after their incredible Bangkok evening food tour), I had high expectations. Lost Plate doesn’t just feed you; they take you deep into a city’s story — the hidden alleys, the family recipes, and the people who bring each dish to life. In Shanghai, that story began in Jing’an District, a neighbourhood where tradition and trend coexist in perfect harmony.

Shanghai Coffee & Breakfast Food Tour

Operating Daily at 8:30am

Tour Duration: 3 hours

Cost: $59 USD per person, $45 USD per child

Includes: Enough food for breakfast and lunch, plus two coffees, at 6 different food stalls, vendors, and restaurants!

Grab $5 off your next LostPlate experience with the code “UNCOVERINGCITIES” when completing your booking.

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Our group met just outside Wuding Road Metro Station, surrounded by a blend of modern cafés and classic breakfast stalls. Jing’an is one of those rare districts where Shanghai’s creative spirit and old-world charm overlap — the kind of place where you can grab artisanal espresso and handmade dumplings on the same street.

The first aroma of the morning led us to a tiny family-run scallion pancake (葱油饼) shop, a neighborhood favorite that’s been flipping pancakes for over sixteen years.

The owners start their day at 3 a.m., transforming five simple ingredients into layers of golden, crispy perfection. I watched as they kneaded, folded, and fried with a rhythm that only decades of muscle memory can produce. One bite — hot, flaky, and fragrant — and I knew I was in for a truly local breakfast.

A few blocks away, we stopped for street-fried fish (爆鱼), a dish that’s part of Shanghai’s celebratory DNA. Fresh fish arrives daily from nearby Chongming Island, filleted and flash-fried before being glazed in a sweet, sticky soy-based sauce. It’s a dish that manages to be both comforting and elegant — crisp at first bite, tender within, and perfectly balanced between savory and sweet.

If there’s one thing Shanghai has mastered, it’s innovation. At our next stop — a sleek, modern café — we were served their signature coffee with fermented rice (软饭 & 白衬衫). The drink was smooth and creamy, with a subtle sweetness that hinted at sake and vanilla. It’s a clever blend of East and West — classic espresso paired with a traditional ingredient — and it perfectly reflects the spirit of the city itself. But, if I’m honest, it’s not something I would be personally ordering again, as fun as it was to try.

Our next stop was all about comfort food — a bustling breakfast joint plastered with handwritten menus and steaming baskets stacked high. The sheer variety was overwhelming, but Lost Plate’s local guide made sure we sampled the best.

We tried Suzhou-style soup dumplings (苏州小笼包), with thicker skins and generous, juicy fillings that burst with savory broth. Then came pan-fried chive dumplings, crispy and golden underneath; big wontons (大馄饨) in fragrant broth; and a delicate tofu pudding, soft and silky with a drizzle of soy. For a touch of sweetness, there were sesame balls (麻球) — crisp on the outside, chewy and nutty within. It was a feast that felt both humble and indulgent, a window into how Shanghai truly eats.

Just when I thought I couldn’t eat another bite, we ducked into a hole-in-the-wall bakery that served all kinds of bings — Shanghai’s many breads and pancakes. The air smelled of sugar, oil, and dough.

We tasted fried dough sticks filled with egg (鸡蛋灌油条) and the ultimate local indulgence — sticky rice wrapped around crispy dough (油条糯米滋). Every texture imaginable — crunchy, chewy, soft — came together in perfect balance. It was delicious,and utterly irresistible.

We ended the tour at a cozy neighborhood café run by a couple and their two friendly dogs, Yummy and Demon. The quirky interior was filled with art, stickers, and plants spilling from every corner — the kind of space that feels instantly welcoming.

Their specialty Americano had a bright, citrusy flavor that paired perfectly with the last bits of our fried dough. Sitting outside, coffee in hand, chatting with new friends and watching Jing’an slowly come alive — it was the ideal way to end the morning.

Lost Plate’s tours have a way of showing you a city’s soul. In Bangkok, that meant speeding through neon-lit alleys on a tuk-tuk; in Shanghai, it meant walking hand-in-hand with history through quiet morning streets.

What stood out most was how Jing’an’s culinary identity mirrors Shanghai itself — creative yet grounded, constantly evolving but rooted in tradition. Every dish, from the crispy fish to the creamy fermented rice coffee, told a story of how the city continues to reinvent itself without losing its flavour.

By the end of the tour, I wasn’t just full — I felt connected to the city in a way only food can create.

Shanghai Coffee & Breakfast Tour