小菜园 (Xiǎo Cài Yuán) Shanghai Review
Hi my lovely readers!
Day 2 in Shanghai was the day we had the 新和医院 (Xīn Hé Yīyuàn) RPG booked, a fully immersive 剧本杀 (jùběn shā / murder mystery roleplay) experience where you get assigned a character, sorted into a guild and set loose on missions with live NPC actors who take their roles very, very seriously. Before any of that, we needed food. 小菜园 (Xiǎo Cài Yuán) was right there inside the same mall, which honestly made the decision for us and it turned out to be one of the best value meals of the entire trip. If you want the full rundown on what to expect from the RPG, I have a whole guide on it here [LINK: 新和医院 RPG Shanghai Guide, What to Expect as a Non-Mandarin Speaker].
We arrived at around 11:45am, walked straight in with no queue and were done comfortably before our RPG slot. When you have a packed itinerary, a restaurant that moves this fast and still gets the food right is so important.
Before You Sit Down, Open 美团 (Meituan)
First things first, before you even look at the menu, pull up 美团 (Měituán / Meituan), China’s go-to deals app and check for offers.
We got a set that came with 地锅本仔鸡 (Dì Guō Běn Zǎi Jī / Clay Pot Braised Chicken, RMB 48 / SGD 9), 家常土豆丝 (Jiā Cháng Tǔ Dòu Sī / Home-Style Shredded Potato, RMB 16 / SGD 3), 辣椒小炒肉 (Là Jiāo Xiǎo Chǎo Ròu / Stir Fried Pork with Bell Peppers, RMB 39 / SGD 8), 龙骨炖毛园 (Lóng Gǔ Dùn Máo Yuán / Pork Bone Soup with Meatballs, RMB 42 / SGD 8) and a 青桔柠檬茶 (Qīng Jú Níng Méng Chá / Lime Lemon Tea, RMB 28 / SGD 5), two bowls of rice already included, all for RMB 149 (roughly SGD 28).
Then we spotted 红烧肉 (Hóng Shāo Ròu / Red Braised Pork Belly) going past on the table next to us and added it to our dishes, extra at RMB 39 (SGD 8).
Three of us, RMB 188 total, about RMB 63 per head. Equivalent to around SGD 12 per person for a full, complete lunch.
Once you have purchased the deal on your phone, walk up to the staff to redeem it and they will sort everything from there. The 美团 (Měituán / Meituan) deal here can be bought on the spot, there’s no need to plan ahead. Most restaurants in Shanghai and Hangzhou work this way, so get into the habit of checking before you sit down anywhere.
The one exception I will flag now: 绿茶餐厅 (Lǜ Chá Cāntīng) in Hangzhou needs at least a day’s notice for their 美团 (Měituán / Meituan) deals, so that you’ll need to sort that in advance. [LINK: Hangzhou In77 Complete Guide]
That said, if you would rather skip the 美团 (Měituán / Meituan) deal altogether, that is completely fine too. We actually found that ordering à la carte gave us more flexibility to get exactly what we wanted without being tied to a set. Weigh up whether the savings are worth it for you or whether you would rather just order freely.
What We Ate
The must-order here is the 辣椒小炒肉 (Là Jiāo Xiǎo Chǎo Ròu / Stir Fried Pork with Bell Peppers, RMB 39 / SGD 8). I know the name sounds intimidating but trust me, it is really not that spicy at all, just enough to give it a nice kick. This one was our personal favourite of the whole meal, hands down.
The restaurant’s bestseller is the 红烧肉 (Hóng Shāo Ròu / Red Braised Pork Belly, RMB 39 / SGD 8, order this separately outside the set) and once you try it, you will understand why. It is fatty enough that it just melts in your mouth, with this rich sauce that you will want to spoon over your rice.
The 地锅本仔鸡 (Dì Guō Běn Zǎi Jī / Clay Pot Braised Chicken, RMB 48 / SGD 9) is the big sharing dish, really savoury and there is a lot of it. So this one is definitely better with company. It came with lots of bones, so it wasn’t my favourite.
The 龙骨炖毛园 (Lóng Gǔ Dùn Máo Yuán / Pork Bone Soup with Meatballs, RMB 42 / SGD 8) is hearty and warming, a bit like 泡饭 (pào fàn / soupy rice) in the way it eats, packed with meat and meatballs. I am not really a soup person so I did not have too much of it. But if you are, this one will hit the spot.
The 家常土豆丝 (Jiā Cháng Tǔ Dòu Sī / Home-Style Shredded Potato, RMB 16 / SGD 3) is the simple one, light and good for cutting through all the richer dishes.
The set also comes with 青桔柠檬茶 (Qīng Jú Níng Méng Chá / Lime Lemon Tea, RMB 28 / SGD 5) and two bowls of rice included.
The Hourglass Moment
Okay, this bit caught us completely off guard. The minute they confirmed our order, the staff placed a small hourglass on our table, a promise that every dish would arrive before the sand ran out. And they did, every single one. When you have a packed itinerary and an RPG session waiting, a restaurant that moves this fast and still gets the food right is honestly such a find.
The Vibe
Noisy, busy, no fuss whatsoever, the kind of place where everyone around you is heads-down into their food. We spoke mainly in Chinese throughout, but the 微信 (Wēixìn / WeChat) photo menu makes this totally doable even without Mandarin. Point, tap, eat, you are sorted.
If You Are Travelling Solo
I would go for the 辣椒小炒肉 (Là Jiāo Xiǎo Chǎo Ròu / Stir Fried Pork with Bell Peppers), one bowl of rice and throw in the 红烧肉 (Hóng Shāo Ròu / Red Braised Pork Belly) as a little treat. That puts you at around RMB 80 (SGD 15) and you will leave properly full.
Solo Female Tip: Mall setting, bright lights, busy lunch crowd, nobody is paying attention to you eating alone. Get the 美团 (Měituán / Meituan) deal, scan the menu, point at what you want and enjoy. This one is such an easy solo stop.
Getting There
📍 百联南方购物中心 (Bǎilián Nánfāng Gòuwù Zhōngxīn / Bailian Nanfang Shopping Centre), Minxing District, same mall as 新和医院 (Xīn Hé Yīyuàn) RPG 🚇 Lotus Road Station (Line 1), about 380 metres from the exit 🕐 Get there before noon if you want to walk straight in 📱 美团 (Měituán / Meituan) deal can be bought on the spot, redeem with staff when you arrive 💰 Around RMB 63 (SGD 12) per head with the set, add 红烧肉 (Hóng Shāo Ròu / Red Braised Pork Belly) and budget around RMB 80 (SGD 15)
Before You Go, Meituan and WeChat
Every table has a 微信 (Wēixìn / WeChat) QR code you can scan to pull up the photo menu and 微信支付 (Wēixìn Zhīfù / WeChat Pay) works for payment too. If you have not set up WeChat yet, get that sorted before your trip. I have a full guide here [LINK: Essential Apps to Download for China]. For payments, I cover everything you need here [LINK: How to Pay for Things in China].
Handy Mandarin Phrases
- 服务员！(Fúwùyuán!) — how you get a waiter’s attention
- 招牌菜是什么？(Zhāopái cài shì shénme?) — What is the must-order dish?
- 我要这个 (Wǒ yào zhège) — I want this one
- 一个／两个／三个 (yī gè / liǎng gè / sān gè) — one / two / three
- 少放油 (Shǎo fàng yóu) — less oil
- 少放盐 (Shǎo fàng yán) — less salt
- 不要辣 (Bù yào là) — no spice. Or if you want it: 要辣 (yào là)
- 买单 (Mǎidān) — the bill please
- 微信支付 (Wēixìn Zhīfù) — WeChat Pay
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Xiao Cai Yuan (小菜园) good for tourists who do not speak Chinese? Yes. Every table has a 微信 (Wēixìn / WeChat) QR code that pulls up a photo menu, so you can point at what you want without needing any Mandarin. 微信支付 (Wēixìn Zhīfù / WeChat Pay) is accepted and staff are used to tourists ordering this way.
How much does a meal at Xiao Cai Yuan (小菜园) cost per person? With the 美团 (Měituán / Meituan) set deal, expect to pay around RMB 63 (SGD 12) per head for a full shared lunch, including multiple dishes and a drink. Add the 红烧肉 (Hóng Shāo Ròu / Red Braised Pork Belly) as an extra and budget around RMB 80 (SGD 15) per person.
Do you need to book in advance at Xiao Cai Yuan (小菜园) Shanghai? No reservation is needed and the 美团 (Měituán / Meituan) deal can be purchased on the spot when you arrive. Get there before noon to walk straight in, the lunch crowd builds quickly.
What is the must-order dish at Xiao Cai Yuan (小菜园)? The two standouts are the 辣椒小炒肉 (Là Jiāo Xiǎo Chǎo Ròu / Stir Fried Pork with Bell Peppers) and the 红烧肉 (Hóng Shāo Ròu / Red Braised Pork Belly). The chilli pork is not nearly as spicy as the name suggests and was our personal favourite of the meal. The braised pork belly is the restaurant’s bestseller and is ordered separately outside the set.
What is 红烧肉 (Hong Shao Rou)? 红烧肉 (Hóng Shāo Ròu / Red Braised Pork Belly) is a classic Chinese dish of pork belly slow-cooked in a rich, sweet-savoury soy sauce until the fat is completely soft and melting. It is one of the most beloved dishes in Chinese home cooking and a staple at restaurants across Shanghai.
Is Xiao Cai Yuan (小菜园) suitable for solo travellers? Yes, very much so. The mall setting, bright lighting and busy lunch crowd make it a comfortable and easy solo stop. Order the 辣椒小炒肉 (Là Jiāo Xiǎo Chǎo Ròu / Stir Fried Pork with Bell Peppers) and 红烧肉 (Hóng Shāo Ròu / Red Braised Pork Belly) with rice for around RMB 80 (SGD 15) and you will leave full.
Does Xiao Cai Yuan (小菜园) accept WeChat Pay? Yes. 微信支付 (Wēixìn Zhīfù / WeChat Pay) is accepted. Make sure WeChat is set up and linked to a payment method before your trip. [LINK: Essential Apps to Download for China]
Which metro line goes to Xiao Cai Yuan (小菜园) in Shanghai? Take Metro Line 1 to Lotus Road Station. 小菜园 (Xiǎo Cài Yuán) is inside 百联南方购物中心 (Bǎilián Nánfāng Gòuwù Zhōngxīn / Bailian Nanfang Shopping Centre), about 380 metres from the exit.
Is the 美团 (Meituan) deal at Xiao Cai Yuan worth it? It can be, depending on your group size and what you want to eat. The set packages several dishes at a lower combined price than ordering à la carte, which works well for groups of two or three. If you want to order freely and pick exactly what you like, à la carte gives you more flexibility. Check the current deal on the 美团 (Měituán / Meituan) app when you arrive and see if the set fits your appetite.
Have you been to 小菜园 (Xiǎo Cài Yuán) before or is this going on your Shanghai list? Drop me a comment below, I love hearing where you all end up eating! And if you are still planning your Shanghai trip, my full guide has everything you need in one place. [LINK: The Ultimate Shanghai & Hangzhou Travel Guide]
Links
- [LINK: 新和医院 RPG Shanghai Guide, What to Expect as a Non-Mandarin Speaker]
- [LINK: Shanghai & Hangzhou Food Guide]
- [LINK: Essential Apps to Download for China]
- [LINK: How to Pay for Things in China]
- [LINK: Hangzhou In77 Complete Guide]
- [LINK: The Ultimate Shanghai Guide & Hangzhou Travel Guide]
