Shanghainese cuisine, also known as Hu cuisine, is one of the most popular forms of Chinese cuisine. To explore this incredibly diverse palate of tastes, however, you needn’t venture far from Arcadia. Located at 250 W Valley Blvd M, San Gabriel, the Shanghai No. 1 Seafood Village offers a mouthwatering insight into authentic Shanghainese foods.

Upon entering the restaurant, there is an immediate feeling of warmth and welcome created by the bright chandeliers, complemented by the wine-colored walls and the earthy brown of wooden furniture. Further inside, the western styled decorations contrast with highly detailed Gongbi-style Chinese artworks, depicting the day-to-day scenes of traditional Chinese families. On the walls, there are also silver frames containing black-and-white pictures of Shanghai’s development during the 20th century. All of these elements of the restaurant environment reinforces a sense of history, authenticity, and luxury.

The star of the restaurant is, of course, its menu. The selection of food is diverse, featuring elements of Shanghainese, Cantonese, and Sichuan cuisine. The Hu cuisine selection showcases classics like braised pork in brown sauce in old alley to Shanghai smoked fish. Cantonese cuisine mostly focuses on dim sum, with dishes such as the translucent steamed shrimp dumplings and the delicate but flavorful chicken feet with black bean sauce. The Sichuan section of the menu features dishes familiar to westerners, such as mapo tofu, alongside more exotic dishes like fried spicy bullfrog.

In addition to the main courses, the desserts offered at the restaurant are equally as exceptional and maintain the same diversity of flavors. For those who have a sweet tooth, the eight delicacies sticky rice undoubtedly stands out as a top choice after experiencing the unique texture of its glutinous rice. Desserts like the deep fried sesame ball, the Hong Kong style pineapple bun, or Portuguese egg tart serve as excellent introductions to popular Chinese street food pastries.

Arcadia High School (AHS) students who have visited the restaurant in the past frequently share positive experiences and, in some cases, even become regular customers.

“It’s very authentic to Shanghainese cuisine. I think they have really good customer service. They always treat my family very well and are also very fast when they’re bringing out dishes,” shared senior Emily Yen.

When asked about her favorite dish on the menu, Yen chose the turnip in soy sauce.

“It’s marinated turnip and a side dish. But it’s really good. I’ve had it from other places, but I think they make it best,” explained Yen.

Senior Felicia Ye also had positive experiences with the environment, food, and service at the restaurant.

“The general vibe that I feel from that restaurant is pretty good. I like their decorations, it’s very sophisticated and they incorporated a lot of Chinese culture. I think they have a good variety of food for you to select from. There’s desserts, there’s poultry, there’s meat, there’s pork. So I think anyone can get a dish that they would like,” shared Ye.

Being a fan of desserts, Ye’s favorite dish on the menu is the sweet-scented osmanthus rice ball.

“Apart from its sweetness, the texture of the rice balls was chewy and soft. It’s also served hot so it’s a heartwarming dish. I would say it’s a comfort food,” commented Ye.

The prices at Shanghai No. 1 Seafood Village are higher than lower-end restaurants. But nonetheless, students who have gone there are satisfied with the cost of service.

“The price of food there is in the middle. It’s not the kind of high end restaurant where you have to pay a lot to get a small plate of food, but it’s not like fast food restaurants where you could grab a $10 meal. You have to spend a little more money there, but it’s definitely worth the extra price. And they would provide a feast for your taste,” explained Ye.

Overall, Shanghai No. 1 Seafood Village provides an authentic insight into the diverse forms of Chinese close to the Arcadia community. With its vast menu of unique tastes, I would definitely recommend visiting the Shanghai No. 1 Seafood Village!