Where to Eat this June: Visiting Wet Markets is the New Trend

Who would think of going to a wet market in search of great food? But in Shanghai, wet markets are much more than places to buy fresh vegetables, fruit, meat, and seafood. They're also home to some of the city's best hidden food stalls, small family-run eateries, and incredibly affordable local snacks.

Today, we're going to explore three of these hidden wet markets with great food. It's one of my favorite places to bring friends visiting from overseas because it's such an authentic slice of everyday life in China - something that’s hard to find anywhere else.

Wuzhong Market (乌中市集)

Our first stop is Wudong Market, tucked away in the heart of the former French Concession, surrounded by tree-lined streets and beautiful plane trees. Unlike many wet markets you might imagine, this one is modern, clean, and surprisingly stylish. Fresh fruit, vegetables, meat, and seafood are beautifully displayed, and the market is well maintained with very little odor. It's a wonderful place to discover the ingredients that make up everyday Chinese cooking, while also getting a glimpse into the daily lives of local residents.On the second floor of the market there is a Yunnan restaurant that has been a local favorite for many years. While you might not expect to find authentic Yunnan cuisine inside a wet market, that's exactly what makes this place so special. This restaurant (柴米多) has its main branch in the ancient city of Dali, Yunnan.

Yunnan is famous for its incredible variety of wild mushrooms. I highly recommend trying their wild mushroom and black truffle flatbread. And for dessert, don't miss the flower pastry - a traditional Yunnan sweet with a delicate floral aroma that's quite unlike anything you'll find elsewhere in China.

📍 Address: 318 Wulumuqi Middle Rd, Xuhui (near Shanghai Library Metro, Line 10/11)

💰 Basket average: ¥40–60 for a dinner's worth of veg + a bouquet

Ningjia Quwo Shiji (宁家曲沃市集)

Never venture outside the Inner Ring? Well, for this wet market we're going to change that. It's time for a real local adventure.

We'll take Metro Line 1 about seven or eight stops from the city center to Pengpu Xincun (彭浦新村). Compared with downtown Shanghai, life here moves at a much slower pace, giving you a glimpse of what everyday Shanghai used to feel like.

Our destination is Xuwo Shiji (曲沃市集), which underwent a major renovation in late 2025. Today, it's a bright, modern wet market filled with fresh produce, local ingredients, and, most importantly, some fantastic food stalls.

The biggest reason we're here is Wenlong Crispy Buns (文龙生煎), a  shop that many locals consider to serve the best crispy bun (shengjianbao) in Shanghai. There's almost always a line, but it's well worth the wait. Each bun is golden and crispy on the bottom, soft on top, and filled with incredibly juicy pork. One bite, and you'll understand why people travel across the city just for these buns.