11 Hardest Restaurants to Get a Reservation in Shanghai

In Shanghai's high-end F&B industry, there are always a few standout performers that remain a hot ticket. Some require a wait of at least three months, and others demand quick fingers to snatch a seat.

Video Tour of

8 Hardest Restaurants

to Get a Reservation in Shanghai

After trying it out, here is a list of the restaurants where it is the hardest to get a reservation in Shanghai. Let's dive in and explore what makes these restaurants so popular.

If you were to ask about the most difficult restaurant to make a reservation in Shanghai right now, it would undoubtedly be LING LONG on the first floor of the Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund. Since its opening in March last year, the restaurant has released reservations for the next three months at the beginning of each month, and yet, every month, all available seats are snapped up in less than five minutes.

Behind the restaurant's popularity lies the efforts of its head chef and mastermind, Jason, along with his team. Apart from the delightful dishes, they've also incorporated many Shanghai elements into the dining experience.

"Xiān", tradition, and localization are at the heart of LING LONG. "Xiān" is evident in the natural flavors used, so Jason makes his own chicken ham and oyster sauce.

As a result, LING LONG not only won one Michelin star within its first year of operation but also recently made it to the 36th spot on Asia's 50 Best Restaurants list. Chef Jason also received the Michelin Young Chef Award in 2022.

The 9-course set menu is priced at RMB 1680 with a 15% service charge. Classic dishes on the menu since the opening include lobster, fish maw, Shandong Wagyu, and Chinese honey. New dishes introduced later include scallop and crabmeat tofu, South African abalone, Huzhou duck, and jasmine.

Recently, the restaurant has launched a new menu "Inspirational". Among the standout dishes, the star is undoubtedly the Nutritious Lunch. What makes it truly special is the key ingredient, the potatoes sourced from the homes of children in Yunnan. This initiative is part of the "Exchange Potato for Lunch" project by The World Union Philanthropy Foundation, aimed at boosting the nutritional status of children in Yunnan's impoverished mountain regions.

LING LONG 

Address: 105 Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund, No. 2 East Zhongshan No. 1 Road

Reservation Guide: Please reserve via the official WeChat account "RESTAURANT LINGLONG". Reservations open on the 1st of each month for seats available three months later (may be postponed during holidays).

Nestled within a three-floor villa on Panyu Road, Scilla is another popular restaurant since its opening last year. Helmed by the renowned Italian chef Stefano Bacchell, it specializes in Mediterranean cuisine.

The villa was built in the 1930s and boasts an Art Deco-style architecture.

Scilla offers not only a cellar but also an open kitchen spanning all three floors. Adding to its charm are the hand-painted ceramic plates from Puglia, Italy.

The menu showcases a fusion of premium seafood, meats, seasonal fruits, and natural spices from around the world, alongside locally sourced ingredients.

In late April, Scilla unveiled new dishes, such as squid, braised vintage fish maw, and whole roasted boneless yellow chicken.

Not to be missed is their ice cream. Patrons can customize their ice cream with seasonal ingredients like figs, chocolate chunks, and berry compote.

Scilla

Address: No. 504 Panyu Road

Reservation Guide: Please reserve via the official mini-program "Scilla" half a month in advance.

When it comes to the most difficult restaurant to get an appointment in Shanghai in recent years, JEJU often springs to mind. The success of this restaurant has also propelled its Korean chef, Tom Ryu, into the spotlight. Recently, he opened his new Korean fine-dining restaurant, NABI.

Located on Wuyi Road, NABI is housed in a charming villa. The first floor features WULI, a family-style Korean restaurant created by Tom and his team. A dark door next to it leads to NABI on the second floor, which boasts only 16 seats.

NABI embraces Korean culture in every detail, from butterfly-themed decorations and sheer curtains to artistic tableware. To offer a unique selection of rare Korean liquors, the restaurant even established its own import company. After dining, patrons can take a Polaroid photo and receive a special gift.

Known for its set menus, NABI changes its offerings approximately every three months. Incorporating traditional Korean flavors into Western cuisine, the menu boasts twelve exquisite dishes.

The restaurant opens reservations to the public on the 1st of each month via its mini program, so be sure to snag a spot.

NABI

Address: 2F, Building 1, WYSH, No. 168 Wuyi Road

First Round: 18:00-20:10

Second Round: 20:30-22:40

Reservation Guide: Please reserve via the official WeChat account "nabi". Reservations open on the 1st of each month for that month's dining slots.

Owned by the renowned chef Paul Pairet, Ultraviolet, the world's first multi-sensory restaurant, has won Michelin three stars for seven consecutive years. Despite being open for years, securing a seat at UV remains a challenge.

Entering Ultraviolet feels like stepping into a sci-fi lab. The four-hour dining experience includes 20 courses, each paired with an LED scene, a piece of music, and a drink.

Address: Confidential

Meeting Point: 6F, No. 18 East Zhongshan No. 1 Road

Reservation Guide: Please reserve via the restaurant's official website. It is recommended to make a reservation two months in advance.

Founded by Stefan Stiller, Taian Table won Michelin three stars in 2021.

The restaurant features an open kitchen to present chef's table and offers a seasonal menu that changes every six weeks. 

Executive Chef Christiaan Stoop brings experience from several Michelin-starred restaurants in Europe, including the Michelin 3-starred The Fat Duck in the UK and the Michelin 2-starred Moments in Barcelona. He has also worked as a sous chef at L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon in Dubai and Paris.

The 46th menu is now ready. Notably, Taian Table offers two menu options, a 10-course and a 12-course menu. Patrons can start with an 8-course base menu and select an additional 2 or 4 dishes from a supplementary menu, which includes Cuered Kanpachi, Grilled Carabinero, Chongming Pigeon and more classic and seasonal dishes.

Taian Table

Address: Room 101, Building 1, No. 161, Lane 465 Zhenning Road

Reservation Guide: Please reserve via the official WeChat account "上海亦村餐饮 TTSH" half a month in advance.

Renowned as Japan's top yakitori master, Torishiki Ichimon, opened the famous yakitori restaurant "鳥しき" in Tokyo in 2007. In 2011, it won a Michelin star.

At the end of last year, the ZT Hospitality Group teamed up with Torishiki Ichimon to create TORIKAZE in Shanghai.

The chefs of the Shanghai location have been studying under Torishiki Ichimon for over five years and have mastered high-temperature grilling skills.

They not only strive for authentic Japanese yakitori but also seek to infuse elements of Chinese culture into their creations. 

TORIKAZE 

Address: Room 102, Building 3, Blackstone Apartments, No. 1331 Middle Fuxing Road, Xuhui District

Reservation Guide: Please reserve via the official WeChat account "TORIKAZE" half a month in advance.

ZOZO is a high-end kaiseki restaurant in Shanghai. To get a seat at ZOZO, you need an invite from a regular.

The head chef brothers have worked at many Michelin-starred restaurants in Japan. The kaiseki cuisine they created has won many fans with its unique flavor and creativity. Even regular patrons need to make a reservation one week in advance.

ZOZO

Address: 6F, No. 1358 Huashan Road

Reservation Guide: LING LONG adopts a regular customer referral system, and regular customers also need to make reservations one week in advance.

Michelin two-star restaurant DA VITTORIO SHANGHAI has long been a beacon of refined Italian cuisine in Shanghai. It won one Michelin star three months after opening and secured two stars the following year. Within six months of opening, it also won the Tre Forchette award of Gambero Rosso, the world's authoritative selection organization from Italy.

Chicco Cerea, the executive chef from the DA VITTORIO in Bergamo, frequently visits Shanghai to collaborate with the local executive chef, Stefano Bacchelli.

Recently, the restaurant has introduced an exciting new feature. The Carte Blanche menu offers a daring alternative to the fixed menu.

This time, Chef Stefano drew inspiration from springtime traditions and seasonal ingredients across China and brought about new dishes.

DA VITTORIO SHANGHAI

Address: 3F, Building N3, BFC, No. 600 East Zhongshan No. 2 Road

Reservation Guide: Please reserve via the official mini-program "DA VITTORIO SHANGHAI".

EHB is the first overseas location of Norway's Michelin three-star restaurant Maaemo. It opened in late May last year at No. 11 Dongping Road. The three-floor building houses the Tearoom by EHB on the first floor, and the second and third floors are dedicated to the restaurant.

EHB takes its name from the initials of its head chef, Esben Holmboe Bang. In 2010, he founded Maaemo in Oslo, Norway. Within just 15 months, it won two Michelin stars, making it the first Nordic restaurant to achieve such a feat right out of the gate. By 2016, Maaemo had won its third Michelin star. After a brief six-month closure in 2019 for relocation and upgrade, it regained its Michelin three stars in 2021.

The head chef at EHB is Viviane Mello from Brazil. She has worked at the three-star Michelin restaurant D.O.M. in Brazil, as well as NOMA and the Maaemo in Oslo. This year, she received the Michelin Young Chef Award and LA LISTE's Best Female Chef.

Nordic style is blended with Chinese elements, and natural ingredients are used to showcase seasonal flavors. Recently, EHB introduced its spring menu. Chef Esben frequently visits the Shanghai location, and the restaurant announces his visits on their official social media channels two weeks in advance. To meet him, be sure to book your table early.

EHB 

Address: 2-3F, No. 11 Dongping Road

Reservation Guide: Reserve via the EHB's official mini-program "EHB餐厅".

PROMISE is a new Nordic restaurant on Dongping Road. Chef Jim Löfdahl spent several years working at Frantzén, the first three-star Michelin restaurant in Sweden.

The restaurant features only eight counter seats and a private room, allowing each guest to have an excellent dining experience.

PROMISE specializes in Nordic-style cuisine, with an 8-course menu showcasing pickling, fermenting, and ageing cooking skills. The restaurant regularly updates its menu, making it one of the few Nordic fine dining restaurants in Shanghai.

PROMISE

Address: Room 101, 1F, Building 14, No. 7 Donghu Road

Reservation Guide: Reserve via the EHB's official mini-program "PROMISE餐厅".

Chef Deng Huadong, the owner of Nan Xing Yuan, has opened a new hotpot restaurant LE JINZUI.

To ensure the freshness of the ingredients, the restaurant operates on a reservation-only basis.

In addition to hotpot ingredients, LE JINZUI's marinated dishes and snacks are also not to be missed.

LE JINZUI 

Address: Side entrance, Building 12, No. 1728 Middle Huaihai Road

Reservation Guide: Please reserve via the official WeChat account "南兴园", preferably one week in advance.

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