Welcome to Old Shanghai Bistro, Phnom Penh
What is Shanghai cuisine? Shanghai cuisine, it’s common cooking methods are red sauce, stew and sugar, with its characteristics of thick oil red sauce, moderate salt, keeping the original flavor, rich and delicious.
History of Shanghai Cuisine
Known as “Ben Bang Cai” (literally “Shanghai-style cuisine”), this culinary tradition represents a
significant branch of Jiangnan’s regional cuisine. Since Shanghai’s opening as a treaty port in 1843,
the thriving commercial sector attracted merchants from across China, giving rise to numerous restaurants and taverns. By the 1930s-1940s, Shanghai’s culinary scene had diversified into sixteen distinct regional schools: Beijing, Guangdong, Jiangsu, Yangzhou, Wuxi, Ningbo, Hangzhou,
Fujian, Sichuan, Anhui, Chaozhou, Hunan, and Shanghai’s local specialties.
The cuisine also expanded to include vegetarian dishes, halal cuisine, and Western-style dishes and pastries. Originally renowned for its signature braised and stir-fried dishes, Shanghai cuisine later absorbed techniques from regional cuisines like Wuxi, Suzhou, and Ningbo. By synthesizing these regional styles with Western culinary methods, it achieved remarkable diversity and innovation in it’s culinary repertoire.
Features of Shanghai Cuisine
The defining characteristics of the dishes flavor profile include: a rich broth and sauce, a deep red hue with a rich oiliness, a sweet and vibrant color, and a well-balanced saltiness. The ingredients are carefully selected for their freshness, rawness, small portion sizes, and immediacy,
while the seasoning techniques emphasize saltiness, sweetness, fermented sauce, and acidity.
Cooking Characteristics of Shanghai Cuisine
Originally known for its red-braised and stir-fried dishes, the cuisine later incorporated elements
from regional cuisines of Wuxi, Suzhou, and Ningbo, while also drawing on cooking techniques
from the aforementioned Sixteen Schools and blending Western culinary methods. This evolution
significantly expanded its variety and diversity.
The signature flavors of the cuisine are characterized by rich, savory broths, deep red sauces, and
vibrant colors with a well-balanced saltiness. The ingredients are carefully selected for their
freshness, rawness, small portion sizes, and immediacy, while the seasoning techniques
masterfully combine saltiness, sweetness, fermented notes, and acidity.
The Old Shanghai Bistro is located at St.144 in the city center, near the beautiful riverfront
of Phnom Penh, adjacent to the Royal Palace and National Museum, and is a must-visit spot for
tourists.
Shanghai Specialities
Beer Options
Shaoxing huangjiu is the specialty of the bar. Qingdao Beer 1903 is produced by the original brewery in Qingdao (Qingdao Brewery No.1).
Tea Options
Many tea varieties from the Jiangnan region of China, such as Longjing tea.
