Canton 8 (Huangpu)
Shanghai, China Mainland
⭐2 Stars
The Experience
From Michelin Guide
This is the place to go for quality dim sum and classic Cantonese fare at affordable prices. Under the experienced Chef Mak from Hong Kong, the menu has been slightly revamped. Rest assured that quintessential all-time favourites such as double-boiled soups, stir-fries and seafood dishes are still served. The signature char siu pork entices with its appetising colour, springy texture and robust flavours. Save room for the exquisite desserts.
Unique Things
From Visitor Experiences
1. World's Cheapest Michelin Two-Star Restaurant
Canton 8 is noted as probably the world's cheapest Michelin two-star restaurant, offering traditional Cantonese cuisine and dim sum at an average price of about $30 per person, with tasting menus starting from $40. This affordability combined with Michelin recognition is highly unconventional in the fine dining world.
2. Casual Atmosphere Despite Michelin Stars
Unlike typical Michelin-starred establishments, Canton 8 maintains a casual dining environment with intimate tables and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a terrace. The service is attentive but relaxed, and the restaurant does not aim for the formal fine dining experience usually associated with Michelin stars.
3. Signature Dishes Highlighting Classic Cantonese Flavors
The restaurant’s standout dishes include char siu pork, prawn balls, and three types of pepper stir-fried with pork neck, which emphasize traditional Cantonese flavors executed with high culinary skill. The menu is short and updated regularly, focusing on quality and authenticity rather than elaborate creativity.
Ingredient Stars
From Visitor Experiences
The most honored or signature ingredients at Canton 8 (Huangpu), Shanghai, a Michelin two-star Cantonese restaurant, include:
Char Siu Pork: This Cantonese-style barbecue pork is a hallmark ingredient, prized for its appetizing color, springy texture, and robust, well-seasoned flavor. It features prominently in signature dishes like the classic char siu itself and the pineapple char siu bao, where the pork filling contrasts with a lightly crisp pastry casing.
Fresh Lobster: Used notably in the steamed lobster with garlic butter dish, lobster showcases the restaurant's emphasis on fresh, high-quality seafood and simple yet refined Cantonese preparations.
Shrimp: Delicate shrimp is essential in their famed dim sum, particularly in the shrimp dumplings (har gow), highlighting the skillful technique and freshness that define Canton 8’s dim sum offerings.
Scallops: Featured in dishes like egg white fried rice with scallops, scallops demonstrate the chef's ability to elevate simple ingredients with precise cooking and seasoning.
Century Egg: Used in the ginger spiced century egg starter, this ingredient is treated with care to avoid unpleasant metallic aftertaste, paired with pickled ginger to cleanse the palate and add a spicy kick, turning a humble ingredient into a signature dish.
These ingredients are significant as they represent both the traditional Cantonese culinary heritage and the restaurant’s mastery in balancing texture, flavor, and freshness in their signature dishes.
Menu & Pricing
Current Offerings & Prices
Tasting Menus
- Tasting Menu: ¥1,288 (approximately $190 USD)
Signature Dishes
- Char Siu Pork: ¥128 (approximately $19 USD)