If there’s any word to describe Shanghai, it’s ‘cosmopolitan’. And eating in Shanghai is no different. There’s the best Shanghainese food in the world, of course, but there’s also everything from amazing sandwiches to off-the-hook brunches of all stripes. Time Out Shanghai is honouring all of that with our inaugural Food Awards, a celebration of the city’s contemporary food scene, the incredible people behind it and the fantastic venues they helm.
Our curated list of eight categories recognises the best of openings over the last calendar year* as well as the icons and legends of Shanghai. Here are the nominees for this year's Food Awards.
Scroll down to the bottom of the post and click 'Read more' to vote for your city favourites – shortlisted or not.
To find out more about our nominees, click 'Awards' on the Time Out Shanghai WeChat homepage.
*The calendar year runs from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2016.
RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
Representing everything that’s great about Shanghai dining right now
Bo Shanghai
Commune Social
Daimon Bistro
Taian Table
The Cannery
WUJIE
NEW FINE DINING RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
The most exciting special-occasion eatery to open this year
Alan Wong’s Shanghai
Anthologia
Bo Shanghai
L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon
Sabor
Taian Table
NEW CASUAL DINING RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
Celebrating mid-priced excellence
Cobra Lily
Daimon Bistro
Highline
Pelikan
Raw Eatery and Wood Grill
The Cannery
NEW CHEAP EATS OF THE YEAR
Who gives the best bang for your buck?
BAOBAO
Little Catch Poke Cafe
Midnight Burger
Madison Kitchen
Ramen David
Rastaco
NEW CAFÉ OF THE YEAR
Coffee and a bite delivered with panache
Al’s Bakery
Blackbird
Bread etc.
Chickalicious
Lost Bakery
Ocean Grounds
ICON AWARD
Legendary restaurant still keeping it fresh
Jean-Georges
Lost Heaven (Former French Concession)
Fu 1039
M on the Bund
Mr & Mrs Bund
Ultraviolet
CHEF OF THE YEAR
Who gets the gong for rattling the pans?
Beth Cosgrove (Alan Wong’s)
Danyi Gao (Shake)
Jenő Rácz (Taian Table)
Freddy Raoult (The Cannery & The Nest)
Kasper Elmholdt Pederson (Pelikan)
Carlos Sotomayor (ElEfante)
LEGEND AWARD
Paying tribute to an inspirational figure on Shanghai’s food landscape
Michelle Garnaut
Kelley Lee
Willy Trullas Moreno
Tony Lu
Paul Pairet
Stefan Stiller