Fumanle 福满乐: My Shanghai Food Savior!
Location, Location, Location!
Guess who's back? Mít223 here! Let me tell you about Phúc Mãn Lạc Fumanle 福满乐, located at 137 Fuzhou Road. This place is a gem!
- Super close to the Bund! Check out the photo – the Bund is right at the end of that street.
- Directly opposite the Metropolo Jinjiang Hotel (listed on Trip as Metropolo Xin Cheng Hotel), which is where I stayed! It was so convenient for exploring the Bund and all the amazing architecture around it. This is a big reason why I ate here three times during my three days in Shanghai (besides the fact that it was seriously delicious).
Flavor Explosion: Shanghai & Cantonese Cuisine
The restaurant advertises Shanghai and Cantonese dishes, which I hoped would be closer to Vietnamese flavors. I wasn't a fan of the crab noodles or crab buns (tried them at the famous and crowded Yuxingji), and most reviews seemed to focus on crab places. So, this restaurant was my saving grace! I found the food to be delicious and quite to my taste.
The garlic shrimp and salted egg yolk shrimp were amazing. The braised pork belly (their signature dish) was also delicious, as was the fried rice, stir-fried vegetables, and refreshing mushroom soup.
Budget-Friendly Bites
For three people, ordering rice, a meat dish, a stir-fried dish, and soup cost us a little over 200 yuan. I don't think that's expensive at all!
Important Tips for Your Visit
- The restaurant can get EXTREMELY CROWDED during dinner time; lunchtime is much better. One evening, around 6 pm, I had to wait in line for 10 minutes and then wait another 30-40 minutes for the food. Lunch here is great, but if you're planning dinner, go early, maybe around 4 pm, to avoid the rush.
- Portions in China are generous, and this restaurant is no exception. If you are dining as a group of ladies, order less!
I'll be reviewing more restaurants and hotels from my trip soon. My family and I ate really well and enjoyed most of the places we tried, except for the crab dishes – none of us liked those.
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