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5 divine dishes at Food Central
A Shanghai dining expert reveals the smartest way to eat around the city's hippest food court
The Food Central puts Shanghai's most popular dishes under one roof.The latest treat for Shanghai foodies -- The Food Central on Anfu Lu -- zips around the world in 80 flavors. The 100-square-meter food hall is divided into six cooking stations in three kitchens, which prepare different styles of dishes stretching from sushi and Chinese fried noodles to American burgers.
As the power behind The Apartment bar and soon-to-open Japanese restaurant The Geisha, food and beverage company Collective Concepts has delivered a delicious new surprise for Shanghai gourmets with The Food Central.
The Food Central manager David Pourre, who hails from France, lends his expertise and helps us choose five of the best dishes in this multicultural eatery.
1. Spicy tuna roll
The dynamite, delectable and devastating spicy tuna roll.
Price: RMB 65
Available at: Asian cold station
Why it's not to be missed: Prepared along with other Japanese rolls (starting at RMB 40) and sushi, The Food Central’s spicy tuna roll is dynamite. Rolled with pickled cucumbers and egg and then accented with tempura flakes and a homemade teppanyaki sauce, this dish has all the makings of an Los Angeles-inspired creative roll.
“I try and get here once a week for this roll,” confesses advertising executive and California native Marc Bishop. “It hits all the right notes -- it’s smoky, crunchy and spicy.”
More on CNNGo: 40 Shanghai foods we can't live without
Chef Mark Baar's smoked pork belly burger is one of the best in town.
2. Smoked pork belly burger
Price: RMB 95
Available at: Grill station
Why it's not to be missed: Mark Baar, the chef at The Food Central, has reinvented the bacon cheeseburger. He tops a perfectly grilled beef patty with a fried egg and ever-so-tender slices of pork belly. Served with incredibly crispy shoestring onion rings, this is one of the best burgers in town.
“This is a really popular burger,” David Pourre explains. “People are really happy with the substitution of pork belly for bacon.”
More on CNNGo: Shanghai's most decadent burger
3. Grilled octopus salad
The herb-infused octopus salad is great for sharing.
Price: RMB 55
Available at: Grill station
Why it's not to be missed: The grilled octopus salad at The Food Central is the perfect light and fresh foil to the heavy smoked pork belly burger. The octopus is grilled until tender and topped with pesto and tomatoes. The end result is a tasty herb-infused seafood salad, great for sharing.
“This is one of my favorite summer salads,” comments regular Amy Huang, who comes from Vancouver. “It’s a hearty lunch or nice start to a great meal here.”
More on CNNGo: Best salads for the Shanghai summer
