Shanghai Man Restaurant Sha Tin [Hong Kong]

Shanghai Man Restaurant Sha Tin is a popular Chinese restaurant serving traditional Shanghainese cuisine. Expect all your favorites, from street snacks like steamed dumplings and thick noodles to hot and cold seafood, meat dishes, and vegetarian fare. Shanghai Man Sha Tin is located in the Shek Mun section of Sha Tin, a short walk from the Shek Mun MTR Station on the Tuen Ma Line.

The Back Story

I had an a morning appointment at the Prince of Wales Hospital in the Shek Mun section of the Sha Tin District of the New Territories of Hong Kong.

Because of transportation issues, I decided to check into a hotel near – Prince of Wales Hospital the night before my appointment. I booked a room at Courtyard Marriott Hong Kong Sha Tin, a short taxi ride from the hospital.

Since I wasn’t very familiar with this part of Hong Kong, I decided extend my stay by a night, turning an overnight stay into a mini “staycation”. I wanted to explore the area.

It turned out that there was a large plaza flanked by two shopping arcades within a short walk of the hotel called King’s Wing Plaza. It was chock-a-block with eateries and markets. It was a veritable Foodie’s Paradise!

On the first night, I had dinner with a friend at a Japanese curry house called Ca-Tu-Ya – REVIEW COMING!.

On the second night, I dined alone at a Shanghainese restaurant called Shanghai Man.

Shanghai Man Restaurant Sha Tin – Overview

Shanghai Man Restaurant Shatin is a popular Chinese restaurant in the Shek Mun section of Sha Tin District of the New Territories of Hong Kong. As the name suggests, it specializes in Shanghainese cuisine.

BTW, in case you’re wondering, the “man” in Shanghai Man is not the transliteration of a Chinese word, as I had initially thought.

When I looked at the neon signage, I realized that it was actually an informal term for a man, a guy, or a fellow, which reflects the eatery’s informal ambiance.

Shanghai Man Restaurant is part of a chain with several locations across Hong Kong. They all have similar menus.

How to Pair Fine Wines with Shanghainese Cuisine>>

Shanghai Man Restaurant Sha Tin – Menu

Not surprisingly, the menu at Shanghai Man Restaurant focuses on traditional Shanghainese cuisine. Included are popular Shanghainese street foods like homemade buns, dumplings, and pancakes.

And let me clarify, these are NOT the kind of pancakes you top with maple syrup!

Plus, those yummy Shanghainese style thick noodles that I adore!

As for main courses, there are hot dishes and cold dishes, beef, chicken, and pork dishes, seafood dishes, vegetarian dishes. – the list goes on.

Shanghai Man Restaurant Sha Tin – My Dinner

I was dining alone, and I wasn’t very hungry, so I couldn’t order much. I only ordered a soup and dumplings.

Shanghainese Hot and Sour Soup

I’ve long loved hot and sour soup (酸辣汤), but I hadn’t had it in ages. So when I saw it on the menu, I simply had to give it a try.

The “hot” in hot and sour soup comes from white pepper. And the “sour” comes from Zhenjiang vinegar (镇江香醋), a rice-based black vinegar frequently used in Chinese cookery.

Other ingredients can include include egg, tofu, pig’s blood, mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and some kind of meat.

Another common ingredient of hot and sour soup is “tree ears” (木耳), a type of fungus, which I absolutely abhor. I find the texture totally degusting.

So I’m happy to report that there were no tree ears in the Shanghai Man Restaurant’s version of hot and sour soup. I absolutely loved the pungent taste and silky texture.

Shanghainese Steamed Dumplings

Shanghainese style steamed dumplings, a.k.a. “xiao long bao” (小籠包), are usually served in the bamboo basked they were steamed in.

They usually contain a savory minced pork filling. And they should be dipped in a mixture of Zhenjiang vinegar, chillies, and thin slices of ginger.

At many restaurants you have to do it yourself. At Shanghai Man, a small dish of the concoction arrived on the table along with the bamboo basket of dumplings.

The dumplings were absolutely delicious!

Pronunciation Tip

BTW, if you don’t speak Mandarin, don’t be confused by the “X” in xiao long bao. It if NOT pronounced like a “Z” – as many non-Chinese speakers assume.

The exact sound does not exist in English. It is actually a highly aspirated “S”. So, if it is followed by an “I” as in “xi”, it is pronounced as “she” – that’s about as close as you can get without taking a lesson in Mandarin.

Meanwhile, the “ao” is pronounced as it looks: the sound you make when you hurt yourself.

As for the “long” – it is not pronounced the way it looks to English speakers (the opposite of short). The “O” sounds more like the “OO” in “look” or “good”.

Shanghai Man Restaurant Sha Tin – Ambiance

Shanghai Man Restaurant Sha Tin Restaurant was located on the ground floor with windows overlooking a quiet pedestrian alley.

It was comfortable, well lit, and spacious. The tables had wooden tabletops. There were no tablecloths.

I particularly liked the blue and white chinaware.

As for the service, it was a bit lax. I ordered beer, but it never arrived. However, it did show up on the bill.

Shanghai Man Restaurant Sha Tin – the Verdict

I absolutely loved my dinner. My only regret is that I was dining alone so I could only order a couple of dishes.

I have every intention of returning with friends so I can sample more delicacies. With Chinese food, the more is always the merrier because of the “communal” dining culture.

I give Shanghai Man Restaurant an enthusiastic two thumbs up! I will review more dishes after my next visit to the restaurant. So earmark this post for future reference!

Shanghai Man Restaurant Sha Tin – Location

Shanghai Man Restaurant – Shop G06, King’s Wing Plaza 2, No. 1 Oi Kwan Street, Shek Mun, Sha Tin, New Territories, Hong Kong.

Shanghai Man Restaurant is located in King’s Wing Plaza, a short walk from the Shek Mun MTR station, Exit C, on the Tuen Ma Line.

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