Sheng Yong Xing (Huangpu) 晟永兴 (黄浦)

Sheng Yong Xing boasts one of my all-time favourite Peking Ducks. Having been enchanted by the one in Beijing, I was so excited to try its Shanghai counterpart, despite it not being 本幫菜 (local cuisine). As I entered, I was greeted by the Michelin Stars proudly displayed at the door, creating a sense of prestige. Unlike the Sheng Yong Xing in Beijing, this location exuded a more mysterious and sexier ambiance, with a stunning view of The Bund. Securing a table by the window, we settled in, ordered our food, and my friend insisted we try a red wine from China that he was highly impressed by on a prior occasion.

Horrified by the state of the glasses, I wanted to switch mine, but seeing all were equally dirty left me shocked and disgusted. The first course, crispy fried oysters, lacked the expected oyster flavour and richness. The eagerly anticipated fried mushrooms, a favourite from Sheng Yong Xing (Sanlitun), were a letdown — oily and lacking in that earth, umami-rich mushroom essence. The oil, perhaps not hot enough during frying, left an unpleasant and greasy aftertaste.

While awaiting the star of the dinner, I noticed bag hangers by the wall. Surprisingly, no one offered me one the entire time as my bag repeatedly slipped off my chair until I requested it. As we were here for the duck, we ordered two to share among five. The disappointment hit hard as the duck master’s carving technique seemed less skilled and almost clumsy compared to the Beijing counterpart. My heart sank further when the duck arrived sans pancakes. When they finally arrived, it was evident the duck had passed its prime. The meat was disappointingly dry and lacked the expected succulence. I felt a wave of disappointment, and my anticipated joy turned into a letdown. I gave it the benefit of the doubt for the first duck, hoping for improvement with the second, but it was a mess. The staff appeared reluctant to provide fresh pancakes for the second duck. Despite our request, we experienced a sequence of Hot Duck with Cold Pancakes, followed by Hot Pancakes with Cold Duck about 10 minutes later. The rest of the meal was basic and mediocre, with oily cabbage, boring-flavoured noodles. Upon leaving, retrieving my jacket became an ordeal, with the staff seemingly oblivious to our table.

Address: 黄浦区广东路20号外滩5号5楼