Dinner With a Local Family in Shanghai

Quick facts

What it is

Dinner inside a local family's home, cooked by them

Price

¥300–¥390 per person in Shanghai

Duration

About 2 hours — usually longer, because people keep talking

Group size

Most homes seat 1–6 guests; some hosts welcome groups of up to 11.

Host families

10 host families in Shanghai

Neighbourhoods

Xuhui, Jiading, Pudong, Putuo, Songjiang, Changning

Languages

Most hosts speak fluent English; languages listed per host

Booking

Online, paid in advance

Address

Shared once your booking is confirmed

Dietary needs

Accommodated with 48 hours' notice

The Shanghai host families

Shanghai host families, their neighbourhood, cooking style and price per person. Each links to a full profile with menus, photos and reviews.

Travelling alone or on business, Grace Tong lived in the United States for over a decade and hosts 1–4 guests. For traditional Shanghainese cooking, Jiading Ayi is from Jiading Old Town — the birthplace of xiaolongbao — and has been an Airbnb Superhost since 2016. For something you won't find in Shanghai restaurants, Chuan cooks Guangxi and Southeast Asian dishes.

What happens at a Shanghai family dinner?

You arrive at your host's home, eat a home-cooked meal together over about two hours, and talk.

You arrive at a normal residential building

Your host meets you at the door or at the building entrance. This is an ordinary Shanghai apartment block or lane house in a neighbourhood most travellers never see — not a venue. Most guests say the walk in is the moment it stops feeling like a booking and starts feeling like a visit.

Tea first, while the last dishes finish

Most hosts sit you down with tea before anything else. You'll notice family photos, a balcony view, whatever's drying on the rack. This is where the evening turns from a transaction into an actual visit, and it's usually where the first real conversation happens — how the family came to Shanghai, what the neighbourhood used to be.

Dishes arrive one at a time

A home dinner in China isn't coursed like a Western meal. Dishes land on the table as they come out of the wok and everyone shares from the middle. Your host explains each one — where it's from, why they cook it that way, what their family does differently. A soup turns out to be seasonal. A vegetable dish turns out to be what your host ate as a child.

You stay longer than you planned

Most dinners run past two hours. Conversation goes from food to travel to work to family, and hosts are as curious about you as you are about them. Several of our hosts lived abroad for years and specifically wanted a reason to keep speaking English.

Guests worry beforehand that it will be awkward. They almost always report the opposite problem.

You leave with recommendations, and usually leftovers

Almost every guest leaves with a list — the noodle shop the host actually goes to, the market worth a morning, the dish to order that isn't on the English menu. Declining a second helping generally doesn't work.

Who books a Shanghai family dinner?

Solo travellers: Eating alone gets old fast in a city where most dishes are meant to be shared. Grace Tong hosts 1–4 guests and specialises in solo and business travellers; Chuan hosts 1–2 for something quieter.

Couples: An evening you'll still be talking about, instead of another restaurant you'll struggle to name later.

Families with children: Children get to see how a Chinese family actually lives and eats.

Business travellers: A better use of a free evening than the hotel restaurant.

Food lovers: Regional home cooking that doesn't appear on restaurant menus.

Guest reviews

Every story below is from a guest who completed a booking. We ask people to write about their evening rather than score it out of five.

A wonderful experience! The hosts are incredibly kind and welcoming, always happy to accommodate your wishes and making you feel like old friends. The location is easy to find, and last but definitely not least, the dinner was absolutely delicious! Highly recommend!

Dined on Oct 20, 2026 with Wendi and Simon · family

Hey, I arrived safely at the hotel. I wanted to say thank you for the evening, I had a lot of fun and really enjoyed it. the food was also very tasty. And thanks for the chopsticks. 😊

Dined on Oct 14, 2026 with William and Jasmine · dined solo

I had such a lovely time at Shen Ayi’s home in Jiading with Plus One Chopsticks! There were so many vegan dishes to try, and everything tasted really fresh and full of flavour. My favourite was the eggplant! It was a little spicy and super fragrant - really delicious! I also loved the yams, and the vegan mooncakes and fresh tea were such a lovely and thoughtful touch. Steven was super friendly and easy to chat with. He shared stories about some of the dishes as we ate, which made the meal even more interesting. It was a fun way to learn more about Chinese culture and Shanghainese cuisine while enjoying a home-cooked meal. Everyone was welcoming, the conversation flowed easily, and I left feeling very well fed and happy! I would definitely recommend this experience to travellers in China, or anyone who wants to learn more about Chinese culture and eat delicious, home-cooked food!

Dined on Sep 13, 2026 with Jiading Ayi’s family · couple

Everything went really well — honestly, we couldn’t have asked for a better lunch. The surprise landed perfectly, the food was excellent, and Yiting’s cooking was absolutely delicious. The wet market was a lot of fun too, and the company made the whole experience even more special. The birthday dessert definitely did its job as well! Please pass on our thanks to Yiting. You could really feel how much care she put into everything, and we appreciated it a lot. All in all, it was a wonderful birthday and we had a great time.

Dined on Sep 17, 2026 with Eating (Yiting) · couple

We had the most marvellous time! Eaty was really friendly, she designed a whole vegan menu, and had all the ingredients ready and a few things prepares to show us when we arrived how she prepares each dish while we chat about our lives. She also invited a friend and her cousin. So we had a lively conversation and most delicious and varied dinner. My parents were really happy too. My mother told her to come visit to Buenos Aires

Dined on Sep 5, 2026 with Eating (Yiting) · family

Went to a home dinner hosted by Steven and Norika @plus1chopsticks . They started these dinners so that foreigners traveling or working in China can get a little taste of the “real touch” — what local people actually make, eat, and talk about at home. None of us knew each other before, but we ended up talking for 3+ hours — from travel adventures, to surviving workplace “PUA” in China 😂, to the weirdest comments we’ve encountered on social media There’s a saying in Chinese that I really love: 人间烟火气，最抚凡人心 it’s the warmth of ordinary life that comforts the human heart the most. Here’s to another Sunday night with heartwarming food, laughter, and strangers who don’t feel like strangers at all :)

Dined on Aug 16, 2026 with Norika and Steven · couple

The best restaurant in Shanghai that isn't a restaurant. This is real home cooking — where the wok has been seasoned by use for decades, homegrown ingredients come straight from the garden, and the interactions are genuine. An experience that lets you connect with local culture on a deeper, more meaningful level.

Dined on Apr 19, 2026 with Jiading Ayi’s family · couple

First time in China and this was one of the highlights of the trip. The food was incredible and the conversation made it feel like we were visiting old friends. Chuan and her family were so warm and welcoming — it was the kind of authentic experience you just can't get at a restaurant. Highly recommend to anyone visiting Shanghai.

Dined on Apr 18, 2026 with Chuan 川 · couple

Read all guest reviews on individual host profiles →

What you'll eat

There's no fixed menu. Hosts shop at their local market the morning of your dinner and cook what's good that day, so the meal changes with the season.

Recent dishes from Shanghai hosts: Braised beef brisket with daikon radish (萝卜炖牛腩), Spinach in supreme broth with century egg (上汤菠菜), Yan Du Xian — salt pork and bamboo shoot soup, Foil-baked whole fish with lemongrass, Guangxi sour-spicy tomato noodles with Thai basil, Hand-folded xiaolongbao, Sizzling clay pot chicken, Cantonese style, Steamed yellow croaker. Most dinners run to six or seven dishes plus rice and soup.

How we choose our host families

Every host completes three steps before they appear on this site: an in-depth interview, a test dinner we attend in person, and an English introduction video they record themselves. No host is listed until all three are done.

1. An in-depth interview

We sit down with every applicant before anything else. We're looking for people who genuinely want the company — hosts who treat it purely as income don't last, and it shows at the table. We'd rather have a smaller group of hosts we'd personally eat with than dozens who signed up.

2. A test dinner, in their home

Every host cooks a full meal for our team in the home where they'd host guests. We see the kitchen, the table, the building and the neighbourhood. If it isn't somewhere we'd happily send a guest, it doesn't go live. This is also how we write their menus accurately — every dish listed on a host profile is one we've eaten.

3. An English introduction video

Every host records a short introduction in English, and it's published on their profile. This is the part guests tell us matters most: you don't have to take our word for anyone's language ability or warmth. You watch them talk and decide for yourself before you book.

It's also why our language descriptions are honest. Jiading Ayi speaks Mandarin with basic English and we say so plainly, because you'll see it in her video anyway.

After a host joins

We read every review, pass feedback to hosts directly, and remove hosts who stop meeting the standard. Your booking is paid through the platform rather than cash at the door, and you have your host's contact details before the meal.

What to bring

Nothing is required, but a small gift is normal and always appreciated. Fruit, a box of pastries, or something from your own country all work well. Don't bring alcohol unless you've checked; not every household drinks.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a local family dinner in Shanghai cost?

Between ¥300–¥390 per person in Shanghai, depending on the host. That covers the full multi-course meal — usually six or seven dishes plus rice and soup — with no service charge or extras.

Where does the dinner take place?

In your host family's own home, in a normal residential neighbourhood. The exact address is shared once your booking is confirmed.

Do the host families speak English?

Most +1 Chopsticks hosts speak fluent English, and every host profile lists their languages. Jiading Ayi speaks Mandarin with basic English.

Can I see the host before I book?

Yes. Every host records a short introduction video in English, published on their profile.

Is it safe to eat dinner in a stranger's home in China?

Every host completes an in-depth interview, cooks a test dinner for our team, and records an English introduction video before being listed. Payment goes through the platform rather than cash at the door.

Can hosts accommodate vegetarian, halal or allergy requirements?

Yes, with at least 48 hours' notice.

How many people can come?

Most homes seat 1–6 guests; some hosts welcome groups of up to 11.

Is this suitable for children?

Yes, and several hosts have children of their own.

How far in advance should I book?

Book at least three days ahead, and a week or more in peak season.

What if I don't speak Chinese and it gets awkward?

This is the most common worry and almost never a real problem. Hosts do this because they enjoy meeting travellers.

Is this a cooking class?

No. Your host cooks and you eat.

How can I meet locals in China as a tourist?

Book a home dining experience with a vetted local family. Choose a host, date and meal time, then complete secure checkout; your host follows up with the meeting details so you can share a meal and everyday conversation in their home.

Where can I eat authentic Chinese food in Shanghai?

At a local host family's table. +1 Chopsticks connects travellers with vetted Shanghai hosts who cook the regional dishes they eat at home, with each host's menu, location guidance and price shown before booking.