Shanghai, China + Add a trip

"on a budget" is a vague term. You can eat for 5 to 10rmb at the local stalls and alley restaurants. But for value-money I eat at aFuturePerfect where there are various set lunches, ranging from 50rmb to 110. It's the only place I know off that has these sets include soup, salad, main, dessert and drink. www.afutureperfect.com.cn

Budet food can be found everywhere. Noodles, dumpling or fried rice bought on the street is usually the most tasty one. Get off the main streets into the alleys and go to the place that has the most people. Foreigners looking for lunch on a budget, such as students, often end up at Saizeria or Barbellas Kitchen. Both cheap and good enough Italian food. Stay away from Cafe's of any kind.

A couple of resources that I find useful for scouting out a budget lunch:

City Weekend www.cityweekend.com.cn

or

Enjoy Shanghai (its a discount card that has lots of options for lunch or dinner) http://www.enjoyshanghai.com/en/index.asp

It's hard to get cheaper (or tastier) than Yang's Fry Dumpling: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9161504

Be sure to pay at the register before you get in the dumpling line!

Definately Yang's, just dont bite straight into the dumplings as there is hot liquid inside thatll burn the crap out of your mouth.

Go to the really cheap cantene type places ( they are everywhere) and have a look at what other people are eating, if you like the look of the food then just point and order. usually costs about 10 rmb