Shanghai Chang at Shinrifu Aeon Mall

20% Better than Expected

In the new massive Aeon Mall in Rifu, there are a number of new and interesting restaurants including Chinese place called Shanghai something. I couldn't read most of the menu, but the food samples in the window outside make it pretty clear what the options are and what they're likely to look like when they come out. The only thing that someone who isn't familiar with Japanese-Chinese food can't get out of plastic samples is an idea of the flavor, but I have enough experience here to know what I am likely to enjoy in these kinds of places. As with most Chinese food you will find a Japanese Mall, many of the options come with rice or fried rice. I went for breaded pork chunks in a sweet and sour sauce. I've had similar dishes both in America and Japan, but never before have I had breaded pork chunks be so filled with meat. Usually, these things seem like they might be almost half bread, but these were nice juicy chunks of meat. The sauce was excellent as was the salad. The fried rice came in a steaming hot bowl with the raw egg just broken into it, meaning that it's the kind of place where you stir your own fried rice. I haven't been to a place like this in years. My husband's meal was larger than he expected and he enjoyed as much of it as he could eat. The soup dumplings, shoronpo, a favorite of mine, were strangely tall but also wonderful. This place was about 20% more delicious than I expected. The lunch menu was very reasonably priced for the portion sizes and deliciousness.