Best Food In China

Location

In Shanghai, new restaurants pop up faster than pimples on a plump teenager. This is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, you get better variety than any other city in China. On the other hand, you have a lot of neophytes with no clue on how to manage cooking, cleaning, and serving all at the same time. This leads to my maxim on Shanghai establishments: If it’s older than eight, it’s doing something right. Sure enough, Nizang Garden’s experience and excellence reflects that it does just about everything right.

It’s true that there is no shortage of Indian restaurants in Shanghai. However, Nizang garden is distinct due to the variety of food and services they have to offer. It’s a quaint family restaurant that has a large, full-functioning bar. It has a convenient location (Pudong, just about a 2 minute walk from Line 2) and it’s a perfect place for both a large gathering as well as a solo meal. The portions are ample, no matter what you sample. So bring your appetite, but don’t worry about your wallet, because at Nizang Garden the only thing that’s not too big is the price.

For example, you know what annoys me about some Indian Food restaurants? You drop a fair bit of change for some Samosas and then you only get two. As a fat person at heart, I call this insufficient. Nizang Garden, however, generously provides an unbelievable eight Samosas for only 25 kuai. Besides the bountiful Samosa plate, your appetizers would be incomplete without an order of the Aloo Chilly (28), if you can handle it, that is. It’s fried potato with capsicum chili and tomatoes. This is spicy with a capital S but it has the rare ability to prevent the kick from overpowering the natural delights of the crispy fried potato within.

Now I’d like to ask you a few questions. Do you like decadently creamy yet subtly spicy spinach? Do you like perfectly tangy, tender cubes of cheese? Would you enjoy hunting for said pieces of cheese in the spinach like searching for Easter Eggs in an enchanted forest? If you answered yes to any of these questions then you are a perfect candidate for Nizang’s Palaak Paneer (40). The Palaak Paneer was so good that we ate the whole thing, which is nearly impossible considering the enormous portions.

Also, you must get an order of Mustang Curry (50). True, it’s one of the pricier items on the menu, but it’s worth the extra dollar or so because it is absolutely incredible. The beef is tender and as soft as the curry that surrounds it which makes it a perfect accompaniment to crisp, buttery Garlic Naan (20)

Of course, it’s not all perfect. The toilet is outside and this is painful in the winter months. So go before you go, I guess. However, if you’re looking for an Indian place that has service, style, and substance, then get on Line 2 and head to Nizang Garden right away. You’ll be glad you did.

-by David Liebenberg

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