It’s November, which means Americans are training our stomachs in preparation of one of our most needlessly gluttonous holidays. That’s right, Thanksgiving is just around the corner and American expats in Shanghai are already on the lookout for their next big turkey dinner. In celebration of this time honored tradition of eating ridiculously large amounts of food in celebration of a guy who may or may not have actually discovered America (that would be Christopher Columbus, folks, and we’re leaning towards “may not have”), I’ve listed the top five American restaurants in Shanghai. Things I took into consideration included authenticity, price, and that ability to make me feel nostalgic for good ol’ American cuisine. Feel free to list your own favourites in the comments section, and I wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!

Mr. Pancake House

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and so I start with Mr. Pancake House, a little hole in the wall on Wuding Lu that you could easily walk right by if you didn’t know it was there. Luckily for you, now you do know it’s there, so definitely stop by if you’re craving a hearty American breakfast. In a land full of lunch foods for breakfast (noodles at 9:00am? No thank you) and pretentiously expensive “champagne brunches,” Mr. Pancake House’s menu reads like a smorgasboard of Americana. Pages full of omelets, French toast, pancakes, bacon… Oh, the bacon…

Mr. Pancake HouseView In Map
Add: 877 Wuding Lu, near Jiaozhou Lu, Shanghai
地址：上海市武定路877号, 近胶州路
Tel: 021 6255 1648
Opening hours: 07:30-22:30

Blue Frog

Blue Frog shows up on a lot of Western favourites list, and for good reason. While their prices may be a little on the high side for what it is (I recommend going on their Monday buy-one-get-one free burger nights or taking advantage of their very reasonable lunch sets), there’s no doubt that Blue Frog knows what the average American wants. Their burgers more than hit the spot, their portions are generous and their chocolate brownie is one of the best in town. The atmosphere too is purely American – spacious, fun and loud.

Blue FrogView In Map
Address: 207-6 Maoming Nan Lu, near Fuxing Lu & Yongjia Lu, Shanghai
地址：上海市茂名南路270-6, 近复兴路, 永嘉路
Tel: 021 6445 6634
Opening hours: 11:00-22:00

For the taste and feel of a down home diner, head to Munchies, where the cheap prices and satisfying comfort food make for quite the authentic experience. Hot dogs smothered in chili, po boys on crusty bread and sinfully decadent milkshakes (you’ve got to try the chocolate peanut butter!) are just a few of the items Munchies has to offer. Combine that with the toned down hippie decor, and you’ve got a restaurant that stays very true to its name.

MunchiesView In Map
Address: 974 Wuding Lu, near Jiaozhou Lu, Shanghai
地址：上海市武定路974号, 近胶州路
Tel: 021 6218 4616
Opening hours: 10:00-22:00 

Gourmet Café

I know there are constant debates over where to get the best burger in Shanghai. Well, let me throw my hat in the ring – Gourmet Cafe has the best hamburgers, hands down, in the city. Perfectly cooked to order (please don’t order well done!) with a countless array of fresh toppings like brie, avocado and black peppercorns, you can go a dozen times and never get bored. Yes, the prices are a bit high, and yes, you have to order your fries separately. However, the burgers are so good that I find, in this rare instance, that the price is actually worth it.

Gourmet Café堡仕康 View In Map
Address: 1/F, Shanghai Centre, 1376 Nanjing Xi Lu, near Xikang Lu, Shanghai
地址：上海市南京西路1376号 上海商城1楼, 近西康路
Tel: 021 6289 5733
Opening hours: 12:00-22:30

And because no American restaurant list could be truly complete without a steakhouse, I say Pinnacle Peak is the best deal for quality and price in Shanghai. You can certainly get better steaks in the city – if you’re willing to pay upwards of 500 RMB for them. But coming from a country where you can walk into most places and find a steak for on the menu for the equivalent of less than 90 RMB, I refuse to place such a restaurant on my list. Pinnacle Peak has better than average steak and great deals, especially when you try their monthly special. The staff is some of the friendliest and most attentive I’ve seen and the Western cowboy-themed decor will make anyone chuckle. Oh, and have I mentioned the mechanical bull you can ride?

Pinnacle Peak View In Map
Add: 5/F, City Hotel 5 Shanxi Nan Lu, near Julu Lu, Shanghai
地址：上海市陕西路5号 城市酒店5楼, 近巨鹿路
Tel: 021 6256 1211
Opening hours: Mon-Sat, 11:30-23:30; Sun, 18:00-23:30

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