Shanghai Terrace at The Peninsula Hotel | Chicago

Consistently voted the very best Chinese food in all of Chicago, Shanghai Terrace Chicago melds fine dining with delicious, traditional Cantonese dishes in a beautiful city terrace atmosphere. Set upon the rooftop of the Peninsula Hotel, overlooking Willis Tower, and much of Chicago’s beautiful skyline, this indoor or outdoor dining experience is a beautiful glimpse into Chinese decor and sensibilities.

Shanghai Terrace at The Peninsula Hotel

Location: Chicago, Illinois
Address: 108 E Superior St
Chicago, IL 60611
Food Type: Chinese, Cantonese
Dining Experience: Indoor or Outdoor
Price: $100+ per person
Dress Code: Smart Casual
Reservations: Recommended
Special Diets: Pescatarian

We had a reservation for 5pm, were invited to arrive a bit early to enjoy light bites, a cantonese version of bar snacks, and drinks prior to our meal, which also gave us the opportunity to photograph the gorgeous terrace, which is open May – September. The outdoor space is filled with pops of red, lush tropical plants, and sturdy Chinese references, like gorgeous Chinese sailing boats, diminutive bamboo plants at each table, and intimate pockets of seating that allowed different groups of patrons to drift off into their own worlds of conversation without being disturbed by others.

Our meal began with two delicious drinks, both inspired by life in Shanghai, the Lychee, a cocktail with plantation pineapple rum, lychee & lime shrub, mint, lime and Lost in Shanghai, which consists of tito’s vodka, lychee, grapefruit, and cassis. These drinks paired perfectly with succulent, sweet Golden Shrimp, exceeded our expectations at $5 per shrimp, and were absolutely phenomenal and worth every penny. Our server also brought us generous servings of wasabi peas, a trail mix type dish, and another mix of cheesy and crunchy snacks, and although our server didn’t know what they were called, they were pretty good too.

Once 5pm arrived, we were promptly seated at a different table outside, with a view of Willis Tower. The menu at Shanghai Terrace Chicago is quite extensive and has something for everyone, including vegans, those with gluten allergies, and adventurous eaters. We started off with Dim Sum, opting for Vegetable Dumplings and Crab Wantons, both of which were absolutely delightful and made our tastebuds sing. The savory flavor and chunky texture of the dumplings was the perfect foil to the smooth, creamy and sweet wantons that were presented with ample amounts of sweet chili sauce for dipping.

Faced with so many incredible options for dinner, like the Cloud Ear Mushroom Salad, Shanghai Terrace Dragon Cucumber Salad, Wok Fried Asian Vegetables with Roasted Garlic, Steamed Lotus Lily Flower in Saffron Sauce, deciding what to order was very difficult. After consulting with our server, we landed on the Szechuan Mapo Tofu, Spicy Sweet Chili Prawns, and Steamed Halibut Fillet. After we sampled a bit of everything we’d ordered, we could easily see why this restaurant has earned so many accolades, and is consistently rated the best Chinese food in Chicago, and always at the top of the list of best Chinese Food restaurants in the country. Everything was delectable, although by far my favorite were the prawns, and our server was phenomenal.

Shanghai Terrace Chicago is perfect for a business dinner, date nights, or as a place to try new dishes. We loved the atmosphere, the decor, and the way the terrace felt like an oasis in the midst of the hectic city. The next time you’re in Chicago, don’t skip Shanghai Terrace, it’s an unforgettable dining experience that can’t be missed by anyone who enjoys Chinese foods.

Safe Travels!

xAnnie Fairfax
Follow Me for More: @AnnieFairfax

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