This is a home dinner, not a cooking class. You come, you sit, you eat, and you leave with a full stomach and a genuine connection to local life in Shanghai.

Meet Jiading Ayi: Auntie Shen is a true daughter of Jiading Old Town, the historic cradle of Shanghai's famous soup dumplings. She has been welcoming international guests into her home since 2016 — first as an Airbnb Superhost. What sets Auntie Shen's home apart is her courtyard garden, where she grows the vegetables that end up on your table.

Auntie Shen can host up to 6 guests, making it one of the few experiences in Shanghai that works just as well for a family with children as it does for a group of friends or colleagues.

Before your visit, confirm your dietary preferences and receive step-by-step directions to the home, including phone number and WeChat so you won't get lost. Two days before, you'll receive Home Dining Cheat Sheets, a beautifully designed cultural primer on Chinese dining that answers the questions most foreign guests have before their first home dinner in China.

Sample Menu

Appetizer

1. Garden Greens with Diced Tofu
   (Finely chopped malantou greens with seasoned diced tofu)

2. Braised Spring Bamboo Shoots
   (Tender seasonal bamboo shoots glazed in a savory-sweet soy sauce)

3. Traditional Shanghainese Smoked Fish
   (Deep-fried fish marinated and lightly smoked with Chinese five-spice)

Main Course

1. Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs
   (Succulent pork ribs in a rich, velvety caramelized glaze)

2. White-Cut Local Chicken
   (Classic poached chicken with a delicate skin, served with garlic-ginger dip)

3. Handmade Fish Ball Soup
   (Delicate, hand-minced fish balls in a clear, nourishing broth)

Staple & Dessert

1. Auntie's Handmade Wontons
   (Ayi's special pork and vegetable wontons in a savory soup)

2. Red Bean Glutinous Rice Balls Dessert
   (Sweet red bean paste filling in warm, chewy rice balls, served in a light syrup)

Note: the menu changes with the seasons. Dietary restrictions? Let us know when booking. We've accommodated vegetarian, halal, non-mammalian, and more.