NMA: "Chinese-American fast food chain Panda Express might be expanding into China.It'll be a gamble, considering how different Americanized Chinese food is compared to the real thing. Many Chinese-American dishes simply do not exist in Chinese cuisine, like General Tso's Chicken. Even fortune cookies are an American invention. Bringing Panda Express to China is almost as bad an idea as bringing Pizza Hut to Italy. What will it be like when Panda Express sets up in China? Will the Chinese burn it down like it did with Sogo? But with the right marketing, anything is possible." more ›

Sinan Mansions is starting a "Restaurant Week" of its own - only it lasts three weeks and doesn't seem to be very widely promoted. Still, it lasts from this Friday to May 8, according to SmartShanghai, and includes discounts from Chicha, Yucca and Funky Chicken. Speaking of which, Apothecary apparently soft opened on Sunday. You should check it out. more ›

It wasn't until we read this interview in Salon with Jennifer 8. Lee (and that's not a typo, folks), New York Times journalist and author of the book The Fortune Cookie Chronicles: Adventures in the World of Chinese Food, that we suddenly realized that it has been forever since we've had beef with broccoli or General Tso's chicken. We think it's because we haven't made room in our ordering agenda given the unbelievable amount of variety and selection in Shanghai in terms of Chinese food. The interview definitely wants to make us read the book as a way to cross-check and validate our experiences as a Chinese-American raised on American-Chinese food (go Panda Express!). more ›