Ben Bang Cai (Shanghai local food) refers to folk cuisine originating from the Sanlin and Gaoqiao areas of Shanghai’s Pudong New Area. It caters to local residents with its unique taste, characteristics, thick oil, red sauce and honest taste. Ingredients are braised, allowing the marinade to penetrate inside to deliver a rich and long-lingering taste. Due to strong localism, such delicacies are usually flavorful and authentic. 

In the past, Shanghai locals entertained their guests with the Old Eight Dishes, which were slightly different in different areas. They are Steamed Three Fresh Delicacies, Three Kinds of Slices, Old Sweet Pork, Dumplings Stuffed with Minced Meat and Egg, Sweet Osmanthus Pork, Water Bamboo Shoots & Preserved Pork, Lily Flower & Fish and Shallot Meat Skin Soup.

There are many Ben Bang Cai restaurants throughout Shanghai. The most famous is Dexing Restaurant, first established in 1883 by Li Lingen.