Listings:

Crystal Jade is a chain from Singapore that's consistently packed for its combination of stylish decor and Cantonese cooking. Dim sum, in particular, is wildly popular. Most people go for the crispy pork belly, the roast pork, shrimp dumplings, mango pudding, and even xiao long bao. Xintiandi's store is the flagship, and often considered the best. Reservations are essential.

A neat and modern Taiwan-style noodle joint offering generous helpings of noodles in both soup and stir-fry form along with few Chinese-style "tapas" selections like roast pork neck and marinated daikon. Be sure to sample their house-made spiced plum juice.

Japanese owned Vietnamese restaurant, specialising in all things Vietnamese but for the foreign taste. The lunch sets are great value.

Pho Sizzling is a tiny Vietnamese joint on the second floor of the standalone mall in the redeveloped section of Wujiang Lu. It's dedicated to the iconic Vietnamese noodle soup dish, pho, though other Viet standards, like the banh mi sandwich, and various small dishes, are available.

Aniseed is a cosy, ten-table Vietnamese restaurant with a heavy French influence.

This, the third store of a chain, serves an extensive menu of Vietnamese food with varying degrees of success. The coffee comes highly recommended.

South East Asian restaurant with an emphasis on the Vietnamese Pho, its mixed menu includes Thai and Singaporean dishes. It shares the same premises as a high end Hong Kong Hot Pot but with a separate entrance.

Kin Cafe's reincarnation. The Grumpy Pig is a restaurant devoted to proprietor Gary Wang's two biggest loves, "hip hop and pork." A pork-centric menu features dishes like "Fat Folds," or pork belly sliders, "House Richness" ramen, pulled pork sandwiches and more.

Chain of affordable Cantonese Restaurants, opened to late hours.

Chinese hand pulled noodles or La Mian -- hand-pulled wheat noodles in soup -- . The noodles, freshly made to order.