Shanghai Quick-Fried Shrimp 油爆虾
Shanghai Quick-Fried Shrimp is featured among the local specialties of Shanghai.
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Youbao xia (油爆虾) is Shanghai-style shrimp quickly fried with the shells on. Bright shells and savoury-sweet seasoning frame the firm meat inside, making this a different dish from peeled shrimp in a pale sauce.
How it is prepared
Shanghai's official food description identifies river shrimp fried rapidly in hot oil until the shells become red and crisp. The shrimp are then served as a finished plate; sauce details and the size of the shrimp vary by kitchen.
Flavour & texture
The shell carries much of the immediate aroma and seasoning. Inside, the shrimp should retain a firm, juicy texture rather than becoming a dry crumbly filling.
Local context & naming
The dish is documented among Shanghai's festive foods, but its identity is a cooking style rather than a promise of seasonal availability. Menus may spell out river shrimp more specifically as he xia.
Ordering this dish
Confirm the size and whether the kitchen can accommodate your preferred seasoning. Ask how the shrimp are prepared if shell handling matters to you; a photograph of peeled shrimp would be misleading for this entry.
At the table
Let the first shrimp cool enough to handle and peel it as you prefer. You do not need to eat the shell to appreciate the dish. Use a separate plate for discarded shells when sharing the main serving.
Ingredients to check
Contains crustaceans. Check cooking wine, stock and sauces, including soy or other ingredients added after frying.
More dishes to compare
Explore related local specialties and compare their names, preparation notes and ordering guidance.
Crisp-Fried Prawn Pieces with Aromatics 炸烹虾段 →
Zhapeng xiaduan (炸烹虾段) is a dish of prawn pieces that are fried, then quickly tossed with aromatics and a light seasoning liquid. The short final toss is the useful distinction from prawns left to simmer in a thick sauce.
Red-Braised Hui Fish 红烧鮰鱼 →
Hongshao huiyu (红烧鮰鱼) is a Shanghai fish dish in which pieces of hui fish are gently braised until soft and coated in their cooking sauce. Baoshan preserves a specifically documented local cooking tradition for this preparation.
Questions before you order
Are these the same as crystal shrimp?
No. This guide describes quick-fried shell-on shrimp; crystal shrimp is a distinct peeled-shrimp preparation.
Sources & reading
Identity, the described preparation and local context checked against the linked sources on 8 September 2026. Where a home recipe is cited, it is a documented example, not a restaurant standard. Ordering and serving suggestions are editorial guidance. No recipe testing, exclusive origin, current venue availability or dietary certification is claimed.
Recipes and servings vary between kitchens.