Spicy Gangster: Chongqing Specialties Bring The Heat (Closed)

Spicy Gangster is a Sichuan restaurant that specializes in Chongqing specialty dishes, located in Jing'an district, Shanghai.

Update Nov 2024: Spicy Gangster has moved to K11.

Update Nov 2025: Spicy Gangster has closed.

About Spicy Gangster

It used to be on Yanping Lu, but it’s since relocated to Xinzha Lu. It also used to be difficult to book, but now it’s fairly easy to get a table, especially with their new location being slightly bigger.

Some dishes require pre-order, like innards, certain whole fish, and prawns, ingredients that are sourced fresh for the day. Add the service account on WeChat (13166253023) for more details — they’re quick to respond, and will send the entire menu. FYI, they rarely accept walk-ins.

The Food

Those accustomed to Chongqing levels of spice will find Spicy Gangster a treat. Not every dish is fiery, thankfully. They do the classics well, like mapo tofu, yuxiang rousi, and “saliva chicken.” Order your rice from the get-go. You’ll need/want it.

My favorite dish to start off with is the Sliced Pork with Garlic Sauce. Pork belly is boiled with aromatics, then sliced thin, doused with a garlic sauce flavored with soy sauce, black vinegar, and sesame oil. It’s simple and addictive.

Sliced Pork with Garlic Sauce (大刀蒜泥白肉, ¥58)

The Century Egg is a nice little starter, too. The base is a mildly spiced sauce mix with burnt roasted peppers, and it’s topped with silken tofu.

Century Egg (烧椒皮蛋, ¥38)

For sharing dishes, go for the Jiaohu Chicken. A whole chicken is stir-fried with leek, green chilies, dried red chilies, and peppercorns. It’s numb and spicy (7/10) and will have you picking the plate clean. A version with rabbit is also available.

Jiaohu Chicken (椒麻鸡, ¥258)

The Mapo Tofu is fragrant, delicious, and comforting. It’s usually a 7/10, but I think it was closer to 9/10 last I went. Perhaps give them a shout if you’re not willing to tackle that level of intensity.

Mapo Tofu (麻婆豆腐, ¥48)

I also recommend the Fish in Sour Soup. A whole fish is served in a sour-spicy broth flavored with green peppercorns, pickled yellow chilies, ginger, and garlic.

Fish in Sour Soup (迷踪鱼, ¥268)

Another classic is the Yuxiang Rousi, a dish that has that “fish fragrance” or umami, but doesn’t involve any seafood products. It’s sweet, sour, savory, and only a tiny bit spicy.

Yuxiang Rousi (鱼香肉丝, ¥58)

Plum Juice (酸梅汤, ¥12) – To help with the burn.

I’ve always enjoyed Spicy Gangster. I don’t think it's much of a hassle to pre-book and pre-order, especially once you have them on WeChat. It’s a solid neighborhood restaurant.

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Spicy Gangster 不问江湖
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