Shine — Chicago’s Cozy Shanghainese Home‑Style Dining

It’s been a while since I last visited Shine — usually I come alone and can only order 1–2 dishes, never quite satisfying the craving. This time, I rounded up friends so we could feast like back home! 📜 The full menu is in photo 10 — eager eaters can skip right to ordering! 🍡 “Heart Too Soft” We call it “Open‑Mouth Smile” up north — dates stuffed with sticky rice, sweet and delicious. Usually a dessert, but here it’s served as an appetizer (works for me!). What do you call this dish in your hometown? 🦆 Braised Duck in Soy Sauce My favorite of the night — deeply savory and tender. 🦀 Drunken Crab Also delicious, though the portion felt small — just one crab per order, gone too quickly! 🍆 Minced Pork & Eggplant Clay Pot Reminded me of Northern‑style braised eggplant — saucy, savory, and perfect over rice. 🐍 “Sizzling Oil” Eel Strips So tasty, but eat it hot — it can get a bit fishy once cool. 🥩 Red‑Braised Pork Belly Each piece richly flavored, even the tofu knots soaked up all the goodness. 🥬 Shanghai Greens with King Trumpet Mushrooms Fresh, tender bok choy — a clean, crisp contrast to the richer dishes. 🍚 Eight‑Treasure Rice I loved it, but after already having vegetable rice earlier, the carbs felt overwhelming — ended up taking it to‑go. My friend mentioned it’d be perfect with a dipping sauce… so I’m curious — what do you usually pair with eight‑treasure rice? Shine gets recommended a lot — it looks like a Japanese spot but hides a whole Shanghainese home‑style menu. Use the menu in photo 10 to order, and make sure to reserve at least two days ahead so they can prepare. Shine: 756 W Webster Ave, Chicago, IL 60614 #ChicagoLife #Chicago #HomeStyleCooking #ShanghaiCuisine #ChicagoEats #ChicagoFoodScene