Munchies
974 Wuding Lu (???974?)
Shanghai, China
PRICE: ??
RATING:  

I got the Munchies!! 

I always seem to be delcaring that phrase… so it seemed pretty apt that I should check out Munchies, an American diner in Shanghai that I’ve been eyeing for ages now. Luckily, 3 of my girl friends were very sweet and went along with my rabid insistence that we go there for lunch, despite ALL three of them having embarked on a “get fit, eat healthy” plan since they’re all doing Bootcamp (eek!). 

Munchies was much, much smaller than I’d anticipated. A very little space with perhaps 6-8 small tables. It’s a little dark and very slightly dingy – considering it was bright daylight outside, I was expecting a well-lit, airy, spankin’ clean American diner. I actually wasn’t sure if we were at the right place, if I hadn’t seen the massive sign or the foreigners inside. The staff wear strange tie-dye shirts and are significantly understaffed. We waited AGES for our food and drinks, until I lost it and started griping at them. It was pretty clear there was one (struggling) chef in the kitchen, and they gave importance to delivery orders to their dine-in customers. One tip for Munchies – if you’re going to make your customers wait 45 minutes for their food (!!!!!), give them complimentary fries to snack on whilst they wait. 

Well, at least the food was freakin’ brilliant. I zeroed in on the Chilli Cheese Dog and french fries. There’s no way I would resist a hot dog smothered in cheese… mmmm… Munchies really lived up to it – the hot dog bun was soft and not soggy (it was the ones you buy in a bag at the supermarket, not a fresh roll, but I like it that way!), and the sausage was very tasty (it wasn’t a gourmet-style German sausage or anything, but it was nice and fat and juicy). I loved the generous helping of cheese on top, and best of all, the scoop of chilli meat sauce that was encased in the bun. Ahhhhhh it was luscious! It made the whole hot dog really moist and juicy, and so tasty. It was an average size, and didn’t fill me, but at least it came with crinkle cut fries (my favourite kind) that I adored. Plus, they gave a pot of tomato sauce with my meal, without me even having to ask. 

My drink of choice was the Chocolate banana smoothie. I didn’t expect much since the place looked so small and pokey, but was so impressed with it. Served in a decent-sized glass (can’t stand it when restaurants serve milkshakes in small little glasses), the chocolate and banana mix was creamy and luscious. Best of all, I tasted lots of vanilla ice cream whipped in, and it wasn’t icy at all. So so so creamy and satisfying!

Overall, apart from the ridiculous wait, the food at Munchies really hit the spot. Their menu is downright unhealthy, but it’s an awesome place for non-dieting foodies to pig out and chow down on American diner-style food. Will definitely be back!

Chilli Cheese Dog and french fries – outstanding. Would get this again any day

Quesadilla – I didn’t try this, but it looked good!

New Orleans Cajun Po’ Boy – I ate some of the deep-fried crumbed shrimp
(so tasty and spicy!) and all the fries, because the fries were downright awesome.

My Chocolate Banana smoothie (left) – absolutely delicious, one of the nicest
milkshakes I’ve had in Shanghai. Ranks right up there with Carls Jr’ oreo milkshake.

OK absolutely random, but I LOVE Honeymoon Desserts! Their black sesame + sweet tofu
pudding combo is outstanding.. never thought I’d like that kinda food but yummm…