Spanish | El Willy

The seared foie gras (¥85) tapas seems like an afterthought alongside El Willy’s more flamboyant options like the scallop ceviche and octopus and almond ice cream, but they’re not. Thick chunks of foie gras are seared to develop a slightly crispy crust, while the inside remains meltingly rich and decadently fatty. The hot foie gras sits atop a sweet compote of candied kumquat, a bit of lime, and the whole thing is finished off with a sprinkle of popcorn bits. Foie gras is always a luxury, but Willy transforms it into comfort food with his fruit pairing.

Find it: 20 Donghu Lu 东湖路20号, Tel: 5404-5757

French | Mr and Mrs Bund

Paul Pairet is known for his creative French cuisine, and his interpretation of foie gras is no exception. In addition to the regular seared foie gras, Mr and Mrs Bund serves an addictive foie gras crumble (¥90) that contains shards of solidified balsamic vinegar, hazelnut and bread atop a layer of apple jelly and a mousse of truffle-scented foie gras. The whole thing is a flavor trip with sweet, savory and tangy bits sounding off against the rich, sinfully creamy flavor of the lightly whipped foie gras.

Find it: 6/F, Bund 18, 18 Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu 中山东一路18号6楼, Tel: 6323-9898

European | Jing’an Restaurant

If you consider yourself the ultimate foie gras adventurer, you have try a foie gras and beef burger just for the sake of tasting pure, opulent insanity. Test your arteries with Jing’an Restaurant’s luxury burger (¥180): a hand-chopped beef patty topped with a generous slice of seared foie gras, a bit of truffle and smooshed with cheese between two grillmarked burger buns. The beef is juicy with a consistent texture, while the creamy foie gras quivers temptingly on the seared meat. Expect a mouthgasm.

Find it: 1 Changde Lu, The PuLi Hotel and Spa 常德路1号璞丽酒店, Tel: 3203-9999

-- Joanne Yao