High Praise

When you name a restaurant after the substance-induced urge to eat everything that isn't nailed down, you set the bar pretty high. As is customary before entering any Western-style restaurant in Shanghai, we said a prayer and braced for disappointment. Shuffling past the tie-dyed wait staff and doing our best to tune out the jam band music, our eyes were immediately drawn to the menu's Cincinnati-style chili. A rare site in America, downright odd in China, the cocoa chili served was surprisingly authentic and packed a nice kick. We went for the five-way special (YY32) with cheese, beans and onions. Eat it with mustard (trust us). The chicken soft tacos (YY34) were another winner. Nothing fancy: a little seasoned meat, some salsa, sour cream, shredded lettuce and grated cheese. Just simple well-made tacos, much appreciated and something of a rarity in the local culinary world. For the hell of it, we ordered a side of potato salad (YY12), which though good, was still potato salad. Add a Cosmic Charlie fruit smoothie (YY18) and you've got a delicious meal for about YY50 per person. We can't wait to come back to try the hot dogs (YY26-30) and the Cajun Po'boy (YY42). Munchies has taken the bar and raised it "higher." --Derek Sandhaus