Head-to-Head · Shanghai
1515 West Chophouse vs Hakkasan
Two Shanghai classics: 1515 West Chophouse for a dry-aged steak night, Hakkasan for Bund-view Cantonese — book Hakkasan to impress.
The Verdict
1515 West Chophouse is the steak room. The chophouse and bar at the Jing An Shangri-La pairs an Old Shanghai film-set interior with a classic American grill, a dry-aging programme and prime USDA cuts at the centre of the plate. It has held a Michelin Selected listing for eight consecutive years, and it scores 9.0 for food, 9.1 for the room and 7.7 for value.
Hakkasan is the Bund landmark. Inside Bund 18 on the fifth floor, the Shanghai outpost of Alan Yau's original London concept serves modern Cantonese, dim sum and a famous bar list in a low-lit, design-led room with river views. It sits in the Michelin Guide, and it scores 8.8 for food, 9.2 for the room and 8.0 for value. 1515 is the steak-and-bourbon evening; Hakkasan is the see-and-be-seen Cantonese night.
Scores, Side by Side
| Score | 1515 West Chophouse | Hakkasan |
|---|---|---|
| Food | 9.0 / 10 | 8.8 / 10 |
| Atmosphere | 9.1 / 10 | 9.2 / 10 |
| Value | 7.7 / 10 | 8.0 / 10 |
Which One for Which Occasion
| Occasion | Editorial Pick |
|---|---|
| Close a deal | 1515 West ChophouseA proper steak room and a dry-aging programme read as serious across a business dinner. |
| Impress a date or guest | HakkasanBund 18 river views and a design-led room do the heavy lifting on a night out. |
| Group dinner | HakkasanShareable Cantonese and dim sum suit a table of mixed appetites. |
| Steak purist | 1515 West ChophousePrime USDA cuts and a real grill, done the American way. |
| Special-occasion cocktails | HakkasanThe bar and the room are built for a celebration with a view. |
Price Comparison
Both are a la carte rather than tasting menus. 1515 West Chophouse prices by the cut, with dry-aged and prime USDA steaks carrying the bill, plus a deep bar. Hakkasan ranges from affordable dim sum into pricier signature dishes and set menus, with a cocktail list that adds up quickly. Neither holds a Michelin star: 1515 is a long-running Michelin Selected room and Hakkasan is a Guide listing. Weigh them against the wider field in our best steakhouse restaurants worldwide guide and the best Chinese restaurants guide.
How to Book
Neither is a hard table by Shanghai standards. 1515 West Chophouse takes direct hotel reservations and a midweek booking is usually simple; Hakkasan books direct and through dining platforms, with weekend prime-time and Bund-view seats the first to go. For a big group or a window table, plan a week or two ahead, and start the wider map from the Shanghai dining guide.
For occasion fit beyond this pairing, weigh them against our guides to the best rooms to impress clients and the best first-date restaurants. For more Shanghai match-ups see 1515 West Chophouse vs Morton's and Taian Table vs Otto e Mezzo, and browse the full set on the compare index.