If you’ve lived in Shanghai – or China for that matter – for more than five minutes, you’ve heard of blue frog.

It’s one of the original Western restaurants that made it in the PRC, first opening its doors right here in good ‘ol Shangers in 2002.

And “made it” is the understatement of the year, as the venue has since expanded to a whopping 88 locations across 23 cities in China. 

Entering its 21st year in the China market, blue frog still remains a modern American grill institution – no easy feat in today's constantly evolving F&B industry.

How do they do it? By constantly updating the menu with relevant tastes and trends to fit consumer’s wants.

The most recent menu overhaul saw 27 new dishes (accounting for nearly half of the total offerings – their biggest revamp in five years) including a smattering of seafood, fusion, and Korean and Chinese influences to appeal to a wider palate. 

Let’s take a look at some of these new items, plus a few of the classics…

Ideal for sharing, the blue frog Charcuterie Board (RMB138) spans everything from truffle salami, Parma ham, Italian cured beef, Mexican grilled sausages, and cheese-stuffed sausages to feta cheese, cantaloupe, olives, pickles and cherry tomatoes, aa well as toasted baguette to load it all up on.

Tuck into one of these boards, coupled with some daily happy hour drinks, and your day-into-night plans cannot go wrong. 

blue frog New Signature Snack Platter (RMB128)

Onto some more substantial apps; the Mexican Flavored Chicken Quesadilla (RMB58) are traditional pan-fried tortillas filled with grilled chicken, bell peppers and mozzarella cheese. Served with a trio of sauces – homemade tomato salsa, guacamole, and sour cream – you can mix and match any and all flavor combinations. 

A must-order dish at any Western venue to gauge authenticity, the blue frog Spicy Chicken Wings (RMB78) live up to the hype. Six flats – the more expensive and prized of the two wing parts – are tender and succulent, encased in a heavily-spiced crackly cajun-style crust made from a secret blend of spices. Deep-fried to perfection, the wings are served with ketchup – a bit of a downer, as we were hoping for ranch or blue cheese – and crisp celery sticks. 

Mildly sweet and sour, the Beef Goulash Soup (RMB42) is simmered with generous chunks of beef, tomatoes, red chilis, and assorted seasonal veggies, a satisfying and healthy meal, regardless of the time of day. 

On the other side of the spectrum, the Asian-style Shrimp Corn Chowder (RMB48) hugs the line of dessert – a treacly corn chowder laden with velvety coconut cream, adorned with springy shrimp and fresh herbs.

Grilled Halibut and Prawn Miso Multi-Grain Rice (RMB118)

The vegetable-forward offerings are equally robust, with the Pecan and Mixed Berry Quinoa Salad (RMB78) – mixed lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, marinated chickpeas, roasted pumpkin, quinoa, strawberries, blueberries, pecans, all drizzled in honey and vinegar dressing…

… and the Asian-style House Salad with Grilled Beef Steak (RMB128) – grilled oyster blade atop a bed of mixed greens, bean sprouts, cherry tomatoes and roasted pumpkin.

Onto the (actual) meat and potatoes of the meal offerings; the Sichuan-inspired Thick-Cut Bacon and Dried Tangerine Peel Beef Burger (RMB108) sees a thick-cut slab of seared bacon, a juicy burger patty, and preserved orange peel and ground beef sauce, all topped with charred spicy peppers, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles and dried Sichuan chili flakes. Clocking in at a behemoth of 500-grams, this is for those who are hulking, bulking, and everything in between.

Swapping out the traditional beef patty for slices of aged ribeye steak, the Ribeye Steak Burger (RMB128) ensures a mouthful of beef in every bite, enhanced by julienned bell peppers, pickles, lettuce, fried onion crisps, arugula, and a thick slathering of smoked aioli, all piled high on a blue frog branded brioche bun, and served with French fries. 

Grain-fed Char-Grilled Sirloin (RMB238)

blue frog also serves up some mighty grilled mixed platter mains, perfect for larger groups looking to sample – well – everything. There’s the 1KG Grilled Festival Platter (RMB308) with M3 oyster blade, BBQ ribs, Korean style fried chicken tight, grilled calamari, sausage, prawns, roasted veggies and sauces. The blue frog Mixed Grill Platter (RMB198) – a meat lover’s feast of grilled lamb chops, sausage, and BBQ pork ribs served with roasted baby potatoes and assorted vegetables.

And – our personal favorite (pictured above) – the blue frog Grilled Seafood Festival Platter (RMB388), comprised of 1,100 grams of grilled Caribbean-style halibut, mussels, calamari and king prawns, paired with grilled asparagus, roasted potatoes and corn. Summer drink specials are also a must, with an epic seven sippers to choose from – three of which are mocktails. 

Dessert in a glass is really the only way to describe the Summer Fantasy (RMB65) – a non-alcoholic drink that will have you daydreaming about it long after your cup is dry. Blue curacao syrup is blended with coconut milk, pineapple, and honey, while a heaving sphere of vanilla ice cream decorated with seasonal berries and passion fruit melts slowly on top, adding an extra hit of decadent creaminess.  

The Strawberry Cold Brewed Jasmine Green Tea (RMB45) is also available with cold brew Arabica coffee, an aromatic balance of sweet and earthiness. 

And for those looking to throw a few back after a long day’s work, the blue frog Signature Mojito (RMB65) and the Sangria (RMB58) – available in red or white, are refreshing options. 

But wait, it gets even better…

Weekly Deal Details 
 

Nearly every day of the week sports its own special at blue frog, including some daily deals that are not to be missed:

• Burger Burger Mondays: Every Monday from 4pm to close, buy one burger and a drink, and receive a second burger and a drink (of equal or lower value) for free! (Excluding mini and seasonal burgers)
• Pasta Pasta Tuesdays: Every Tuesday from 4pm to close (until the end of August), buy one pasta and a drink, and receive a second pasta and a drink (of equal or lower value) for free! (Excluding mini and seasonal pastas)
• Steak Out Wednesday: Every Wednesday from 4pm to close, all Grilled Grain-fed Steaks Set Menus are just RMB218 (including a 230-gram Ribeye or Sirloin steak plus a soup or salad and a drink). Enjoy that same set with fresh (never frozen) grilled grain-fed steaks for just RMB248.
• Thirsty Thursday: Every Thursday from 8pm to close, enjoy free flow long island ice tea, G&T, red wine, Budweiser, passion fruit mojito, Stella draft beer, virgin pina colada, virgin mojito, and your choice of French fries or fried chicken for just RMB118 per person.
• Everyday Happy Hour: Every single day of the week, from 4-8pm, selected cocktails (like long island ice tea, G&T, mojito, negroni, Singapore sling, Moscow mule, and more!) beer, wine, spirits, soft drinks and fruit tea are all buy-one-get-one-free.