Tan Shiye, chef of T'ang Court. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Among the 26 restaurants that earned stars, 19 are Chinese restaurants. The others serve Italian or French cuisine as well as innovative, vegetarian or barbecued foods.

T'ang Court, which serves Cantonese food at The Langham hotel in the Xintiandi area, is the only one awarded three stars in the Shanghai guide, meaning it serves "exceptional cuisine" and is "worth a special journey".

Tan Shiye, chef of T'ang Court, described his reaction as "overwhelmed" after receiving the "unexpected" award at Wednesday's release ceremony. The cook from Guangdong province said that keeping the original flavor of the ingredients is what helps his restaurant standout.