Originally Posted by
mosburger
As for prime quality rice and other ingredients, I'd think only the various Communist Party canteens can guarantee top produce being used. They have their own, organic and tightly controlled (quality wise) contract farms that deliver only the best China can offer.
Sorry I can't agree with you on this. I'm not talking about prime quality rice in the first place; just Japanese rice cooked to the right consistency.
Shanghai is the city where the most number of overseas Japanese live after LA, so there's really no excuse for there not being a market to buy this with economies of scale.
Even Coco, the curry rice chain restaurant, serves rice cooked better in Shanghai than Irodori.
I'd go to Changning district for the best Jp food here. Competition there is rife and if you don't do a good job nobody comes back.