Why One Traveler Chose Yin Studio After Comparing Shanghai Cooking Schools

Cooking Chinese Cuisine At Yin Studio In Shanghai

What Our Guest Said

"Even before booking, the variety of dishes on the menu stood out for me. We cooked 4 out of a menu of over 20; all other classes I found focus on one or two dishes and offer a very short selection, if any at all."

"The class was very relaxed, Yin was very patient and her explanations in English were clear and practical."

— Tripadvisor Review, April 2026

Many travelers compare several cooking schools before making a decision.

One of our recent guests certainly did.

Originally from Argentina and now living in the United States, he came to Shanghai hoping to better understand Chinese culture through food. Before booking, he researched multiple cooking schools, including recommendations from a Chinese friend living in Shanghai.

After comparing prices, reviews, menus, and photos, he chose Yin Studio.

When we later asked what made the difference, his answer was interesting.

The first reason was menu variety.

Many cooking classes offer only one or two dishes. He wanted the flexibility to choose from a much larger selection and build a menu that matched his interests.

Taste 4 Chinese dishes cooked at Yin Studio in Shanghai

The second reason was atmosphere.

Looking through photos online, he felt that Yin Studio looked less like a commercial cooking school and more like a place where people gather to experience Chinese culture through food.

And that turned out to be exactly what happened.

During the class, we cooked together, but we also talked about much more than food.

As someone who grew up in Argentina and later moved to the United States, he was curious about life in China. Our conversations ranged from local culture and daily life to food traditions and the differences between our countries.

For us, these conversations are often just as meaningful as the cooking itself.

Food has a way of bringing people together.

At the end of the class, we asked him the same question we ask many guests:

"If you had to choose one favorite dish from today, which would it be?"

It wasn't an easy decision.

He enjoyed every dish we prepared together.

But eventually he smiled and chose a winner:

Sweet and Sour Spare Ribs (糖醋排骨).

Favorite Chinese dish chosen：sweet and sour ribs

Among all the dishes on the table, it was the one he would remember most.

Looking back, what stands out about this experience isn't only the cooking.

It's the fact that he took the time to compare different options, think carefully about what kind of experience he wanted, and ultimately found exactly what he was looking for—not just recipes, but a deeper connection to Chinese culture.