As one of the most bustling stations on metro Line 1, Pengpu Xincun Station in Zhabei district carries hundreds of thousands of commuters from the city's northern suburbs downtown every day.

The station was put into use at the end of 2004 as part of the north-south line extension of the original metro Line 1 to facilitate an ever growing number of residents in Zhabei and Baoshan districts.

Many small eateries are dotted near the Pengpu Xincun Station. Photo: Yang Zhenqi/GT

Yet, the sharp increase in passengers using the station has also contributed to a boom in businesses nearby. The eastern sections of two thoroughfares just north of the station, Wenxi Road and Linfen Road, have been turned into buzzing food and shopping streets. The Global Times recently took a stroll on these two busy roads and discovered a few hidden gems for local foodies.

A short walk from the station's Exit 1 leads to the entrance of Wenxi Road's eastern section, home to a slew of small eateries and food stalls. A must-try eat on this street is fried chicken.

There are a dozen or so food stands selling mouthwatering deep fried snacks ranging from chicken wings and legs to pork steaks and vegetables. The prices vary from 5 yuan ($0.81) to 10 yuan plus. Some of these stalls have been featured on Shanghai's local food television programs and thus have attracted a large fan base.

In the summer, hungry patrons also flock to the street for its barbecue. Many small eateries that line both sides of Wenxi Road set up outdoor barbecue grills and offer a variety of vegetables, meat and seafood.

Many small eateries are dotted near the Pengpu Xincun Station. Photo: Yang Zhenqi/GT

According to a number of restaurant owners on the street, business is surprisingly good around midnight when local residents finish their mahjong or karaoke sessions and go in search of late-night snacks. The most sought-after are barbecued pork, prawn, fish, scallops and oysters.

A fixture of the street is Maimaiti Red Rose Kaoshuaiguan (860 Wenxi Road, 5683-3034). This outlet of the chain restaurant has been serving its specialty, crayfish, in the neighborhood for years. Although a wide selection of spicy crayfish dishes are offered from around 40 yuan, the restaurant is actually more famous for its barbecued fare. The extensive barbecue menu covers everything from lamb skewers and chicken wings to grilled buns and scallions.

Next door is Big Pot Mutton Soup (840 Wenxi Road, 133-7023-3753). The small establishment opened last year and serves lamb hotpot. While lamb hotpot is generally considered a wintertime treat, there are some purported health benefits to consuming mutton during the sweltering summer days. According to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory, the human body is inclined to lose more energy in summer because of heat and dehydration. Mutton is believed to be "warm" by nature and have powerful yin energy. Consequently, eating lamb in summer can supposedly increase one's yin energy to achieve a more balanced life force.

The Big Pot joint now offers some basic mutton soups ranging from 12 yuan to 20 yuan along with other side dishes. A good accompaniment to the soup is noodles with various sauces.

Many small eateries are dotted near the Pengpu Xincun Station. Photo: Yang Zhenqi/GT

The business that draws the most customers on the street is Pangzi Feibing (820 Wenxi Road, 182-1748-1712), literally translated as "Fatty's Flying Pancakes." In a mere year or so, the eatery has grown from a mobile food stand into a street-front store which sells Indian-styled chapatis with a twist. A common staple in India, Pakistan and other South Asian countries, chapatti is an unleavened flatbread made of wheat flour, salt, oil and water, and can be served as an accompaniment to most meals.

At Pangzi Feibing, there are more than 10 kinds of chapatis with different fillings on offer. Chapatis with sesame (9 yuan), banana (10 yuan), bacon and egg (14 yuan), and durian (18 yuan) are among the most popular choices. To make a chapati, the baker throws wholemeal dough on a preheated skillet before adding oil to the dough. The lump of dough is then flattened and rolled out by hand. The baker also spins the dough in the air several times to stretch it flat.

The flatbread is stuffed with chosen ingredients and the top of the chapati is slathered with butter and sauces. Finally it is cut into several crispy rectangular pieces before being served.

Many small eateries are dotted near the Pengpu Xincun Station. Photo: Yang Zhenqi/GT

A few more minutes' walk north from Exit 1 of Pengpu Xincun Station is Linfen Road, which is dotted with a string of fashion boutiques. For gourmands, a rare treat on this street is Meet Fresh (859 Linfen Road, 5631-0583), a popular dessert chain from Taiwan which has opened more than 150 outlets on the Chinese mainland.

It serves a wide range of authentic Taiwanese drinks and desserts made from quality ingredients. The signature desserts on offer include chewy handmade taro balls (18 yuan), soft grass jelly (20 yuan) and delicate tofu puddings (15 yuan). Popular iced drinks include pearl milk tea (10 yuan) and fresh jasmine tea (7 yuan).