Feral Xiaoye (Feral小野) is a Vietnamese restaurant on Yuyuan Road, serving legitimately authentic banh mi plus pho, spring rolls, and more from its permanent home.
Founded by Nina, from China's Guangxi province near the Vietnam border, Feral began as a roving — and gloriously illicit — street cart, a spirit baked right into its mission to bring real banh mi and fun to Shanghai. The key lies in the bread: a custom-made baguette, crusty and brittle outside, airy and springy within. It is the perfect textural counterpoint for the fillings, and Feral has it locked down, sourcing their bread from a Vietnamese supplier in China. The menu goes well beyond sandwiches, too. The Hanoi-Style Pho with Beef Slices is a standout.
It shares the space with Twelve Nautical Miles Cafe and Tap Room, a large common dining area that's kind of like a cross between college cafe and diner. It also has a spacious dog-friendly deck with outdoor seating.
