When it comes to finding the best places to score freebies in Shanghai, Sam’s Club is an absolute must-visit destination. With dozens of stalls offering a wide variety of mouth-watering samples, you can easily fill up your stomach by simply making a round.
From tomahawk steaks and spicy lobster tails to generous portions of salmon, there’s no shortage of meat, alcohol, and staples to indulge in, along with some hidden surprises!
Believe it or not, the cost-effectiveness of sampling at a supermarket surpasses even that of a buffet. These two supermarkets are the go-to spots when hunger strikes:
Sam’s Club has always been renowned in the world of food sampling, boasting a wide range of options and generous portions that are sure to leave you satisfied. With six (soon to be seven) Sam’s Club locations in Shanghai, you’re in luck if you’re looking to embark on a sampling adventure!
To locate the sampling stalls at Sam’s Club, you’ll need to learn to follow the sound.
The standard setup at Sam’s Club sampling stalls includes a mobile “little bee” speaker. The food section is extensive, with almost every category featuring one or two sampling stalls. If you’re having trouble finding them, simply stop and listen for the sound of the little bee speaker, as it indicates the presence of a sampling stall nearby.
Sam’s Club Sampling Strategy 1
The golden hour for sampling is after 5 PM.
Sam’s Club offers an impressive array of samples, including:
- Beef Ribs
- Taro Pork Bones
- Durian Mille-Feuille
- Braised Prawns
- Tomahawk Steaks
To get your hands on these delectable treats, it’s best to visit after 4 or 5 PM. If you time your arrival just before the staff starts packing up, you might even be in for some “unexpected surprises”!
Sam’s Club Sampling Strategy 2
Classic items – the mainstays of the sampling scene
Sam’s Club Chocolate Coffee Swiss Roll
It’s no secret that many people have become Sam’s Club regulars solely for the Swiss rolls. As soon as the staff sets up the sampling stall, a crowd immediately gathers around, eagerly awaiting a taste of this star item. The Swiss roll even has a chocolate ice cream-like texture upon biting into it.
KITKAT Choco Wafer Half Sugar Dark Chocolate
I was pleasantly surprised to find the KITKAT half-sugar dark chocolate that I always repurchase at Sam’s Club. The chocolate has a slight bitterness without being overly sweet, and the wafer texture is crisp and crunchy, making it a perfect snack to curb your hunger.
Sam’s Club Sampling Strategy 3
New product samples
Sanhaijing Grilled Squid Threads
The enticing aroma of grilled squid can be detected from afar. This new product from Sanhaijing comes in two flavors: original and butter, both available for sampling. Unlike the typically moist texture of squid threads, these have a slightly firm bite at first but become increasingly flavorful as you chew.
Blood Orange Chia Seed Juice Tea Drink
As a juice enthusiast, I was thoroughly impressed by the taste of this blood orange chia seed juice. If you find Sam’s Club’s other star item, the lime juice, too sour for your liking, give this one a try instead!
Pulmuone Traditional Korean Cold Buckwheat Noodles
It’s the perfect time to indulge in cold noodles, and this generous serving is truly satisfying! The buckwheat noodles are accompanied by slices of raw beef, topped with radish kimchi, and then drenched in cold noodle broth, creating the exact flavor profile I adore in cold noodles.
Tsingtao No.1 Factory Draft Beer
Sam’s Club seems to be a paradise for alcohol lovers, as you can even sample beer! The staff made sure to ask if I had driven there before handing me the sample cup. The chilled beer has a refreshing taste without the usual bitterness, and if you pay close attention, you might even detect a hint of malt aroma.
Hakutsuru Junmai Daiginjo Sake
It appears that all the alcohol counters at Sam’s Club offer samples. The Junmai Daiginjo sake has a subtle fruity and rice aroma upon sipping, but don’t underestimate this small cup—it quickly warms up your stomach.
Sam’s Club Sampling Strategy 4
Seasonal fruits
Cream Watermelon
The value of the fruit sampling area at Sam’s Club is truly unparalleled! They frequently offer samples of mangoes, blueberries, durians, and cherries.
This time, I was lucky enough to taste the summer’s bountiful watermelon right from the start. The chilled, sweet watermelon was so delightful that my eyes lit up, and I couldn’t resist the temptation to grab another piece after finishing the first one…
Organic Whole Lotus Seeds
After boiling the organic white lotus seeds, pour them into a steaming cup and add a touch of rock sugar. The result is an incredibly soft, sweet, and gentle treat that soothes the stomach. If you add some white fungus, the texture becomes even more heavenly!
Store Information
【Sam’s Club (Gaoke West Road Store)】
📍 2110 Gaoke West Road （Multiple other locations available）
⏰ 8:00-22:00
As another large-scale membership-based supermarket, COSTCO in Pudong boasts just as many food sampling stalls as Sam’s Club. If you visit around 3 PM, you’ll find an incredibly diverse range of offerings!
We went to COSTCO in Pudong, and the sheer size of the place is truly impressive! From the moment we entered, we couldn’t help but marvel at the numerous sampling stalls. After making a rough count while walking from one end to the other, we estimated that there were over 20 stalls, each with a queue of eager customers.
COSTCO Sampling Strategy 1
Meat samples galore
American Ribeye Steak
This stall undoubtedly had the longest queue in the entire COSTCO. The sizzling sound of steaks being grilled on the iron plate at the front was accompanied by a line of customers waiting to experience this particular cut of beef. The visible marbling suggested that it would taste delicious no matter how it was cooked!
Spicy Crayfish
The sight of several long lines forming indicated that another sampling stall was showcasing a “main attraction”: the eternal protagonist of summer night markets—spicy crayfish. The crayfish were large, fresh, and flavorful, and the staff at the sampling stall even thoughtfully peeled them for customers, allowing them to enjoy the crayfish in just one bite. Satisfying indeed!
Salt and Pepper Chicken, Hot Dog Sticks, Bacon Slices
In a small area, there were surprisingly three meat sampling stalls. Walking from one end to the other, it was impossible to hold all the sample plates in both hands.
SPAM Luncheon Meat
The luncheon meat samples were even served with a small piece of bread, alleviating any concerns about the meat being too salty on its own. These small details at the sampling stall truly impressed me.
COSTCO Sampling Strategy 2
Snacks are the best “appetizers”
Yakiniku Daijin Beef Jerky
The staff called us over to try the beef jerky from a considerable distance away, cutting a large piece into the sample cup. It had the same flavor as the satay beef jerky I used to eat as a child, with a slightly sweet taste and a hint of curry.
Garlic Flavored Green Peas
Another snack to add to your binge-watching list! These garlic-flavored green peas can be ranked among my top 4 binge-watching snacks, alongside crab roe sunflower seeds, five-spice broad beans, and drunken peanuts. The garlic aroma is incredibly strong.
Beryl’s Mixed Nuts with Dark Chocolate
Who understands the happiness of combining chocolate and nuts? Whole nuts are coated in a layer of dark chocolate and then rolled in cocoa powder, resulting in a rich and varied texture thanks to the soft chocolate and crunchy nuts.
Wudao Greek Yogurt
Two words to describe this yogurt: silky smooth. It has the creamy texture of traditional Greek yogurt, and the fruit flavors are refreshing without being overly sweet. It’s an excellent choice for making yogurt bowls.
Old Beijing Zhajiang Noodles
Supermarket sampling secret: go where the crowds are! If there’s a long queue in front of a stall, the product is bound to be good. Everyone was lining up for these Old Beijing Zhajiang noodles, and at a glance, the pot was filled with ample ingredients: cucumber strips, carrots, bean sprouts, and noodles coated in a thick sesame sauce. It looked authentic!
Cheese Cup Noodles
The sample cups were distributed one per person at the stall, and before the soup had a chance to cool slightly, they were all gone. It’s undeniable that Koreans put a lot of effort into making instant noodles.
The aroma of freshly cooked noodles could be smelled from afar, the noodles were chewy and elastic, and the scent of cheese was overwhelming. It made me, someone who doesn’t usually enjoy instant noodles, drink every last drop of the broth.
Wang Dumplings
Just as the taste of cheese ramen lingered in my mouth, I spotted the sampling stall for Bibigo Wang Dumplings. The dumplings were large, with plump fillings and ample broth. Although they were Korean dumplings, the flavor was quite compatible with Chinese tastes.
Store Information
【COSTCO (Pudong Store)】
📍 5178 Kangxin Highway （Multiple other locations available）
⏰ 9:00-21:00
