Shanghai Alley has just set up shop in Clairemont, offering a slice of Shanghai's street eats to the San Diego lunch crowd. This new joint has found its home within King Bistro's space, a hotspot known for all-you-can-eat Chinese skewers served once the sun sets. But, when the sun's high in the sky, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Shanghai Alley dishes out regional fast-casual favorites, as reported by Eater San Diego.

The menu's chalkboard conjures up visions of native Shanghai cafes, complete with a diverse selection of soups and dumplings. You've got pickled cabbage and shredded pork soup, small wontons in seaweed soup, and the heftier big wontons bobbing in bone soup. Don't forget the accouterments: tea eggs, pork chops, and braised chicken drumsticks are on offer, according to information on Yelp.

Co-owner Michael Zhao, alongside his mother-in-law, a Shanghainese transplant, saw a gap in San Diego's culinary scene and filled it with the comforting flavors of their homeland. After she spent a couple of years delivering eats for Hungry Panda and scouting the local food landscape, they took the plunge. "She worked as a food delivery driver for Hungry Panda for two years while scoping out the San Diego Chinese food scene," detailed Eater San Diego.

With King Bistro closing its doors come lunchtime, Zhao and his kin spotted their opportunity and seized it. They're betting on the universal appeal of a hearty midday meal to fill the lunch seats and plan to roll out dinner service in the future. With plans to expand the menu to include items like pork liver, there's more to come from this entrepreneurial family venture. Shanghai Alley is currently open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily, except Tuesdays, for those looking to get their fix of authentic Shanghainese eats, as noted in a statement obtained by Eater San Diego.