The Best Xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) in Shanghai
Aug 10th, 2009, 07:06 AM
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The Best Xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) in Shanghai
We spent last Saturday traveling around Shanghai in search of the best Xiaolongbao and Tangobao. Here is our review. For pictures of the dumplings at each restaurant visit www.sethliz.typepad.com
Please reply to this post with your favorite Shanghai dumpling joints.
Jia Jia Tang Bao (Go early. They sell out by 1:00)
90 Huanghe Lu by Feng Yang Lu (around the corner from the Park Hotel)
This place specializes in serving Xiaolongbao hot and fresh. They prepare them after you order, right before your eyes. The dough is perfect, thin and translucent, not gummy and not too tough. The bags are perfectly shaped teardrops, each one pinched lightly at the top. In addition to pork, this place also serves crab and shrimp dumplings. We tried a crab-pork mix and found that while delicious the crab absorbed the soup and left the dumpling a little hollow.
<u>Shanghai Ren Jia</u>
Jing'an Temple Area 1600 Nanjing Lu near Changde Lu
Shanghai Ren Jia was one of two places we found serving Tang Bao. Our giant Tang Bao were filled with warm soup swimming with bits of pork. The dumpling dough was tough and thick. Like a bread bowl, it seemed the dough functioned just as housing for the soup and was not worth eating. We had a great time drinking them through straws but they are definitely not as delicious as Xiaolongbao. They reminded us of fair food, novel, but impossible to eat regularly. Asking for Tang Bao in Shanghai is akin to asking where to buy funnel cake or elephant ears in the US. We've all eaten them but who knows where to find one?
Din Tai Fung
2F unit 11A South block Xintiandi
These were the best Xiaolongbao we tasted. However, they are ten times the price of Jia Jia Tang Bao's and only marginally better. The soup is rich and delicious. The bags are translucent and pinched perfectly at the top. The bags are so delicate, you must pick them up carefully. A false move and you'll pierce them with a chopstick, popping the bag and causing the hot soup to explode. This would be a fun place to bring a bunch of people and sample all the dumplings on the menu.
Yu Yuan
At this famous tourist destination, you can find both Tang Bao and Xiaolongbao. Many stalls sell Tang Bao, which were not served fresh. We found the dough dry and waxy and the soup oily and lukewarm. Shanghai Ren Jia's were much better.
The Xiaolongbao stall across from the giant water fountain is the most famous in Shanghai. You can't miss it. Look for the hour long line, crammed with Chinese tourists. Local Shanghainese are not impressed with this place and, after taking one nibble, we learned why. They're awful: thick, gooey, and bland. On the other hand, it's a real treat watching their operation in action!
Wang Jia Sha
Corner of NanjingXi Lu and Shimen Lu
Wag Jia Sha is a food court with mediocre dumplings. It is worth a stop if you're nearby but not worth a detour. The soup was tasty but a bit oily and the dumpling skin too robust.
[Insert Your Local Dumpling Joint Here]
Xiaolongbao joints are scattered all around Shanghai. These stands are not known for quality control. In any given order you will find fantastic Xiaolongbao on par with Jia Jia Tang Bao side by side with so-so dumplings. Our neighborhood joint is on the corner of Gongyuan Rd. and Tianping Rd.
Please reply to this post with your favorite Shanghai dumpling joints.
Jia Jia Tang Bao (Go early. They sell out by 1:00)
90 Huanghe Lu by Feng Yang Lu (around the corner from the Park Hotel)
This place specializes in serving Xiaolongbao hot and fresh. They prepare them after you order, right before your eyes. The dough is perfect, thin and translucent, not gummy and not too tough. The bags are perfectly shaped teardrops, each one pinched lightly at the top. In addition to pork, this place also serves crab and shrimp dumplings. We tried a crab-pork mix and found that while delicious the crab absorbed the soup and left the dumpling a little hollow.
<u>Shanghai Ren Jia</u>
Jing'an Temple Area 1600 Nanjing Lu near Changde Lu
Shanghai Ren Jia was one of two places we found serving Tang Bao. Our giant Tang Bao were filled with warm soup swimming with bits of pork. The dumpling dough was tough and thick. Like a bread bowl, it seemed the dough functioned just as housing for the soup and was not worth eating. We had a great time drinking them through straws but they are definitely not as delicious as Xiaolongbao. They reminded us of fair food, novel, but impossible to eat regularly. Asking for Tang Bao in Shanghai is akin to asking where to buy funnel cake or elephant ears in the US. We've all eaten them but who knows where to find one?
Din Tai Fung
2F unit 11A South block Xintiandi
These were the best Xiaolongbao we tasted. However, they are ten times the price of Jia Jia Tang Bao's and only marginally better. The soup is rich and delicious. The bags are translucent and pinched perfectly at the top. The bags are so delicate, you must pick them up carefully. A false move and you'll pierce them with a chopstick, popping the bag and causing the hot soup to explode. This would be a fun place to bring a bunch of people and sample all the dumplings on the menu.
Yu Yuan
At this famous tourist destination, you can find both Tang Bao and Xiaolongbao. Many stalls sell Tang Bao, which were not served fresh. We found the dough dry and waxy and the soup oily and lukewarm. Shanghai Ren Jia's were much better.
The Xiaolongbao stall across from the giant water fountain is the most famous in Shanghai. You can't miss it. Look for the hour long line, crammed with Chinese tourists. Local Shanghainese are not impressed with this place and, after taking one nibble, we learned why. They're awful: thick, gooey, and bland. On the other hand, it's a real treat watching their operation in action!
Wang Jia Sha
Corner of NanjingXi Lu and Shimen Lu
Wag Jia Sha is a food court with mediocre dumplings. It is worth a stop if you're nearby but not worth a detour. The soup was tasty but a bit oily and the dumpling skin too robust.
[Insert Your Local Dumpling Joint Here]
Xiaolongbao joints are scattered all around Shanghai. These stands are not known for quality control. In any given order you will find fantastic Xiaolongbao on par with Jia Jia Tang Bao side by side with so-so dumplings. Our neighborhood joint is on the corner of Gongyuan Rd. and Tianping Rd.
Aug 11th, 2009, 07:00 AM
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Thank you! Perfect timing as we leave next week and I've been taking notes to find the dumpling joints.
Is it a point-to-order menu at Jia Jia Tang Bao? I've read that Din Tai Fong's menu is and that will be easy for us since we don't speak mandarin. (Not easy to decide which ones as they all sounds delicious!)
Is it a point-to-order menu at Jia Jia Tang Bao? I've read that Din Tai Fong's menu is and that will be easy for us since we don't speak mandarin. (Not easy to decide which ones as they all sounds delicious!)
Aug 11th, 2009, 03:29 PM
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There is a point and order menu at Jia Jia Tang Bao. It is rather strange. The menu is a few hand written scribbles in a disorganized notebook. (we took a picture of it www.sethliz.typepad.com) The only menu items are seaweed soup and different types of xlb.
Does your guide book teach you the hand signals for counting from one to ten? The Chinese use one hand to count from one to ten. Getting those signals down is really helpful if you don't know mandarin. Especially if you are trying to communicate in a crowded restaurant.
Does your guide book teach you the hand signals for counting from one to ten? The Chinese use one hand to count from one to ten. Getting those signals down is really helpful if you don't know mandarin. Especially if you are trying to communicate in a crowded restaurant.
Aug 11th, 2009, 03:42 PM
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My mouth is watering already.
There's actually a Din Tai Fung on the outskirts of Los Angeles. One of my absolute favorite places to go to.
I was considering doing part of our last LA GTG there, but figured folks wouldn't be interested in the commute to get there.
There's actually a Din Tai Fung on the outskirts of Los Angeles. One of my absolute favorite places to go to.
I was considering doing part of our last LA GTG there, but figured folks wouldn't be interested in the commute to get there.
Aug 11th, 2009, 04:31 PM
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DTF in Shanghai is amazing. Wonderful dumplings and lots of other good food. You have to go. Although they may be more expensive than Jia Jia Tang, the cost is still nominal. Very inexpensive to eat at DTF in any case.
Hey Bill...DTF outside LA is good but you've got to go to the one in Shanghai...the comparison is not even close. Yummmm.
Hey Bill...DTF outside LA is good but you've got to go to the one in Shanghai...the comparison is not even close. Yummmm.
Aug 11th, 2009, 04:40 PM
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Aug 11th, 2009, 04:50 PM
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Or, is it this way:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GD77s...eature=related
They were similar until 6-10
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GD77s...eature=related
They were similar until 6-10
If eight looks like a gun and nine a hook, then its right.
Aug 11th, 2009, 08:02 PM
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hmm. I'll stick them on our website later tonight. Ten is a little confusing. It is both a balled fist and a two fingered x. At first, we thought people were telling us 'no'. Then we realized they were asking us for 10rmb.
