Ain’t nobody going all the way to Shanghai and not eating their fill of XiaoLongBao! Leave your good old Din Tai Fung at home and check out these no frills, no gimmicks and certainly no service soup dumpling joints that even the locals love.
Jia Jia Tang Bao – the dumpling worth queuing for
Ask any local where to go for soup dumplings and they’ll tell you that Jia Jia Tang Bao is the place to visit. Despite having 5 outlets scattered throughout Shanghai, their made-to-order XiaoLongBaos always draw a crowd of hungry locals and travellers. Their menu is short and sweet, featuring 7 different variations with everything from classic pork soup dumplings to buttery crab roe XiaoLongBao.
Jia Jia’s dumplings can only be described as heavenly. Each steamer consisting of 12 dumplings is made fresh to order and served piping hot with a thin layer of skin wrapped around fresh pork saturated in a rich, fragrant broth.
PRO TIP: You’re only allowed to order once, so make it count! Also Jia Jia’s dumplings tend to run out by late afternoon, so get there early. Otherwise, it’s you snooze you lose!
Fu Chun – the most satisfying dumplings
Fu Chun is the real deal when it comes to traditional XiaoLongBao. With fatty minced pork cocooned in a savoury wrapper and a dash of rich broth, these dumplings are the ones that local Shanghainese grew up with.
The thickness and meatiness of the dumplings may be surprising to visitors who are used to more delicate XiaoLongBaos. But if you love your flavours bold and tasty, Fu Chun’s spin on soup dumplings are definitely worth trying. For the real cherry on top, drink up the dumpling soup before dipping it into some chilli oil for that extra kick.
Whereas Jia Jia’s dumplings feel like a delightful snack, a steamer of Fu Chun’s dumplings make for one delicious and satisfying meal. You’re guaranteed to leave gripping your belly!
Lin Long Fang – the hole in the wall dumplings
Easily one of Shanghai’s best kept secrets, Lin Long Fang is the spot to hit up if you’re searching for delicious XLBs but don’t have the patience for long lines. Run by the same people behind Jia Jia’s, Lin Long Fang is so well hidden that you’ll most definitely miss it if you’re not paying attention.
Their classic pork XiaoLongBao is slightly meatier and their broth veers on the sweeter side, but most people will tell you that these are some of the best dumplings they’ve had in their lives. An exaggeration? Only you can tell.
Other standouts include their egg yolk dumplings, which is a curious blend of creamy, umami goodness. While you’re at it, check out their noodles menu which their customers also rave about. Their scallion oil noodles is so aromatic that you can’t not ordering a bowl for yourself.
Pro tip: It may be easier to get a seat here than it is at Jia Jia’s or Fu Chun’s but a line starts to build around midday when the locals come around for lunch. Either get here earlier or later to grab yourself a table!