5 Types of Dumplings to Eat in Shanghai
When it comes to dumplings, it is hard to dislike delicate dough-based wrappers filled with meat and/or vegetables. Preparation includes methods such as fried, boiled or steamed and they can be served dry or in soup. No matter how they are cooked, we love dumplings in any form, which is why we have compiled a list of our five favorite varieties with places that are sure to WOW you with their versions.
Guotie
Source: Elaine.L_Latte
The most common English translation for guotie is potsticker, so named because the literal Chinese meaning is “pot stick.” This Northern-style dumpling has a chewy wrapper and is usually filled with pork, scallions, ginger and rice wine, sometimes a vegetable like cabbage or spinach. Different cooking methods are used, but they always result in the bottom being fried to crispness.
Hong Yu Fang
Go to Hong Yu Fang for one of the best guotie shops in the city run by a mother and son duo who have been making their dumplings with meat and bone-based broth daily. The skin is soft and crispy without residual oil. They are affordable dumplings, but the shop only takes cash so come prepared.
Price: RMB 18
Address: 395 Zhaozhou Lu
Tel: 15800772430
Xiaolongbao
Xiaolongbao and their close cousin, tangbao, are types of soup dumplings that are native to the Jiangnan region of China. The former dumpling is a Shanghai-style dumpling with thicker skin and minimal soup, while the latter originates in Nanjing and defiantly packs paper thin wrappers with copious amounts of soup. They are usually prepared with pork and topped with a square of solid aspic which melts when steamed in a xiaolong (AKA bamboo steamer basket). Other varieties can be found and, as this region is known for hairy crab, xiefen xiao long is very common on menus.
Lv Bo Lang
Souce: 铃音Q
Souce:北极熊走丢了
Loved by many old Shanghainese, this local 5-star restaurant previously hosted former American President Clinton, and many other government officials and diplomats throughout the years. Known for its crab meat xiaolong, the soup oozes out on the first bite and will blow you away.
Price: RMB 60
Address: 115 Yuyuan Nei Yuyuan Lu
Tel: 15800772430
Shanghai Dim Sum (Pushi Xiaodian)
Source: KElenLAw
With their perfectly made thin skin, stuffed with high quality black-haired pork, each juicy xiaolongbao at Pushi weighs exactly 28 grams. The restaurant has a strict food quality policy, so diners can relax when dining here and enjoy this aromatic and hearty dish freely.
Price: RMB 25
Address: 98 Yuyuan Lu | No. 18, 339 Changle Lu
Tel: 021 6237 8068 | 18221183758
Din Tai Fung
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Source: 只爱吃晚饭
While the xiaolongbao at Din Tai Fung are famous worldwide, garnering accolades from the New York Times and Michelin Guide, they are still worth eating in Shanghai. The
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46 31974 46 14941 0 0 1803 0 0:00:17 0:00:08 0:00:09 3052 dumplings wrappers are some of the thinnest around and their menu features varieties such as black truffle that are a must order.
Price: RMB 25
Address: Multiple locations
Wonton
While wontons are most commonly associated with Cantonese food, there are versions all over China as well as worldwide due to Chinese diaspora. Cantonese versions are typically filled with pork and shrimp and served in soup with noodles while Shanghainese huntun often include shepherd’s purse and served with soup or dry with sesame and peanut sauce which AMAZING. If you like spice, there’s also Sichuan versions bathed in fiery goodness. All good wonton wrappers should be slippery like silk.
Wan Shou Zhai
Source: YCCUI
Located out in Hongkou, this popular hole-in-the-wall is a bustling place to squeeze into for your wonton treat. While they are famous for their excellent xiaolongbao, they also have big steaming bowls of wonton soup as well as noodles. Get a bit of everything.
Price: RMB 15
Address: 123 Shanying Lu
Da Fu Gui
Souce: cecilia_yeye
Souce: 司徒秀妍
While no longer in its original location, Da Fu Gui has been open since 1881 and wontons are just one of their many specialties. The set up is cafeteria style and you will have to line up multiple times to pay and pick up your food, but the prices are definitely right.
Price: RMB 12
Address: 265 Jiangxi Lu
Jiaozi
Jiaozi are an East China specialty that are often a semicircle shape made filling a circular wrapper with fillings that include meats such as pork, lamb, beef, chicken and shrimp mixed with vegetables such as leek, celery, mushroom, etc. They can be boiled (shuijiao), steamed (zhengjiao), or fried (jianjiao). The wrappers are generally thicker than with wontons and they served with a mixture of soy sauce and vinegar for dipping.
Xi Jiao
Xijiao is a totally unique dumpling house that combines the traditional Chinese dumpling with Western flavors. With a clean, contemporary look and bright neon signs this looks nothing like your typical little jiaozi shop. While multicolored and filled with fusion ingredients, they still do the basics well here.
Price: RMB 35
Address: 462 Changle Lu
Tel: 021 6019 7198
Wenxiang Manchu Flavor Dumplings Shop
The specialty here is fish jiaozi with tender skins served in a warm and inviting environment that maintains simplicity while mimicking an afternoon tea house. The warm, plump dumplings should bring to mind mama’s cooking (if your mama is a dumpling master).
Price: RMB 35
Address: 85 Wuyuan Lu
Xiaomai
While Cantonese and Shanghainese versions of siumaai or xiaomai may be better known, the shaomai actually comes from Hohhot in Inner Mongolia dating back to sometime between the Ming and Qing dynasties were it is filled with mutton, scallion and ginger then wrapped loosely so it resembles a flower. In Cantonese dim sum restaurants the filling is generally pork, shrimp, Shaoxing rice wine, soy sauce and sesame oil. It is also wrapped into a flower shape and the visible center is dotted with crab roe or carrot. Other parts of China such as Xinjiang and Shanghai fill them with rice-based fillings flavored with meat and mushrooms or other vegetables.
Dim Dim Sum (点点心港式茶餐)
Source: 大龙猫的菲菲喵
There are multiple branches of this Cantonese dim sum restaurant and they have very well priced food in convenient locations for times you are in need of a quick dim sum fix.
Price: RMB 23
Address: Multiple Locations
Babi Mantou
You might already stop by ubiquitous chain stall, Babi Mantou, for their serviceable baozi and warm soybean milk, but did you know they also have 2 kuai xiaomai? These are the rice filled variety mentioned above which helps account for the price.
Price: RMB 2
Address: Multiple Locations
Da Fu Gui
Aforementioned, Da Fu Gui, also has xiaomai amongst their offerings.
Price: RMB 12
Address: 265 Jiangxi Lu
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