XiaolongbaoWhere to Eat Soup Dumplings in Shanghai

Give the soup a moment

The soup starts as gelled stock mixed into the filling. As the dumplings steam, it melts into broth inside the wrapper. That’s why the first bite needs a little care, even if the outside doesn’t feel especially hot.

• Lift a dumpling gently by its gathered top and support it with a spoon.
• Nibble a small hole in the side to let the steam out.
• Tip a little broth into the spoon and test it before sipping.
• Once it’s cool enough, eat the dumpling with a little vinegar if you like.

Xiaolongbao or shengjian?

Xiaolongbao are steamed, with thin wrappers and no fried bottom. Shengjian bao have a crisp, browned base and thicker, breadier dough. Both can hold hot soup, but they’re quite different to eat.

Look for 小笼, 小笼包, or 汤包 on the menu. You may also see a much larger tangbao, sometimes served with a straw. That’s a different order from the small dumplings that come by the basket.

Check what’s in the filling

The wrappers usually contain wheat, and pork is a common filling. Crab and shrimp versions contain shellfish. At Lailai, crab-and-pork and pure crab are separate orders, so it’s worth reading the full name.

If you have an allergy or dietary restriction, ask the staff about both the ingredients and shared preparation equipment.

What to expect to pay

For a broader look at prices, the Amap sample includes 2,298 listings associated with xiaolongbao. Of the 2,127 that give an average spend, 1,409 list ¥22 or less. Those figures are estimates per person, not prices for a basket of dumplings.

Check the branch as well as the brand. The six shops above are specific locations; another branch of the same chain may have different hours, prices, and dishes on the menu.

Three more places to keep in mind

If you’re heading to another part of town, these give you a few more options. The prices below are Amap’s average spend per person, and the hours are from its listings.

• Xisheng Yuan 熙盛源 — 389 Fengzhuang Road, near Cao’an Road, Jiading. Amap: 4.8/5, ¥28. Listed hours: 6:30 a.m.–7 p.m., daily.
• Wanshou Zhai 万寿斋 — 123 Shanyin Road, near Jixiang Road, Hongkou. Amap: 4.7/5, ¥26. Listed hours: 4:30 a.m.–9 p.m., daily.
• Man Kou Xiang 满口香 — 76–80 Xinde West Road, Chuansha, Pudong. Amap: 4.6/5, ¥10. Listed hours: 4:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m., daily.

Before you set off

The six featured shops open between 6 and 8 a.m., depending on the branch. Lailai’s Tianjin Road location lists a break from 2–3 p.m., and Nanxiang stays open later on Friday through Sunday. Check the hours for the address you’re actually visiting.

At the counter, ask “yi long ji ge?” (一笼几个？) if you’re unsure how many dumplings come in a basket. The Lailai menu above has both four- and eight-piece portions. 蟹粉 (xiè fěn) refers to a crab filling, but check the rest of the name to see whether it also includes pork or shrimp.