Best Soup Dumplings to Try | Shanghai, China 上海小籠包

Soup dumplings (小籠包) are one of the must-eats in Shanghai, China. Directly translated as "little steam basket bao", xiao long bao/soup dumplings were invented in the Jiangnan region of China back in the Song dynasty and has since evolved across different cities in the region. The current, general criteria of a good soup dumpling are as followed: 

• Thin yet durable skin with typically 14-18 folds.
• Skin is soft yet with a degree of elasticity.
• Flavorful, fresh filling and soup inside.
• Right ratio of filling and soup inside.

With many soup dumpling options to choose from in Shanghai, here are some of the most popular and highly rated soup dumpling restaurants recommended by food critics and locals:

萊萊小籠 Lai Lai Xiao Long

A Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant, Lai Lai currently have three locations in Shanghai with the location in Feng Sheng Li being the newest and the most modern looking branch. Overall, Lai Lai's soup dumplings are certainly worth a try and its skin is regular thin with a nice degree of elasticity. The flavor of soup and crab roe and meat filling are also balanced. If you happen to be in the Feng Sheng Li area, I highly recommend you check out this location as you may experience a higher wait in the main location in the city center.

Overall Rating: 😋😋😋😋😋

饞三尺蟹粉小籠 Chan San Chi Xie Fen Xiao Long

An amazing budget-friendly option and one of locals' favorites, Chan San Chi has many locations across Shanghai so you will have no trouble finding one to try. It's one of the few cheap yet delicious place to try soup dumplings (on average 20-40 Yuan per basket only!). Not only they offer great options of soup dumplings, you will also get a complimentary warm ginger brown sugar tea to compliment with your crab roe dishes. 

Overall Rating: 😋😋😋😋

佳家湯包 Jia Jia Tang Bao

Jia Jia Tang Bao offers the most delicate soup dumplings: The soup dumplings have the thinnest skin wrapper with the most soup inside, so beware when you are picking it up and eating it. The soup dumpling is so thin-skinned that one might have problems picking it up!

Overall Rating: 😋😋😋😋

庄氏隆興 Zhuang Shi Long Xing

Most known by their freshly picked crab roe noodles, Zhuang Shi Long Xing also offer soup dumpling options with their famous crab meat and crab roe. The soup dumplings here are the flattest compared to the rest, but with the strongest crab flavor. The crab roe noodles are better: The sauce is filled with tons of crab roe and freshly p
icked bits of of crab meats. It's also the most expensive restaurant on the list.

Overall Rating: 😋😋😋

See these four types of xiao long bao in action here: 

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DKZx3fbNg7d/?utm_source=ig_web_button_native_share

Notes & Tips:

• Almost every restaurant in China implements the QR code ordering system. Though you may still ask the wait staff to order your foods if you don't have right apps.
• Google Translate the menu is suggested in advance or on the day off, as they might not have English menu.
• You pay as you order if you order via QR code.