Local Shanghai Eats

<Updated July 2018>

People think all I do is eat fancy foods and that is only 80% true. I also eat a ton of local Shanghainese food, which is the best (coming from a completely biased Shanghai girl).

It is getting harder and harder to find good local food due to old buildings getting torn down or places turning into giant franchise chains. Here are a few staples that I and — more importantly — my Shanghainese coworkers have tried and approved. I would like to thank and dedicate this to my coworkers for indulging with me every morning in the office.

Please note some of these places have multiple branches in Shanghai and I have written addresses for ones I have visited or ordered delivery from myself. I will add more to this list as I take more photos.

I am not responsible for any extra trips to the restroom after eating these!

Lin Long Fang Specialty Soup Dumplings 麟笼坊特色小笼包
Address: 10 Jianguo Dong Lu near Zhaozhou Lu / 建国东路10号(近肇周路口) (Dianping)
What to get:
– Pork soup dumplings (“xian rou xiao long bao” 鲜肉小笼包) RMB20 for 12
– Pork & salted egg yolk dumplings (“dan huang xian rou” xlb 蛋黄鲜肉小笼包) RMB28 for 12
– Pork & hairy crab dumplings (“xie fen xian rou” xlb 蟹粉鲜肉小笼包) RMB36 for 12
– Pure hairy crab roe dumplings (“chun xie fen” xlb 纯蟹粉小笼包) RMB99
– Scallion oil noodles (“cong you ban mian” 葱油拌面) RMB9

These are the best soup dumplings in Shanghai in my opinion. Each set of 12 dumplings is made to order meaning they literally flatten the dough, put filling into the dough, fold them up, and steam them on the spot. You can watch them do it. This is a sister brand of Jia Jia Tang Bao 佳家汤包 — I think there was some sort of dispute which created the split.

There are a few combinations of soup dumplings here — my favorites are pork & salted egg yolk dumplings (“dan huang xian rou” xlb 蛋黄鲜肉小笼包) at RMB28 and extra large pure hairy crab roe dumplings (“chun xie fen” xlb 纯蟹粉小笼包), which cost significantly higher at RMB99 and totally worth it. Your cholesterol will skyrocket so bring plenty of people to share these with. Please note vinegar with ginger will cost you an extra RMB1 and I recommend you to get it as it does make a difference eaten with the soup dumplings; regular vinegar is free.

Get some scallion oil noodles (“cong you ban mian” 葱油拌面) to supplement the meal!

See other branches here. Delivery available via Dianping 点评 or Eleme 饿了么 for Shanghai residents.

Mei Xin Dian Xin 美心点心 | Dianping
Address: 4/F Unit A22, Zhong Yi Bldg, 580 Nanjing Xi Lu / 南京西路580号仲益大厦B幢4楼A22
What to get:
– Fried pork dumplings (“guo tie” 锅贴) RMB10 for 4
– Scallion oil pancake (“cong you bing” 葱油饼) RMB5

There are some things that cannot be replicated abroad even in Chinatowns; the dough is usually too thick and never crispy enough. But in Shanghai the fried pork dumplings (“guo tie” 锅贴) have crispy bottoms and the scallion oil pancakes (“cong you bing” 葱油饼) have just the right thickness and amount of salt and scallions.

You can get these delivered via Dianping 点评 or Eleme 饿了么 and they are still crispy when they get here (unless you are super far away from the shop).

一人一锅锅贴王 | Dianping
Address: Unit 1, 228 Zhizaoju Lu / 制造局路228-1号临 (more branches available here)
What to get:
– Fried pork dumplings (“guo tie” 锅贴) RMB14 for 6; RMB20 for 9
– Baby pork wonton soup (“xiao hun tun” 小馄饨) RMB10

These fried pork dumplings (锅贴 “guotie”) are the extra version of the above as they have an additional crispy layer at the bottom! This place also has baby pork wonton soup (“xiaohuntun” 小馄饨) with delicate skin.

See other branches here. Delivery available via Dianping 点评 or Eleme 饿了么 for Shanghai residents.

Dong Tai Xiang 东泰祥
Address:
– 188 Chongqing Bei Li near Dagu Lu / 重庆北路188号(近大沽路)(Dianping)
– 309 Shanxi Bei Lu near Jianguo Xi Lu / 陕西南路309号(近建国西路)(Dianping)
What to get:
– Fried dumplings (“sheng jian bao” 生煎包) RMB11 for 4
– Scallion oil noodles (“cong you ban mian” 葱油拌面) RMB17
– Baby pork wonton soup (“xiao hun tun” 小馄饨) RMB14

In Shanghai, we have crescent shaped fried dumplings known as “guo tie” and also round fried dumplings known as “sheng jian” with some flavorful pork juice inside. Most people immediately think of Yang’s Dumplings 小杨生煎 but it expanded to too many branches too quickly; it doesn’t taste like it used to so I don’t go there anymore. Dong Tai Xiang 东泰祥 is currently my go-to for “shen jian” — these juicy babies have thin skin and supple pork filling inside. With most Shanghai food, there is a tinge of sweetness in the savory pork filling. The ones pictured below with the red dots on them have pork and a whole shrimp inside (but I don’t like cooked shrimp) and the unmarked ones have only pork inside.

The scallion oil noodles (not pictured) here are off the hook. The baby pork wonton soup (“xiao hun tun” 小馄饨) is also good.

See other branches here. Delivery available via Dianping 点评 or Eleme 饿了么 for Shanghai residents.

Xiao Tao Yuan 小桃园 | Dianping
Address: 1251 Fuxing Zhong Lu – Unit 1 / 复兴中路1251号-1临
What to get:
– Sticky rice roll (“ci fan tuan” 糍饭团)
– Original egg pancake rolls (“yuan wei dan bing”)
– Savory tofu pudding (“xian dou hua” 咸豆花)

The Shanghai breakfast saga continues with fried dough (“you tiao” 油条), one of my main loves and a key ingredient in many of the dishes here. Youtiao can be eaten alone dipped in soy sauce as well. My favorite is the original egg pancake rolls (“yuan wei dan bing” 原味蛋饼), which is a huge pancake covered with a layer of egg wrapped around youtiao. I also love the sticky rice roll (“ci fan tuan” 糍饭团) because it is stuffed with plenty of youtiao and salted egg, which makes everything better! Lastly, add some savory tofu pudding (“xian dou hua” 咸豆花).

See other branches here. Delivery available via Dianping 点评 or Eleme 饿了么 for Shanghai residents.

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