Although XiaoLongBao is Shanghai's notoriously famous dumpling dish, the quality varies significantly depending on what spot you choose. For many years, I've gone to a tried and proven international chain called DinTaiFung for XiaoLongBao. The taste is definitely there, but their menu really is expensive.
Recently, I've found an alternative restaurant for XiaoLongBao - The Sue Dumpling Institute.
Their crab-roe filled dumplings are a specialty that comes at a relatively moderate price of 38rmb for 6 pieces. It mixes the traditional pork broth with crab roe to create a rich, aromatic, and juicy soup that slips down your throat with the perfectly chewy dumpling dough.
19rmb
The stem lettuce dish at the Sue Dumpling Institute is a great vegetable option to go with your dumplings. It has a very clean and pure taste with a texture between cucumber and carrots.
38rmb
Gelatin pork may not sound mouth-watering at first. However, the pressed pork with cartilage, pig skin, and cold meat is a surprising treat, and the ginger takes away any porky aftertaste.
14rmb
Think of the softest pudding you've ever had. The texture of the egg custard is a 100 times silkier than that. The aroma of the crab meat and oil on top is addicting, and its a very heart-warming dish.
59rmb
Think of all the work that goes into peeling these tiny shrimps. A dip into the soy sauce with a couple of these shrimps is a combination to try. On its own, its seasoned gently to preserve the delicacy of the flavors of the shrimp
Tea is complementary by the way, which is rare for traditional Chinese DimSum restaurants.
Average Cost
92 rmb/person for a filling meal Its a cheaper-than-average price for this quality of dumplings in Shanghai.
Final Summary Of course, there are many other kinds of dumpling(shrimp-wrapped rice dumplings with soy sauce caviar, green and purple-colored dumplings, etc..) and other snacks like their fried spring onion bread that we didn't show.
Its definitely worth a try especially since they have many locations that are probably not too far away from you.
The address of the one I visited:
Pudong New District, Hua Mu Road, no 1378(Kerry Parkside B104)
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