I’ll share my short list if you share yours! You know my credo: eat lots, analyze, then replicate at home. Here’s where I’ve had consistently good Shanghai soup dumplings (xiao long bao, XLB):
[Note: This list is not presented in any particular order.]
Joe’s Shanghai (New York Chinatown): It’s like a cult following. Everyone in Manhattan who is into soup dumplings goes there. There are no reservations, pay with cash only, and the dumplings are served with little metal tongs for you to pick up. The tongs (see photo below)seem kind of cruel but maybe they're trying to showoff the strength of their wrapper. Be ready to share a table if you want get seated quickly or be prepared to stand in line. Service borders on surly at times. But it’s all worth it. The dumplings are very good — the skins are indeed very thin (almost too thin) and you’ll find lots of soup in the dumpling. I have to say that the overall flavor of soup dumplings at Joe’s Shanghai tends to be fattier than it needs to be. The little side dishes, such as pressed tofu salad, are good too. Look at what others are ordering and point.
Mei Long Village (Monterey Park, California): Really nice soup dumplings that make you feel like they were produced by mortals. Other Shanghai specialties on the menu are good too. I love this place. It’s homey. I mentioned Mei Long in a post on a roundup of favorite dumpling spots in the San Gabriel Valley. I have friends who buy their Shanghai soup dumplings and freeze them for later.
Din Tai Fung (Monterey Park, Shanghai, Sydney): I’ve only been to these three outlets of Din Tai Fung, the uber xiao long bao dumpling restaurant. Shanghai soup dumplings at Din Tai Fung are regimented as they are the house specialty. Each one is consistently made, with the dough and filling formulas carefully monitored and maintained. This is great for guaranteeing quality but there’s a point where the dumplings seem overly mechanized, somewhat as if McDonald’s made them. One Din Tai Fun franchise owner told me that the slight variation between locations depends on the locally sourced ingredients for the dough and filling. That makes the dumplings more mortal and less McDonald’s.
The Sydney Din Tai Fung (on the second floor of the World Square shopping center) was best in terms of food and décor. Sydney’s soup dumplings were well prepared and well-balanced. Other dishes on the menu, such as a garlic stem stir-fry with Chinese ham. The room is modern, comfortable, and convivial. They bring a portable hamper to your table for you to put your purse and other belongings in. Nice old-fashioned touch in a contemporary setting.
Shanghai Dumpling King (San Francisco, California): You’ve seen the dumplings in the Chow.com video on the perfect soup dumpling. The King is in the former location of Shanghai Dumpling Shop, which is now in Millbrae near the San Francisco airport. The Shop’s xiao long bao are quite good and have a wonderful toothsome quality to the wrapper and filling. The King, however, does it just about 10% better than the Shop. There other menu items at the Shop are better than that at the King. However, those sugar egg puffs at the King are killer good.
Lao Wang Noodle House (Denver, Colorado): The older Chinese couple that own this little shop live in Denver because they – get this – love to ski. Old Wang (Lao Wang) uses frozen xiao long bao. But for some reason, he resuscitates them really really well. I stumbled upon the shop during a super windy, freezing day and his dumplings warmed and comforted me enough so that I could head back into the Colorado cold. I felt like being taken care of by grandparents at Lao Wang’s.
Golden Great Wall Szechuan Restaurant (Vancouver, BC): Don’t ask why this place identifies itself as a Sichuan restaurant. They have amazing Shanghai soup dumplings. Zoom in on the “Pastry” menu section for the Shanghai soup dumplings, which are divinely delicious and beautifully prepared here, their pleats so delicately prepared as if they are cast in porcelain. The other dumplings are worth trying too. I have to thank my friend Nathan Fong for introducing me to this place along with many other outstanding Chinese spots in Vancouver.
To get you thinking, I received these two Shanghai dumpling tips from people who watched the Chow.com video:
From Charmaine, Hong Kong, Charmainemok.com
In Hong Kong, the best I've had is not, surprisingly, at the famed Din Tai Fung or Crystal Jade franchises, but at a place in Tai Koo Shing, east of the island. Just check this [Flickr photo] out! [I went to the Flickr page and Charmaine revealed that it's the Grand Cuisine Shanghai Kitchen.
From Andrew K, San Francisco
I enjoyed your video shown on Chow about xiao long bao. I
know that restaurant as well as the Shanghai House whose dumplings I like even
more and Kingdom of Dumpling that easily is its match. Your comment about
Shanghai Soup Dumplings being the original molecular cuisine brought a smile to
my face.In December I was in Hong Kong and dined at Bo Innovation. Do you know it? (Michelin 2-star; www.boinnovation.com), The “Demon Chef”, Alvin Leung can’t take his molecular soup dumpling off his menu. Truly a revelation. That’s it on the right in this picture: molecular xiao long bao.
Photo by Andrew K.
What are your favorite places for Shanghai soup dumplings? Don't hold back!
Have you tried (the appropriately named) Shanghai Dumpling place on Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road in Saratoga?
We had a place in Cleveland that made wonderful soup dumplings – C&Y Restaurant – but they closed over a year ago 🙁
Don’t have your breath of knowledge, but Shanghai Dumpling King is a favorite!
The ones at Dean Sin World in Monterey Park, CA are fantastic! Here’s a write up: http://gastronomyblog.com/2009/04/03/dean-sin-world-monterey-park/
I’ve had very good ones at Bund Shanghai in Chinatown, 640 Jackson St, San Francisco.
I second, or is it third? my recommendation for Shanghai Dumpling King. Familiarity and extremely close location may have jaded me, but nothing else is nearly as good. Hate to advertise this as I hate the crowds, and I’m doing a good job myself of keeping them in business.
(The sugar puffs are excellent, too!)
In OKC there is a wonderful restaurant called Grand House China Bistro that does Dim Sum on the weekends. They have wonderful Shanghai Soup Dumplings.
Gastronomer — love that post. Man, bad signage at Dean Sin World. And the name? Is that a Rat Pack kinda Dean Martin Las Vegas thing? Your photos of the food look fabulous. I’m putting the Dean on my must-try list.
Amy — How could I have missed Bund Shanghai? The ones at Shanghai 1930 are good too but I’ve heard that owner George Chen is closing (or has closed) it.
Nate — Shanghai Dumpling place is newish, no? I did a drive by and it looked promising.
Plays with Food — Thanks for the Cleveland tip. You’re never too far from good dumplings.
When I can’t make the trek to NY for Joe’s Shanghai, I head to Hunan Cottage on Route 46 by the Montville/Fairfield border (NJ). A tip: ask for the Chinese menu, and you’ll also see the oil-fried shrimp, braised pork shoulder, and lion’s head.
In Boston try Gourmet Dumpling!
In Denver, only 3 places make them that I know of. Best is Chopsticks: http://www.chopsticksbistro.com/
Dayton Ohio is so bereft of acceptable dumplings that Ming Tsai was spawned from the tap water of his parent’s restaurant. But then restaurant closed, Ming Tsai left, and all who remain are filled with a gnawing hunger that will not be satisfied unless we get into the kitchen and do it ourselves.
I imagine most places are this way.
This is so great that some of you are including spots outside of metropolitan areas where there are are big Asian communities.
Bob F — Thanks for the Chopsticks recommendation.
Jacqueline — Bet Gourmet Dumpling has more than just XLB that are good.
Dayton needs help!
Philadelphia – I used to live there. Go to Dim Sum Garden in Chinatown. It’s next to the Wawa and Chinatown bus. They serve amazing xiao long bao. Their name is a misnomer because they don’t have a true dim sum settings but their XLB is to die for! So yummy.
Arcadia, CA – I’ve been to Din Tai Fung. Delicious. A bit expensive compared to other places but everything I have had there is great. They expanded so the wait wasn’t as bad as it used to be.
What do you think of Yank Sing’s version? 😉
Carolyn — Yank Sing does a lovely job with XLB. They specialize in lots of different kinds of dim sum so if you want to mix Cantonese with Shanghainese dumplings, Yank Sing is the place to go.
The thing that I don’t like is how dim sum houses serve the psychedelic cough syrup red vinegar with xiao long bao. That vinegar is too caustic for these delicate dumplings. Plus, any XLB that’s been wheeled around on a cart for too long will be over the hill. They have a short lifespan.
Andrea – We went to HuTong dumpling bar on your recommendation. The soup dumplings were sublime. Also, my two vegetarian daughters are now hooked on their spinach dumplings, turnip pastries and spring onion pancakes. There are now two restaurants (City Chinatown and Prahran). Defintely the best dumplings in Melbourne.
Does anyone know of a website to order the soup dumplings online..!!..?..I seen them for the first time on Anthony Bourdain’s show and there is not a place near my area that has them… I am not in a big city, but I just have to try thm..!!!! LOL,,,Thanks for any help..!!!
YANK SING IS THE BEST IN THE US!!! i live in NYC and Joe’s Shanghai (& Shanghai House) in the city are a dump! Even Shanghai Dumpling House in the Outer Richmond district of SF is better than these NYC spots. Yank Sing has the thinnest skins on earth with a perfect taste served at the perfect temp. to me skin is key because it’s the hardest thing to execute correctly with liquid weight such as soup. the only other place that was close to YS was a dumpling spot in Tokyo at the top of Takashimaya department store in Shinjuku. But you know what, on second thought, YS sucks! don’t go there cause everyone will overcrowd the place and then i can’t go there anymore.
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It’s so nice to have you do all of the research for us. It makes our decision making so much easier!! Thanks.
I don’t know how to receive my responce. Waiting for your reply, tks!
Looks like great advice for people in your industry. Great post and metaphors. thank you
Your comments are all too kind. I am constantly surprised people are thinking of me or talking about me to start with, and to get this kind of praise is humbling. Appreciate it for sure. thanks
Thank you Mark for the kind words.
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