LOCAL DELIGHTS

PAN-FRIED BUN

Pan-fried buns are delicious and you can find them everywhere in Shanghai. Juicy but with a crispy bottom, there are fully fermented, partly fermented and non-fermented options, and you can choose different meat fillings.

XIAO LONG BAO

This is most people’s favourite. It’s a bite-sized dumpling usually filled with pork. Be careful when picking up the dumpling with your chopsticks, as the skin is very thin and easily broken, and the delicious meat juice (the best part of the dumpling) will then flow out. Top tip: pick the dumpling up with chopsticks and a spoon, so even if the skin breaks the juice will be held in the spoon.

STEAMED PORT

If you really like that meat juice, then don’t miss the steamed port dumplings. These are larger than xiao long bao and the skin is comparatively thicker. Normally locals don’t eat the skin as it is quite thick – they just drink the rich soup inside. Most restaurants will prepare a straw for you but be cautious because the soup is very hot!