Sheng Jian Bao is a popular fried and steamed dumpling in China. Sometimes it’s filled with insane amounts of soup and sometimes there is barely any soup at all. But all of them have the perfect marriage between soft and crispy dumpling skin. Over the course of two months in Shanghai, I’ve got Sheng Jian Bao stained clothing, ended up with so much soup in my hair it felt like my new hair treatment, and spent way too long trying to pick these little gems up with what I previously thought was decent chopstick skills. I was wrong. But all of these struggles almost feel like a right of passage to be able to enjoy one of the most delicious dumplings in the world. The price you pay for entry. No need to sell your soul, just your dignity. So after what feels like a food journey of a lifetime, here are our picks for the best Sheng Jian Bao in Shanghai China.
CONTENTS
Where To Eat Sheng Jian Bao In Shanghai Video
Best Sheng Jian Bao In Shanghai Map
Yang’s Fried Dumplings
Da Hu Chun
Gaochi
Guangtou Shengjian
A De Dumplings
Other Places To Eat Sheng Jian Bao In Shanghai
How Do You Eat Sheng Jian Bao?
Where To Eat Sheng Jian Bao In Shanghai Video
Best Sheng Jian Bao In Shanghai Map
Here is our Sheng Jian Bao map pinpointing all of the best places to eat them in Shanghai. At the end of the post, you can download a printable Sheng Jian Bao in Shanghai map to save to your phone or print out and take with you for your trip to Shanghai.
Yang’s Fried Dumpling
You can’t talk about Sheng Jian Bao without mentioning Yang’s Fried Dumpling. Yang’s is perhaps the most well-known place for Sheng Jian Bao in Shanghai. The main store is near Peoples Square on Huanghe Road but Yang’s actually has plenty of stores around Shanghai.
Yang’s Fried Dumpling Sheng Jian Bao Review
The Sheng Jian Bao here are so full of soup it starts to feel like the Mary Poppins bag dumpling, soup just keeps coming out. The pork filling is delicious (you can also get other fillings). The dumpling skin or bun is also very good, with a super crispy bottom and steamed top. The dumpling has a sprinkling of sesame seeds and spring onions (scallions) on top, just to add even more flavour to this mighty dumpling.
Because there is so much soup in Yang’s Sheng Jian Bao, the best way to eat them is to bite a hole in the top, let it cool, then drink out the soup. Then attempt to eat the rest of the dumpling. Definitely one of the most challenging chopstick experiences I’ve had. Just when you think you’ve finally mastered your chopstick grip, then the Sheng Jian Bao suddenly flies out of your chopsticks and splashes onto your already soup and vinegar filled plate which suddenly covers you and your dining partners clothes. All in the space of a second.
Yang’s Fried Dumplings Overall Experience
Yang’s is a chain store and you do get that feeling with the decor and service. But there are definitely still a lot of locals here, and obviously, the Huanghe Road store is a popular place for tourists to get their first taste of Sheng Jian Bao, so there will be fellow travellers too. Although I have to say, it largely felt like a local place, especially in their other locations. Service is friendly and ordering is easy. It was busy but we did get a table upstairs straight away.
How To Order | You will see a window outside where they are cooking the Sheng Jian Bao. But first, go inside and place your order at the counter. Here you will be given a ticket (and also a number if you order other items). For your Sheng Jian Bao, go back outside to the window and hand over your ticket. You can choose either to take away or eat in. Wait here for your dumplings. If you choose to eat in, take your plate and go inside and find a table. If you order other items (we ordered a wonton soup), this will be brought to your table as you will have been given a number for this.
Price | Yang’s dumpling (pork-filled) are 8 Yuan per plate of 4. This is about $1.60 AUD.
Address | 97 Huanghe Lu, Peoples Square, Shanghai
Da Hu Chun
Da Hu Chun is one of the original Sheng Jian Bao restaurants and is known for having the classic version of this dumpling. They have a few stores, we went to the one on Middle Sichuan Road.
Da Hu Chun Sheng Jian Bao Review
So Da Hu Chun Sheng Jian Bao don’t have anywhere near as much soup in their Sheng Jian Bao when compared to Yang’s Fried Dumpling. In fact, it feels almost just like extra meat juices. But the main thing that stood out to me about Da Hu Chun’s Sheng Jian Bao were their fluffy bun like dumpling skin. They definitely have a little thicker and fluffier dough. Still crispy on the bottom and steamed soft on the top.
When I first saw the Sheng Jian Bao, they looked almost burnt. But the flavour of the almost burnt crispy dough was so so delicious, it really added to the overall flavour of the Sheng Jian Bao. Still just as hard to pick up and just as messy. Even though there is less soup, by the time some of the soup ends up on your plate with some of the vinegar to dip it in, drop even one of those Sheng Jian Bao and your clothes will definitely wear it. And mine did. Here, my jumper, jacket and jeans all got to experience Sheng Jian Bao too.
Da Hu Chun Overall Experience
Da Hu Chun had a very authentic feel about it. The decor felt quite traditional, with dark wooden furniture and traditional teapots full of vinegar on the tables. It felt like the restaurant was filled with locals. Even though Da Hu Chun has a few locations, it felt like more of a restaurant experience rather than a fast food chain experience. The staff were friendly and the restaurant was quite busy. There were no tables available when we tried to sit down, but I believe it’s common to share tables, which is what we did.
How To Order | As you walk in there is a counter where you can order and pay. The menu is not in English but the lovely lady serving us understood us enough to get our order. If you have trouble, we have been loving the app Pleco, which is like an offline Chinese dictionary. Or just point to some of the pictures. Once you order, take your ticket to the counter where they are cooking the Sheng Jian Bao. Hand over your ticket and wait here for your order. Here, even if you order additional items (we order a wonton soup too), they will give you your entire order at this counter. Make sure to get a little bowl here for your vinegar and then take your food and try to find a table.
Price | 12 Yuan for a plate of 4 Pork and Shrimp Sheng Jian Bao. 9 Yuan for wonton soup.
Address | 136 Middle Sichuan Road, Huangpu, Shanghai
Gaochi
A nice restaurant located in K11 Mall. Gaochi offers a different spin on the traditional Sheng Jian Bao. So if you are a Sheng Jian Bao purist, maybe skip this one, but if you are open to a modern take on Sheng Jian Bao, definitely make time to come here.
Gaochi Sheng Jian Bao Review
So what makes Gaochi Sheng Jian Bao so different? Well, the main thing you will notice is that the dumpling dough is actually made with a sourdough starter. You definitely notice that nice flavour coming through when you eat the dumplings. There’s not much soup but it’s still juicy. The top of the Sheng Jian Bao is super fluffy and the bottom and sides are both pretty crispy and thin. The serve of dumplings will actually come out in a little round pan which we loved.
Gaochi Overall Experience
As mentioned, Gaochi is located in a mall, so you do feel that, but it also still feels like a nice restaurant experience. It’s definitely one of the fancier Sheng Jian Bao experiences we had in Shanghai.
How To Order | Once you are seated, you will be given menu’s and someone will come and take your order. Easy!
Price | 48 RMB for eight Sheng Jian Bao
Address | K11 Art Mall, Unit 306, 3/F, 300 Huaihai Zhong Lu, Huangpu, Shanghai
Guangtou Shengjian
We stumbled across Guangtou Shengjian as a happy accident. We had actually just finished devouring xiao long bao from a few doors down (see our Best Xiao Long Bao in Shanghai article) and saw a healthy line forming in front of Guangtou Shengjian. Although we certainly didn’t need more food, our gut was also telling us this was too good to walk away from.
Guangtou Shengjian Sheng Jian Bao Review
The Sheng Jian Bao here were delicious. Everything you would expect from a good Sheng Jian Bao. Crispy bottoms, soft steamed tops, a nice pork filling and a medium level of soup.
Guangtou Shengjian Overall Experience
Guangtou Shengjian felt like such a local experience. Located in the Hongkou district of Shanghai, the neighbourhood itself feels untouched by tourism or expats. There were locals pouring out the door, excitedly waiting for a delicious dish. The shop itself had a couple of places to sit, but as they were full, everyone was ushered into the restaurant next door to sit and enjoy them at their tables. I’m still not sure if this was a completely different restaurant that just had an arrangement or if they were part of the same thing. But it worked. We sat on a table and shared with some fellow shengjian bao lovers. It was a really memorable experience.
How To Order
Line up, and when you get to the front, say how many serves you would like. Wait for your Sheng Jian Bao and then either sit inside or take them next door. Take away was also available.
Price | 14 Yuan for 4 Sheng Jian Bao + 4 Guotie
Address | 139 Shanyin Road, Hongkou, Shanghai
A De’s Dumplings
A casual restaurant specialising in Sheng Jian Bao located near Longhua Temple.
A De Sheng Jian Bao Review
We really enjoyed the Sheng Jian Bao at A De, although we wouldn’t say they were our favourites. We thought the dough was a little thicker and the bottoms weren’t as charred, so as the soup soaked into the dough, the dough got a little soggy at points. But overall, they were tasty Sheng Jian Bao.
A De Overall Experience
A De felt like a local casual restaurant, it felt simple and unfussy. It was actually located not too far from Longhua Temple, so it’s the perfect place to have breakfast, lunch or a snack if you plan on visiting the temple. Although, if you’re not heading to the temple, we wouldn’t necessarily say it warrants going out of your way just for the Sheng Jian Bao.
Address | 219 Longhua West Road, Xuhui, Shanghai
Other Places To Eat Sheng Jian Bao In Shanghai
We also enjoyed the Sheng Jian Bao from Dong Tai Xiang but didn’t love some of their other food. There are also plenty of street food shops, little hole in the wall windows, that sell Sheng Jian Bao throughout Shanghai. If you’ve been to Shanghai before or live in Shanghai, we would love to know your favourite places to eat Sheng Jian Bao in the comments below.
How Do You Eat Sheng Jian Bao?
We’re not gonna sugar coat it, Sheng Jian Bao, in our opinion, are the most difficult dumpling to eat in Shanghai. But we definitely picked up a few tips along the way. Once you actually get a firm grip on the Sheng Jian Bao in your chopsticks, bite a small hole to let the soup cool down. Be gentle, so your Sheng Jian Bao doesn’t drop onto your plate and so the soup doesn’t squirt out everywhere. Oh, and also so you don’t burn yourself. Then you can have some of the soup out of the dumpling and continue eating the rest of the dumpling. So that’s how you eat Sheng Jian Bao. Good luck.
If you’re looking for a Sheng Jian Bao recipe, we have linked to a few in our Shanghai Dumpling Guide.
Your Printable Shanghai Sheng Jian Bao Map
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