Soup Dumplings or Xialongbao (小笼包) are by far one of my favorite foods in the world. I was spoiled by endless baskets when I was younger. These small steamed buns are one of the best-known Shanghainese foods and derive their name from the bamboo baskets used to make them. They come piping hot and filled with broth.

Head to Jiajia Tang Bao (佳家汤包) early if possible since they run out fast. It’s first come, first serve, and then closing time once they run out.

The key to eating soup dumplings is making sure you get all the soup in your belly and not in you bowl.

Nan Xiang Xiaolong Mantou (南翔小笼馒头) is one of the most famous xiaolongbao places in Shanghai. Located in Yuyuan Garden (豫园), a popular tourist site, the lines here will be long. Instead of dining in, we took these to go and sat by the ponds filled with koi fish.