[Where To Eat:] Three Authentic Shanghai Local Snacks

Shanghai snacks are integral to Benbang cuisine, featuring traditional delights such as Nanxiang soup dumplings, pan-fried buns, and scallion oil noodles. These are iconic foods in Shanghai and its surrounding areas. Nanxiang soup dumplings are famous for their thin skins and juicy meat fillings, while pan-fried buns are renowned for their crispy bottoms and soft, tender tops. Below, please browse and enjoy some of the top picks from Hills Shanghai:

1.Jiajia Soup Dumplings

Business Hours: 7:30 - 20:30

 Address: 90 Huanghe Road

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In the realm of Shanghai's soup dumplings, Jiajia Soup Dumplings on Huanghe Road is considered a grandmaster. Christopher St.Cavish, in his recommendation list of soup dumplings for foreigners, places Jiajia at the top—not for the cold hard data measured with calipers and electronic scales, but for the flavor that stole his heart. The restaurant casually displays recommendation stickers from TripAdvisor from various years on the glass separating the seating area and the kitchen.

What’s more impressive is that Jiajia Soup Dumplings has maintained remarkably consistent quality control over the years. In my latest review, after visiting three times, I found virtually no variation in the thickness of the dumpling wrappers or the seasoning.

However, with its popularity, Jiajia Soup Dumplings is also usually crowded, with queues exceeding 20 minutes at meal times. If you want to avoid the lines and still enjoy fresh meat soup dumplings, I recommend opting for an earlier dinner time.

2.Wu You Xian

Business Hours: 9:00 - 20:00

Address: 7 Maoming South Road

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The owner of this shop once spent some time in Japan for an exchange, honing his skills to a high level. His experience in Japan has infused Wu You Xian with many Japanese-style elements, and it even has a Japanese name, おいしい, which means "delicious."

The soup dumplings here also feature a touch of Japanese-style refinement. While based on traditional Shanghai soup dumplings, the filling includes a dash of soy sauce to enhance the flavor, a modification reportedly popular with Japanese customers. Indeed, the umami is pronounced, while the soy sauce is subtly hidden, revealed only by a slight caramel hue in the broth. The dumpling skins are thin yet resilient, and they are elegantly shaped with a small opening on top—designed specifically for pouring vinegar into the dumpling.

Wu You Xian is also famous for its crab roe soup dumplings. They offer fillings with different flavors made from crab yellow, crab paste, and crab meat, complemented by various types of house-made vinegar. During crab season, the crab roe is freshly prepared, and the restaurant is always bustling with customers.

3.Dong Tai Xiang

Business Hours: 00:00 - 24:00
Address: 188 Chongqing North Road
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Capable of rivaling Dahuchun is Dong Tai Xiang. Dong Tai Xiang's semi-fermented method has been nominated as an "Intangible Cultural Heritage." The proportions of all-purpose flour, water, and yeast are strictly defined; a temperature and humidity monitor hangs on the wall, requiring the chefs to precisely adjust the fermentation based on daily conditions, ensuring the pan-fried buns maintain a familiar and consistent texture throughout the seasons.

The dough of Dong Tai Xiang is a favorite for many—tough yet yielding, with a dense, savory filling of shrimp and pork, offering a tender and juicy texture. The juice inside is modest, just about a spoonful.

Operating 24 hours, Dong Tai Xiang has also become one of the most comforting spots in the city. When hunger strikes, you can come here for a serving of pan-fried buns paired with a bowl of hot soup, revitalizing yourself completely.