What to order at Lai Lai Xiao Long

Must order
Order the hairy crab and crab roe xiaolongbao, available year-round, with ginger in vinegar on the side.
Signature dishes
Hairy crab xiaolongbao, Pork xiaolongbao, Pork and crab xiaolongbao, Wonton
Editor tip
Pork and pork-crab versions and wonton are also on the menu; expect a line out the door at this small, tightly packed shop.
CuisineChinese
Price¥¥
NeighborhoodPeoples Square
HoursDaily 08:00-14:00, 15:00-20:00
Last verified

Taste Hairy crab xiaolongbao with a local in Shanghai

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Location

Address: 506 Tianjin Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai

Also in peoples-square

Dong Tai Xiang ★ 4.1

¥ ShanghainesePeoples Square

Dong Tai Xiang on North Chongqing Road in Shanghai is the only shengjian shop whose semi-fermented technique holds intangible heritage status.

OrderOrder the shengjian pan-fried pork buns; the dough-making skill keeps every bun plump even once it cools.

TipIt is the only shengjian shop whose semi-fermented technique carries intangible cultural heritage recognition.

Full peoples-square food guide →

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Lan Xin (Lyceum) ★ 3.9

¥ ShanghaineseFrench Concession

Lan Xin, known locally as Lyceum Restaurant, on quiet Jinxian Road in central Shanghai holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand for wok-braised red pork belly.

OrderOrder the red-braised pork belly, reduced sauce, soft but firm texture.

TipIt holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand and does not take reservations, so queues are common; go outside lunch and dinner peaks.

Dong Tai Xiang ★ 4.1

¥ ShanghainesePeoples Square

Dong Tai Xiang on North Chongqing Road in Shanghai is the only shengjian shop whose semi-fermented technique holds intangible heritage status.

OrderOrder the shengjian pan-fried pork buns; the dough-making skill keeps every bun plump even once it cools.

TipIt is the only shengjian shop whose semi-fermented technique carries intangible cultural heritage recognition.

Wu You Xian ★ 4.5

¥¥ ChineseFrench Concession

Wu You Xian on South Maoming Road in central Shanghai holds a Michelin star for xiaolongbao, folded 32 times inside a duck-egg-yolk wrapper.

OrderOrder the tasting set of crab roe, paste and meat xiaolongbao, made from crabs prepared fresh that same day.

TipEach dumpling has 32 folds and a duck-egg-yolk wrapper for extra elasticity; it is a short walk from the Huaihai Road shops.

Blossom ★ 4.1

¥¥¥ TeochewJingan

Blossom inside Plaza 66 in Jing'an serves casual Chaoshan and Cantonese dishes, the affordable sister of Michelin two-star Amazing Chinese Cuisine.

OrderOrder the steamed East Sea grouper with pickled mustard greens and the Chiu Chow beef offal pot.

TipThe Chiu Chow preserved radish fried rice and the crab with sweet potato noodles round out a full Teochew spread.

Da Hu Chun ★ 4.3

¥ ShanghaineseThe Bund

Da Hu Chun on Middle Sichuan Road in Shanghai holds a Bib Gourmand for the fluffy pan-fried shengjian bao that built its snack food culture.

OrderOrder the pork, prawn or crab roe shengjian bao with a side of beef curry soup, the customary pairing here.

TipIts qingshui buns use fully fermented dough and no added aspic, so they come out soft and bread-like over a cracker-crisp base rather than bursting with soup.

Nanxiang Steamed Bun ★ 3.6

¥¥ ChineseOld City

Nanxiang Steamed Bun at City God Temple is the Yu Garden shop of the brand founded in 1900, holding a Bib Gourmand for pork and crab xiaolongbao in Shanghai.

OrderOrder the pork or crab-and-pork xiaolongbao, or the supersized version meant to be sipped through a straw.

TipExpect a queue and tourist crowds; Nomfluence rates Lai Lai and Jia Jia's xiaolongbao higher if you have time to go elsewhere.

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