• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Tiny Urban Kitchen
  • About Me
  • Travel
  • Recipes
  • Michelin
  • Subscribe
  • Taiwanese
menu icon
go to homepage
  • About Me
  • Travel
  • Recipes
  • Michelin
  • Subscribe
  • Taiwanese
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • About Me
    • Travel
    • Recipes
    • Michelin
    • Subscribe
    • Taiwanese
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » China » Shanghai

    Jia Jia Tang Bao {Shanghai, China}

    Published: Dec 27, 2010 · Modified: Jun 26, 2015 by Jennifer Che

    Jia Jia Tang Bao

    Who has the best dumplings in Shanghai?

    As you might know, dumplings, especially soup dumplings (xiao long bao), are a Shanghai specialty.

    Bryan and I visited Shanghai for the first time this past September. Naturally, we eagerly sought out the best dumpling places in the city.

    I soon found out that this is a highly contested issue (at least on English language forums), with the die hard Din Tai Fung fans on one side and loyal Jia Jia Tang Bao supporters on the other side.

    Jia Jia Tang Bao fans usually deride Din Tai Fung for its obscenely priced dumplings (especially by China standards) and chi chi westernized atmosphere. Din Tai Fung fans maintain that the dumplings at Din Tai Fung are more sophisticated, better tasting, and overall higher quality.

    Anyone who has been reading this blog for awhile will know that I am a HUGE fan of Din Tai Fung, a dumpling shop that originated from Taiwan. When I found out that Jia Jia Tang Bao was only a 10 minute walk from my hotel room, I knew I had to check it out.
    Jia Jia Tang Bao
    Jia Jia Tang Bao is truly your classic hole-in-the-wall (not-so-hidden) gem. It’s small, crowded, and packed with people slurping down piping hot soup dumplings. The décor is spartan, with decades-old formica tables and simple metal chairs.

    A middle-aged lady, probably the owner, stands at a tiny counter at the front of the restaurant taking orders. You basically line up outside the restaurant and wait for a spot at the ever-popular place.
    JiaJiaTangtBaoPrices
    The menu is simple, posted on tiny red plastic placards on the wall. If you ask for an English menu, you'll be handed a tattered notebook with the menu items hand-written in ball-point pen.

    Thankfully at 8AM there is no wait for a table. The counter lady immediately shuttles us to a table of four already occupied by two other people. I glance briefly at the couple across from us, not sure whether to exchange pleasantries or just to ignore them.

    Luckily, a table for two opens up before we receive our food, and she motions for us to move again.
    Jia Jia Tang Bao
    We order two “steamer baskets” of xiao long baos (soup dumplings): regular pork (9 RM / $1.36 USD) and pork & crab (22.5 RMB / $3.40 USD). Because they make your dumplings to order, you have to wait about 10-15 minutes before you get your food.

    Meanwhile, you can marvel at the dumpling making action, visible right up front. Four young  ladies work in concert, churning out xiao long baos at expert speeds. This fascinating operation involves a carefully orchestrated flow of moving parts: one woman rolls out perfectly formed skins while another painstakingly wraps them, each dumpling receiving its 10 or so characteristic folds.
    Jia Jia Tang Bao
    If the dumpling dough begins running out, another woman starts kneading more dough and cutting out more dough chunks. Meanwhile, people are running back and forth between the steamers and the pile of ever growing dumplings. Throughout, the ladies chat and laugh with each other, making the job actually look fun.
    Jia Jia Tang Bao
    Before we knew it, our steaming dumplings arrived straight from the kitchen. Though you may question the cleanliness of the place, we were pleased to see our tiny sauce plates inside the steamer as well, nicely sanitized from the super hot steam.

    And then, the anticipated first bite.

    Cue fireworks.

    Wow.

    People were not kidding when they raved about this place! These dumplings are truly a piece of art. The skins are nice and thin, yet strong enough to hold the soup in place. We easily picked up the dumplings with our chopsticks without breaking a single one. I also loved the smaller size, something that was typical throughout Shanghai. I don't know why the ones on the US are so big and, more often than not, wrapped with a skin that is way to thick AND fragile at the same time.
    Jia Jia Tang Bao
    I absolutely loved the flavor of the pork dumplings. I actually liked them better than the ones at Din Tai Fung, which cost 4-5 (?) times as much. The pork and crab dumplings exploded with a deliciously strong crab flavor.  We both agreed that these were better than the more subtle-flavored crab dumplings at Din Tai Fung Shanghai, though they did not beat our ethereal crab dumpling experience at Din Tai Fung Beijing (yes, we went to both multiple times – more on those to come!).
    Jia Jia Tang Bao
    We loved Jia Jia Tang Bao so much, we ended up walking there for breakfast every morning for the rest of our trip. Where else can you have such a transcendent dumpling experience for less than $5 USD?

    Highly highly recommended.
    Jia Jia Tang Bao

    So wait, how does it compare to Din Tai Fung?
    In some ways, it’s so hard to do a true head to head comparison of these two restaurants because they are so different on so many levels.

    When it comes to your pure basic pork flavored xiao long bao, I prefer the flavor of the ones at Jia Jia Tang Bao. As for crab, we had different experiences at the different Din Tai Fungs, so that one is harder to judge. The Jia Jia Tang Bao ones are excellent and sit somewhere between the Beijing ones and the Shanghai ones (more on that later). As for pure dumpling construction skills, Din Tai Fung hands down makes a prettier and more sophisticated dumpling, complete with all those perfect folds in their full glory.

    Finally, Din Tai Fung has a much more beautiful ambiance, diverse menu, and full service. Of course, it also costs much much more.

    It’s really hard to compare the two head to head. I love the variety of dishes at Din Tai Fung, and some of their more exotic xiao long bao flavors are out of this world (more on THAT later too!).

    However, I would never pass up an opportunity to stop by Jia Jai Tang Bao for that real, authentic street experience. You just can’t beat that sometimes.

    Jia Jia Tang Bao is located on Huang He street (黄河路) right near People Square (which is where our hotel was located). It is a short walk from the People’s Square subway stop.  

    Come early. They only make a certain amount per day and will close once they sell out of everything. They have been known to run out as early as 1PM on really good days, though typically they are open until late afternoon/early evening.

    As a plus, you can visit Yang’s Fry Dumpling (best shen jian bao I’ve ever had), which is conveniently right across the street.
    Jia Jia Tang Bao
    Jia Jia Tang Bao
    90 Huanghe Lu
    Shanghai, China
    021-63276878

    This is part 7 of the China Series detailing my recent trip to Beijing, Xian, and Shanghai. 
    Other posts in this series: 
    part 1: Wander the Streets of Beijing
    part 2: Xian'r Lao Man (Dumplings)
    part 3: Made in China (Peking Duck)
    part 4: Noodle Bar
    part 5: Bao Yuan Dumpling
    part 6: Da Dong (Peking Duck)
    China: Lost in Translation
    Happy Birthday Bryan: an Ode to Noodles and Ducks

    ©2009-2014 Tiny Urban Kitchen
    All Rights Reserved

    More China

    • Changsha China
      Weekend Exploring Hunan Province and its Spicy Cuisine in Changsha China
    • Chengdu China - Sichuan Food
    • Visiting Giant Panda Breeding Research Base in Chengdu Sichuan Province
    • Chengdu Weekend Trip - Sichuan China

    Recent Posts

    • Les Enfants du Marche Paris March 18, 2023
    • Wong Kee Restaurant 旺記打冷小菜館 March 14, 2023
    • Frenchie Wine Bar (Frenchie Bar à Vins) March 13, 2023
    • Dublin Ireland Trip Report March 12, 2023
    • Palazzo Parigi Milan, Italy March 9, 2023
    • Ricard Camarena Valencia Spain February 28, 2023
    • chez Alain Miam Miam - Best sandwich in Paris France February 15, 2023
    • La Salita Valencia Spain January 16, 2023

    Reader Interactions

    Trackbacks

    1. 40 Bucket-List Foods Worth Traveling the World For - Airiters says:
      March 30, 2018 at 5:31 pm

      […] delicacy’s hometown, does it infinitely better. Peer through the window into the kitchen at Jia Jia Tang Bao to see expert hands folding perfect pleats and steamer baskets flying out to tables, where they […]

      Log in to Reply
    2. 25 Chinese Dishes You Must Eat in Shanghai, China - David's Been Here says:
      September 26, 2019 at 9:40 am

      […] of the most popular spots along Huanghe Road is Jia Jia Tang Bao, a sit-down restaurant that is easily recognizable from its white storefront and large, red Chinese […]

      Log in to Reply
    3. 5 Things You Should Do in Shanghai, China – Jetset Lifestyle Blog says:
      August 20, 2020 at 3:59 am

      […] vegetables. The variety of textures and flavors in each bite is unreal! Also, be sure to stop by Jia Jia Tang Bao, a restaurant that offers some of the best shrimp dumplings, pork dumplings, and egg drop soup on […]

      Log in to Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Jennifer Che Tiny Urban Kitchen
    Jennifer Che Tiny Urban Kitchen

    Hi, my name's Jen and welcome to my cooking, eating, and travel site! I am an expat who moved from Boston to Hong Kong 5 years ago. Born and raised in Ohio to Taiwanese immigrant parents, I am a chemistry nerd, patent attorney by day, blogger by night, church musician on weekends, and food enthusiast always. Feel free to explore away, maybe starting with the Recipe Index or one of the travel pages! I hope you enjoy this site!

    More about me →

    Explore

    • Recipe
    • Restaurant
    • US Travel
    • World Travel

    Popular Posts

    • Les Enfants du Marche Paris
    • Wong Kee Restaurant 旺記打冷小菜館
    • Frenchie Wine Bar (Frenchie Bar à Vins)
    • Ireland
      Dublin Ireland Trip Report

    Recipes

    • Appetizer
    • Snacks
    • Meat
    • Vegetables
    • Soup
    • Salad
    • Seafood
    • Noodles

    Recently Traveled

    • Hong Kong
    • France
    • Belgium
    • Boston
    • California
    • United Kingdom
    • Germany
    • Spain

    Support Us

    Recognition


    Featured on the front page
    of the FOOD Section: 2015

    Best Food Blog Awards:
    Restaurant & Dining 2012

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About Me
    • My Equipment
    • In the Press
    • Project Food Blog
    • Privacy Policy

    Eating Guides!

    Eating & Travel Guides
    Trip Reports
    "Kawaii" (Cute Foods)
    Around the World

    • Pinterest
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Twitter
    • LinkedIn
    • YouTube
    • Mail
    • RSS Feed

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Shop at Amazon

    Copyright © 2022 Tiny Urban Kitchen