Have you ever had a “fry dumpling,” otherwise known as shen jian bao in Chinese?
Until I visited China, my only experience with this unique street snack was in Boston Chinese restaurants. The ones I had were usually normal big Chinese baos (pork filled steamed buns) pan fried so that they were a bit charred on the bottom. They tasted alright, but I never thought they were anything special.
Now I realize I just hadn’t ever tried a real shen jian bao.
In Shanghai, after finishing two delicious steamer baskets full of xiao long baos (Chinese soup dumplings) from Jia Jia Tang Bao, we hopped across the street to sample the famous Yang’s Fry Dumplings (小杨生煎).
It’s really fun to visit Yang’s because you get to watch them make the shen jian baos right in front of you. A guy pan-fries dozens of baos in this HUGE wok-like pan, sprinkling in various things like water, oil, or sesame seeds throughout the process. 
The whole process takes about 10-15 minutes. Between batches, the line of hungry customers slowly but steadily grows. The moment the baos are done cooking, a server doles out the freshly cooked baos to the hungry guests, who anxiously carry away bags of this stuff to work, home, or wherever they are headed.
We didn’t really have a place to sit, so we just stood on the street and devoured these little delectable baos.
SQUIRT!!
Gahh!! These baos were filled with SOUP! Can you believe it?
Just imagine . . . a hot, steaming bun filled with a juicy soup-filled porky center, complete with a perfectly crunchy wok-seared bottom. It was soooo satisfying and soooo good.
Yes, definitely messy to eat, but totally worth it!
We didn’t try anything else here (we were still a bit full from the xiao long baos), but I’m pretty certain this is by far their most famous and popular item. It’s worth the wait for the fresh ones, plus it’s fun to watch them make it. Again, an order of six baos only costs around $1 USD . . . such a steal for something that is eons better than any version I’ve had in Boston.
Details
Yang’s Fry Dumpling has multiple locations throughout Shanghai. We went to the one at 97 Huang He Road (right across the street from Jia Jia Tang Bao) within walking distance of People’s Square.
Yang’s Fry Dumpling
97 Huanghe Lu
Shanghai, China
021-88984398
This is part 8 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)
part 7: Jia Jia Tang Bao (Soup dumplings / xiao long bao)
China: Lost in Translation
Happy Birthday Bryan: an Ode to Noodles and Ducks
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Crispy bottom, soupy middle and soft/tender top…wow. In Kyrgyzstan you can get steamed as well as deep fried manty, the Central Asian version of the Chinese dumpling. Delicious but very fatty…
Sounds like the perfect snack! You know when you have to wait in a line that it’s gotta be good!
I love these! I wish I could find a recipe to make them at home.
I love shen jian bao – but I love them only sporadically, because if I eat them as often as I’d like they will truly, truly make me dumpling-shaped….!
Yes agreed! We went to Jia Jia Tang Bao almost everyday, but my husband said no to Yang’s after one day because they would be too “greasy” for breakfast. 🙂
There is a place in the Lower East Side in New York called Vanessas’ who makes the best umplings yet. You can eat there…very small place or you can by frozen 50 for about $9.00.
Happy New Year!
That one right there is probably one of the biggest wok I have seen in my life. I guess I’ll see more of that in China and its making me more excited about this upcoming trip.
Nothing like hitting up jia jia tang bao and yang’s in one go…my gf and i had a weekly routine to pick up a bubble milk tea on the way, with a stop at jia jia and yang – sometimes multiple times a week! Those were the days…thanks for the trip down memory lane 🙂
Lucky you got to live in Shanghai! I imagine it must have been great fun!
Yang’s Fry Dumpling is the bomb. They need to franchise in the US.
these are really yummy! since i live in shanghai this my daily breakfast when i was on collage. i always buy this alternating between steam buns , qian ceng bing ( chinese style flat bread ) , and ji dan bing ( like crepes , but inside are egg , veggies and crispy wontons ) with fresh soymilk. when you come here again you should contact me , i could show you around. shanghai filled with yummy things .