小笼包 ($4.50) & 锅贴 ($6)!
A Shanghainese dumpling pair: a steamer of xiao long bao and a plate of crispy-bottomed guotie (pan-fried dumplings). $10.50.
A dumpling lunch with BB, ordering both steamed and fried from a Shanghainese stall: 小笼包 ($4.50) and 锅贴 ($6). 🥟😋
What we had ($10.50 total):
- Xiao long bao: a steamer of soup dumplings
- Guotie: pan-fried dumplings
Getting both lets you compare the two ways of doing a dumpling, which is the fun of it. The xiao long bao came neatly pleated in a bamboo steamer, the thin skins holding hot soup around a juicy pork filling. The ritual is the same as always: lift one onto your spoon, add some shredded ginger in vinegar, nip a hole to let the steam out, sip the broth first, then eat the rest. The vinegar cuts the richness nicely.
The guotie were the crispy counterpart, pan-fried so the bottoms turned golden and crunchy while the tops stayed soft from steaming, with lacy crisp skirts where the batter had caught. No soup inside these, just a solid, savoury filling, so you can eat them in a couple of bites. That crispy-bottom, soft-top contrast is exactly the point.
One delicate and soupy, one crispy and hearty, they made a great pair. Good value at $10.50.
Overall: 4.4 / 5. 😋👍🏼 Juicy soup-filled xiao long bao and crispy-bottomed guotie, the best of steamed and fried. Would re-order.
