08/20/17
This hidden gem, frequently visited and revered by locals, is located near the Xintiandi area of Shanghai on Jianguo West Road. Lin Long Fang is a no frills, straight to the chase, soup dumpling joint serving perhaps the best xiaolongbao (小龍包) in a city that's world famous for this staple dish. The dish to get here is the classic pork soup dumplings. While not every dumpling is aesthetically pleasing like those served at Din Tai Fung, what these dumplings lack in style, they make up for double in flavor. The texture of the dumpling skin is thin, soft, and delicate, and the meat filling is bursting with juicy pork goodness. The soup inside the dumplings deliver a perfect balance of heartiness and finesse. The key to a great xiaolongbao is finding the correct ratio of dumpling skin to filling to soup amount, and Lin Long Fang achieves this to perfection. Top the dumpling with a sliver of ginger, and dip it in the soy sauce and vinegar concoction offered tableside, and you just set yourself for a bite of xiaolongbao heaven. These little pillows of joy come in a set of 12 pieces per order for 16 RMB (~$2.40USD), which is an absolute steal of a deal. You can also opt for the salty egg pork soup dumplings (21 RMB/~3.15USD) or the crab roe pork soup dumplings (26 RMB/~3.90USD). But any xiaolongbao connoisseur knows, the classic pork soup dumpling is the way to go. You could go to Din Tai Fung, and pay 4 times the price for a fraction of the serving size, or go to the rival sister chain at Jia Jia Tang Bao near People's Square and wait an hour in line with all the other tourists for your meal. But if you want a truly authentic experience, and taste the soul of Shanghai, Lin Long Fang is the place for you. Lin Long Fang is open every day from 7am-7:30pm, Monday - Sunday, but the classic pork dumplings run out fast, so it's best to visit for breakfast or lunch.