What Is Shanghainese Cuisine? A Guide to Shanghai's Food Traditions
Discover what makes Shanghainese cuisine unique: soup dumplings, braised pork, cold appetizers, scallion oil noodles. Shanghai food culture explained.
Read article →Articles & Guides
Shanghai Taste Blogs
Guides, tips, and stories about Shanghainese cuisine — from how to eat soup dumplings to the traditions behind Chinese family-style dining.
Xiao Long Bao: The Complete Guide to Soup Dumplings
Everything you need to know about Xiao Long Bao (soup dumplings): how they are made, how to eat them without burning yourself, and where to find the best XLB in Rockville.
Read article →Beyond Soup Dumplings: A Guide to Chinese Dumpling Types
From wontons to bao to jiaozi, explore the different Chinese dumpling types. How they differ in wrapper, filling, cooking method, and regional origin.
Read article →Best Chinese Dishes for First-Time Diners: Where to Start
New to authentic Chinese food? Start here. A friendly guide to the best dishes for first-time diners: approachable, delicious, and nothing too challenging.
Read article →Chinese Dining Culture: Traditions, Etiquette, and Family-Style Eating
Explore the traditions behind Chinese family-style dining: lazy Susans, tea pouring etiquette, Lunar New Year food customs, and the meaning behind shared meals.
Read article →Xiao Long Bao in Rockville, MD: A Guide to Finding Great Soup Dumplings
Where to find authentic Xiao Long Bao in Rockville, MD. What makes great soup dumplings, what to order, and why handmade XLB taste different from the rest.
Read article →Sheng Jian Bao: The Pan-Fried Shanghai Pork Buns You Need to Try
What is Sheng Jian Bao? How Shanghai's pan-fried pork buns differ from soup dumplings, how to eat them, and what makes great SJB.
Read article →Best Soup Dumplings Near Washington, DC: A DMV Guide
Where to find the best soup dumplings (Xiao Long Bao) near Washington, DC. A DMV guide to authentic, handmade XLB just north of the city in Rockville, MD.
Read article →Hong Shao Rou: Shanghai's Red-Braised Pork Belly
What is Hong Shao Rou? A guide to Shanghai red-braised pork belly: the dark soy, rock sugar, and Shaoxing wine braise that defines Shanghainese home cooking.
Read article →Scallion Oil Noodles: Shanghai's Simplest Iconic Dish
What are scallion oil noodles? A guide to Cong You Ban Mian, Shanghai's iconic noodle dish of slow-fried scallions, soy, and sugar over springy wheat noodles.
Read article →Chinese Cold Appetizers: A Guide to Shanghai Liang Cai
What are Chinese cold appetizers? A guide to Shanghai liang cai: drunken chicken, smoked fish, marinated tofu, and cold salads that open a Shanghainese meal.
Read article →Best Sichuan Food in Rockville, MD: Why We Recommend China Jade
Looking for authentic Sichuan food near Rockville? China Jade serves real-deal málà cuisine — mapo tofu, kung pao chicken, dan dan noodles, and more. Here is why we recommend them.
Read article →Best Sichuan Food in Falls Church, VA: Why We Recommend Hong Kong Palace
Craving authentic Sichuan food in Northern Virginia? Hong Kong Palace in Falls Church serves real málà cooking — cumin lamb, dry-fried green beans, Chongqing chicken, and dan dan noodles. Here is why we recommend them.
Read article →Chinese New Year Dinner: What to Eat and What Every Dish Means
A guide to the Chinese New Year reunion dinner: the lucky foods, what each dish symbolizes, and how to plan a Lunar New Year meal to share family-style.
Read article →Drunken Chicken (Zui Ji): Shanghai's Shaoxing-Wine Cold Dish
What is drunken chicken? A guide to Zui Ji, the Shanghainese cold appetizer of poached chicken steeped in Shaoxing rice wine — how it is made and how to eat it.
Read article →Shanghai Wontons and Wonton Soup: A Guide to Xiao Hun Tun
What are Shanghai wontons? A guide to xiao hun tun and wonton soup: how they differ from Cantonese wontons and from dumplings, and how they are served.
Read article →Best Chinese Takeout in Rockville, MD: What to Order for Pickup
Where to get the best Chinese takeout in Rockville, MD. Which dishes travel well, what to order for pickup, and how to get authentic Shanghainese food to go.
Read article →Lion's Head Meatballs (Shi Zi Tou): Shanghai's Giant Braised Pork Meatballs
What are lion's head meatballs? A guide to Shi Zi Tou, the oversized braised pork meatballs of Shanghai and Huaiyang cooking — how they are made and how to eat them.
Read article →About the Author
Written by the culinary team at Shanghai Taste, a women-owned, Asian-owned Shanghainese restaurant in Rockville, MD. We have been hand-pleating Xiao Long Bao and cooking Shanghai family recipes since we opened. All guides reflect our firsthand experience in the kitchen. Learn more about us or read our reviews.