Xiaolongbao

Xiaolongbao — Shanghai soup dumplings — are one of China's most beloved foods and Shanghai's most iconic culinary creation. Each dumpling contains a carefully folded parcel of minced pork and a small cube of aspic gelatin; when steamed, the gelatin melts into a rich soup broth trapped inside the thin skin. The correct technique: place in a spoon, bite a small hole in the skin, sip the soup, then eat the dumpling. The gold standard is Din Tai Fung (Taiwanese chain, consistent quality) but locals swear by Jia Jia Tang Bao and Nanxiang Steamed Bun Restaurant for the most authentic version.