AsiaFoodGuideTaiwan

5 Best Places in Taiwan to Satisfy Your Xiao Long Bao Cravings

Apart from bubble tea, one of the most popular dishes tourists love to fly to Taiwan for is xiao long bao. These dumplings, which literally translate to “small basket buns,” are delicate soup dumplings, filled with tasty meat filling and savory broth, then carefully placed in bamboo baskets. It’s accompanied by a dipping sauce, usually made of black vinegar and ginger, or chili oil for that extra flavor. 

Xiao long bao is traditionally served during breakfast. No one really knows whose idea it was to create this culinary gem, but all that’s known is that it originated in Shanghai outskirts. Though it came from China, it’s Taiwan that popularized this dish globally that’s why if you’re in the country, don’t miss xiao long bao aside from your trusty bubble teas. 

 

The proper way to eat xiao long bao

Eating xiao long bao can be quite tricky–devour it whole or you’ll end up scalding your tongue. If you’re an XLB newbie, the proper way to eat it is the best way to enjoy it. 

via Wikimedia Commons

First, gently place the xiao long bao on your spoon and carefully tear a small hole to let the steam out. Then, pour some sauce into the hole. Lastly, slurp the broth and eat the dumpling in one bite! Others prefer to dip the dumpling in the sauce before eating it a la dim sum, but the former is the best way to eat it.

Now that you know the how-tos of xiao long bao, let’s now go to the exciting part of the adventure– eating time! Here are some of the best places to eat xiao long bao in Taiwan. 

 

Din Tai Fung

via Din Tai Fung website

When talking about xiao long bao, Din Tai Fung is always the first restaurant that comes to mind. After all, it’s Taiwan’s very own Din Tai Fung that popularized these soup dumplings. What makes their XLB world-famous is its consistency: the soup’s fat content, the perfect balance of meat and starch, and the flavorsome sauce. When planning to dine in, make sure to come early or book a reservation because waiting times can get up to an hour long due to high demand.

Location: 407 Xitun District, Section 3, Taiwan Blvd, Taichung City, Taiwan (with several branches in Taiwan)
Website: https://www.dintaifung.com.tw/eng/ 

 

Sheng Yuan

via Sheng Yuan website

After visiting the Chiang Kai Shel Memorial Hall, head to Sheng Yuan for your dose of dumplings for lunch. It’s just opposite the attraction, but the place can get pretty packed by lunch or dinner. Come by to enjoy their version of a vegetable dumpling, which has a nice, filling bite. Sample their steamed dumplings with mushrooms and their stinky tofu as well. Lastly, end your dumpling dining with their famous shigua steamed dumpling, which is the star of Sheng Yuan. 

Location: No. 1, Lane 25, Section 2, Hángzhōu South Rd, Daan District, Taiwan
Website: https://shengyuan.com.tw/en/ 

 

Kao Chi (Gao Ji)

via Kao Chi website

If you’re looking for a variety of food, Gao Ji is a good place to try more than just dumplings. They serve Shanghai cuisine, with noodles, fried rice, vermicelli soup, and pan-fried pork buns. But if you want to try their dumplings, you’ve got to taste their steamed crab roe xiao long bao that’s oozing with flavors. Theirs is more on a melt-in-your-mouth kind of xiao long bao, so if you prefer your dumplings that way, you’ll love Gao Ji’s style. Gao Ji is located along Yong Kang Street, which is a known foodie haven in Taipei

Location: No.150, Section 1, Fuxing South Road, Da’an, Taipei, Taiwan
Website: https://www.kao-chi.com/ 

 

Wu Hua Ma Dumpling House

via Wu Hua Ma Facebook

Quick bites are what you’ll expect at Wu Hua Ma. It’s not a restaurant for grand dining experiences, as it’s like a fast food joint that serves dumplings and other local dishes. Nonetheless, their xiao long bao is still tasty and still worth an order. If you want to try something new, order their pork and sweet potato leaves dumplings. They offer affordable dumplings, but also try their beef noodle soup perfectly on a winter day. 

Location: No. 23, Longjiang Road, Zhongshan District, Taipei City, Taiwan
Website: https://www.tw.wuhuama.biz/ 

Mingyue Soup Dumplings

If you can’t be bothered to wait for an hour or so for Din Tai Fung, Mingyue is another well-known restaurant serving xiao long bao. Locals recommend their version of xiao long bao, which has the perfect ratio of broth to meat filling and is good without the need for sauce. It’s affordable and less crowded compared to others, though it sometimes gets packed during rush hour. 

Location: No. 162-4, Section 2, Keelung Road, Daan District, Taipei City

Hao Kung Tao Chin Chi Yuan (Jin Ji Yuan)

Hao Kung Tao Chin Chi Yuan is another place you should try in Taiwan. It’s been awarded the Michelin Bib Gourmand Award, given to restaurants with a value-for-money distinction, so if you’re aiming to eat somewhere that’s not as expensive as other XLB restaurants, this is your top choice. This unassuming two-story Shanghainese restaurant is known for its large soup dumplings–which means you get more meat and broth in one! They also have vegetable and meat dumplings and even shrimp, if you’re not too much of a meat fan. Apart from the dumplings, what its usual customers really love about it would be the onion cake and pork roll.

Location: No. 28-1, Yongkang St, Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan

Want to learn more about the art of xiao long bao? Why not join a cooking class in Taiwan? Learn to cook these soup dumplings on your own by joining a Xiao long bao experience!

 

 

Love to explore more of Taiwan’s best foodie destinations? Browse through KKDay experiences you may book and have the best food trip of your life in Taiwan!

 

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