Yang’s Dumpling, Shanghai

Reviewer: Foodnut.com

Yang's Fry Dumpling

97 Huanghe Lu (near Fengyang Lu)

Shanghai, China

5375 1793

Yang's Fry Dumpling Website

Dumplings worth flying across the Pacific Ocean for…

Yangs Dumpling Shanghai exterior decor

Yang’s Dumpling – Chinese name: 小杨生煎馆 or xiao yang sheng jian guan – is a small but popular fried dumpling shop serving pan fried pork bun or Sheng jian bao, a Shanghainese Chinese dish. It was formed in Shanghai in 1994 by Mrs. Yang, who still keeps her recipe secret. They have over 20 locations in Shanghai and are opening another more all the time. We dined at the closest location to our hotel near People’s Square.

Yang’s had a line when we went there, as is the case most of the time because the dumplings are cooked in batches. Our first visit was in 2010, our latest at the beginning of 2015. In 2015 we also made a pilgrimage to Da Chun, which has been serving authentic Sheng Jian Bao since the 1950’s.

Yangs Dumpling Shanghai interior decor

In 2015 we notice that they really upgraded the interior. It was pretty plain before, now it looks decent. (Unlike the unchanged Jia Jia across the street) When we think about Shanghai, this is one of the first restaurants we start to drool over! They are that great. This Yang’s Dumpling location is a great place to visit, because across the street is one of the best Shanghai steamed dumpling or Xiao long bao restaurants; Jia Jia Tang Bao, so do not eat too much at any one place. Yang’s is one of those MUST visit hole in the wall places.

Making Dumplings


How they cook Yang’s Dumplings

Yangs Dumpling Shanghai cooking dumplings 2

Decor, Vibe – This location of Yang’s Dumpling has good decor, air conditioning, and was fairly clean. Labor is cheap in China, someone was always watching and cleaning up. A different location in a shopping mall was newer and even nicer. Yang’s was full of locals getting their breakfast dumpling and noodle fix. Lots of to go orders.

Yang’s Dumpling Menu

Yangs Dumpling Shanghai menu

Yang’s added to their menu in 2015. They have shrimp dumplings, pork/shrimp combo dumplings too. They have several soups & broths and now sell drinks.

Signature Dishes – Fried dumplings!

Full image set

Yang’s Dumplings Picks:

Yangs Dumpling Shanghai Pork Dumplings

Fried Dumplings

Yangs Fry Dumplings Shanghai Yangs Fried Dumpling inside

Inside of Fried Dumpling

Yang’s Dumpling or Sheng jian bao (6¥ for 4) are crunchy on top and filled with pipping hot and delicious soup. These are so big and hot, you need to wait for them to cool down. Take a small bite and suck the massive amounts of soup out slowly, before proceeding. The wrapper is thin but chewy and thicker on top, so these dumplings do not get soggy when dipped in their special vinegar soy sauce dip. Each bit gets some soft texture along with a bit of the crunch. Yang’s has a big bundle of finely chopped pork inside. Sesame seeds top off the surface. These are cooked in a huge cast iron skillet.

Yangs Dumpling Shanghai Shrimp dumplings

Shrimp Dumpling (16¥ for 4) We had to try the new version. These bad boys are good, but we still prefer the original. They are so hot, we burnt our tongue. Be careful.

Yangs Fry Dumplings Shanghai Pork Wonton Soup

Pork Wonton (8¥) had small and tender wontons, but lots of them. Broth was on the salty side. Hey, we are here for the dumplings.

Yangs Fry Dumplings Shanghai Tofu Puff Vermicelli Soup

Tofu Puff with Vermicelli Soup (10¥) had 2 large tofu balls with some firm pork inside. Lots of clear vermicelli noodles in a piping hot chicken flavored broth.

Yangs Fry Dumplings Shanghai Hot and sour rice Noodles

Hot and sour rice Noodles (9¥) had a very spicy broth that is hard to drink, but the noodle were tender and good.

OK:
None

Pans:
None

Service – At Yang’s you order in one line, and wait in another line for the next batch of dumplings. Noodles are delivered to your table.

Value – Incredibly cheap and tasty. Great for breakfast, lunch, or a snack before your flight. You could order everything on the menu and pay less for lunch in the US.

Verdict – Yang’s Dumpling makes the best pan fried pork buns we have ever had. We have eaten here every time we visit Shanghai. Someone needs to replicate them in the USA. Shanghai Flavor Shop in Sunnyvale is the best we have, but not very close to Yang’s Fry Dumpling quality.  There just isn’t the volume here to create them fresh.

This Yang’s Location Subway: Peoples Square

Other Shanghai reviews: 2010 Shanghai mini Restaurant Reviews, Din Tai Fung, Fu 1039, Jia Jia Tang Bao, South Beauty, Yang’s Fry Dumplings, 6Sens Shanghai Expo.

Restaurant Map:


Yang's Fry Dumpling Overall Rating: (Very Good 2.5)

Come Back?

Food Rating: (Excellent)
Service Rating: (Good)
Atmosphere Rating: (Good)
Value Rating: (Excellent)

Guide: 0 = poor, 1 = Below/Average, 2 = Good, 2.5 = Very Good, 3 = Excellent , 4 = Extraordinary

Alcohol:No
Attire:Casual
Hours:6am - Midnight
Parking:Street
Reservations:No
Prices:4¥ - 15¥

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14 Comments

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    August 22, 2010 at 12:02 am

    […] the juice, then devour them. This is a great place to visit because across the street is a great Yang’s Fried Dumpling restaurant, so do not eat too much. Jia Jia Tang Bao runs out of dumplings in the afternoon so come […]

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    October 4, 2010 at 4:38 pm

    […] and tender skinned. Better than Shanghai Flavor in Sunnyvale. About as good as it gets in the US.  Yang’s Fry Dumpling is the best we’ve had in Shanghai. Yang’s are freshly made and have a ton of soup […]

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    […] Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao also had better Xiaolongbao. Also be sure to eat Pan Fried pork buns at Yang’s Dumplings. Dine at their Southern California location to get a taste of […]

  • Yummy yum yums in Shanghai « Sus and Dave in Changwon!
    January 9, 2012 at 10:39 pm

    […] I have ever had anywhere in the world.  No question.  If you are ever in Shanghai, please go to Yang’s Fried Dumpling Restaurant.   They were incredible and might seriously be the most compelling reason to go back to that […]

  • Snippets of Shanghai | Twice as Delicious
    December 6, 2012 at 8:13 am

    […] 小杨生煎 – Do you know that pan fried dumplings can be juicer than soup dumplings? 小杨 made it possible! These dumplings were so addictive that we went back 4 times over the weekend.    […]

  • Beijing and Shanghai next week - FlyerTalk Forums
    November 23, 2014 at 8:37 am

    […] Wolf, Wolf". I almost died and have never been back to Beijing. I was in a very nice area. http://www.foodnut.com/584/yangs-fry…view-shanghai/ Be sure to poke a hole in the dumpling to let it cool off or you'll burn your […]

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    September 7, 2015 at 8:13 am

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    April 29, 2016 at 8:30 am

    […] the best. However, they did make my top 3. The best soup dumplings in Shanghai were, in my opinion, Yang’s Dumplings. As noted in that review, it’s definitely one of those must visit hole-in-the-wall […]

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    November 7, 2017 at 5:41 pm

    […] 小杨生煎 – Do you know that pan fried dumplings can be juicer than soup dumplings? 小杨 made it possible! These dumplings were so addictive that we went back nth times over the weekend. […]

  • Postcard Press Picks: Yang's Fry Dumplings - Postcard Press
    December 4, 2018 at 6:46 am

    […] of locations throughout Shanghai; although, Google may not know where more than two are. The one everyone recommends is in the center of the city on Huanghe Road, near People’s Square. This location is destined to […]

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    […] reminisce about Yangs Fry Dumpling in Shanghai, these come closest. Even better than Shanghai Flavor Shop in Sunnyvale. Special Noodle in Newark […]

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