# Xiaolongbao (小籠包)

> Soup dumplings — a thimble of hot broth sealed inside a pleated wrapper, famous in Taipei even though the idea came from Jiangnan.

- Category: iconic-dish
- Also known as: soup dumplings, xiao long bao, XLB
- Spice: none
- Vegetarian-friendly: no
- Typical price: NT$220–360 for a steamer of ten at a serious shop
- Regions: Taipei, island-wide
- Related night markets: —
- Last verified: 2026-09-11

Xiaolongbao is a Shanghai-region dumpling that Taipei turned into a pilgrimage. The trick is aspic: seasoned stock set into jelly, chopped into the filling, then steamed until it becomes soup again. A proper dumpling sloshes. A tourist dumpling is a meatball in a thick coat.

Din Tai Fung taught half the planet the ritual, which is both a gift and a problem. The chain is consistent, the lines are real, and you will eat well. You will also sit in a room designed for the photograph. If that bothers you, go to a smaller dumpling house at 2 p.m. on a weekday.

## How to eat it

Do not pop the whole thing in your mouth unless you enjoy hospital burns. The boring method is the right one:

1. Lift the dumpling by the pleat with a spoon underneath.
2. Nibble a hole, drink the soup.
3. Dip in **black vinegar** with a few threads of ginger.
4. Eat the rest.

Count the pleats if you must — eighteen is the show-off number — but thickness of the skin matters more. You should see shadow, not pasta.

## How to order

A steamer of ten is a shared start, not a full meal. Add noodles or a cucumber salad if you are actually hungry. Vegetarian xiaolongbao exist in some chain restaurants; they are a different object, usually without the soup. Night markets will sell “soup dumplings” from a cart. They are rarely worth the scald.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is xiaolongbao?

Xiaolongbao are steamed dumplings with a pork filling and aspic that melts into soup when cooked. You eat them so the broth stays inside until you bite.

### Is xiaolongbao spicy?

No. The usual dip is black vinegar and ginger. Chili crisp is a personal choice, not part of the dumpling.

### Where should I try xiaolongbao in Taipei?

Sit-down dumpling houses, not night markets. Din Tai Fung made the dumpling internationally famous; smaller shops in Yongkang and East Taipei often have shorter lines and thinner skins. If the wrapper is thick and doughy, you are in the wrong steamer.