Yang’s Dumpling, Shanghai 小杨生煎馆

Reviewer: Foodnut.com Yang's Dumpling 97 Huanghe Lu (near Fengyang Lu) Shanghai, China 5375 1793 Yang's Dumpling Website

Dumplings worth flying across the Pacific Ocean for…

Yang’s Dumpling – Chinese name: 小杨生煎馆 or xiao yang sheng jian guan 生煎包 – is a 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 many locations in Shanghai and are opening more all the time even in Austrailia. We dined at the Shanghai Huanghe location nearest to our hotel by 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 Summer 2025. In 2015 we also made a pilgrimage to Da Chun, which has been serving authentic Sheng Jian Bao since the 1950’s.

In 2025 we notice that they really upgraded the interior, making it far more commercial. It was very plain before, now it looks better. When we think about Shanghai, this is one of the first restaurants we start to drool over! They are that great and CHEAP.

This Yang’s Dumpling location is a great place to visit, because across the street is one of the top 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

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

Yang’s added to their menu in 2025. They have shrimp dumplings, pork/shrimp combo dumplings, dessert rice dumplings too. They have several soups & broths and now sell drinks.

Signature Dishes – Fried dumplings!

Yang’s Dumplings Picks:

Fried Pork Dumplings

Inside of Fried Dumpling

Yang’s Dumpling or Sheng jian bao (¥13 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.

2025: These are definitely better than Shu Cai Ji 舒蔡记. Better uniformity and bottoms. Definitely better than Dumpling Home in San Francisco. 9.5/10

Shrimp Dumpling (¥23 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.

Fried Pork Chop (¥14) is a classic Shanghai dish and done really well here.  Better than the one at Lai Lai. 10/10

Chinese Zong (¥8) comes with a plastic glove to remove it from the leaves.  It comes with lots of red beans and tasted pretty good. 9/10

Red bean soup with dumplings was thick and not very sweet. 8.5/10

Service – At Yang’s you order using the QR code on your table.  They bring you the food promptly. You have to get your own tea and napkins.

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

Verdict – Yang’s Dumpling makes the some of the best pan fried pork buns. 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 in the SF Bay Area, but not very close in quality to Yang’s Fry Dumpling quality.  There just isn’t the volume here to create them fresh.

 

Previous Yang’s Visits

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.

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.

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

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.

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