Two great food cities, two dim sum traditions. We compare the xiaolongbao, shao mai, and wontons from both cities side by side.
The dim sum rivalry between Shanghai and Hong Kong is one of the great food debates. Both cities claim mastery, but their approaches differ in fascinating ways.
Xiaolongbao: The Key Difference
Shanghai’s xiaolongbao are smaller, with thinner wrappers and a soupier filling compared to their Hong Kong counterparts. The wrapper delicacy is everything.
Shao Mai Comparison
Shao mai in Shanghai are sticky rice-based, while Hong Kong’s are packed with pork and shrimp. Both traditions are extraordinary in their own right.