Dim Sum · Sheng Jian Bao
Three pan-fried pork buns — think xiao long bao crossed with a fluffy steamed bun. Crispy golden bottom, pillowy top, pork and broth filling. The Sheng Jian Bao format, and at $7 for three, the best per-piece value in the dim sum section.
Pan Fried Pork Buns are the sheng jian bao of the Ugly Dumpling dim sum menu — a Shanghai street food that predates the more internationally famous XLB by at least a century. Where soup dumplings are all about delicacy and restraint, sheng jian bao are about contrast: the crunch of the fried base against the soft, steam-puffed top is the entire point of the dish.
The dough is a lightly leavened wheat dough, richer and thicker than the XLB wrapper. It's portioned into rounds, filled with a pork and aspic mixture, then folded and sealed pleated-side up. The buns proof briefly, then go into a flat-bottomed pan with oil. A lid goes on, and the dual cooking method begins — frying the bottom crispy while steaming the top through. The result is a bun that is simultaneously fried and steamed, tender and crunchy.
At $7 for three, the per-piece math is about $2.33 — cheaper per unit than any of the six-piece dumplings at $9. If you are ordering dim sum for the table, these are the first item to add for value and crowd appeal.
Per full order (3 pieces). Estimates based on standard recipe; actual values may vary.
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 420 |
| Protein | 18 g |
| Carbohydrates | 46 g |
| Fat | 18 g |
| Sodium | 760 mg |
Allergens: Wheat, Soy, Pork.
At $7 for 3, these are the most cost-efficient item in the entire dim sum section. The pork dumplings and chicken dumplings give you more pieces (6) but at $9 — that's $1.50 per piece vs $2.33 here. However, the size of a pan fried bun is considerably larger than a steamed dumpling, so the actual food-per-dollar still tilts in the buns' favor.
Every other item in the dim sum section is fully steamed. The pan fried pork buns are the only fried option — and that contrast is worth ordering just for variety. If your table is getting a flight of dumplings, adding one order of these rounds out the experience with a completely different preparation.
The flat bottom fries until deep golden and crackly — the defining characteristic of authentic sheng jian bao and the reason this dish has a devoted following.
Like the XLB, these contain aspic mixed into the pork filling that melts into hot broth during cooking — giving you a soup-burst inside the larger bun.
The lowest entry price in the dim sum section, and the item that makes ordering a full dim sum spread feel affordable. Add one order to any table without hesitation.
