Joe’s Shanghai.

9 Pell Street. That’s the address you need to know first.

Joe’s Shanghai has been serving soup dumplings in this city since 1995, and there is a reason the line still wraps around the corner on weekends. The xiao long bao here ($8-12 for an order) are the real deal. Thin skin, scalding hot broth inside, and enough pork flavor to make you forget every frozen dumpling you’ve ever microwaved.

You will share a table with strangers. This is not a suggestion, it’s the layout. Order the crab and pork soup dumplings if you’re feeling fancy. I always do.

Joe’s Shanghai has been a beacon of Chinatown since opening in 1995 and is celebrated for bringing Shanghainese cuisine to NYC. The restaurant’s signature soup dumplings (Xiao Long Bao) draw in droves of tourists and locals alike. The delicately wrapped dumplings are filled with a flavorful broth and meat filling, typically pork or pork & crab, and are a testament to the intricate skills of Shanghainese cooking.

The art of eating these dumplings – lifting them gently with chopsticks, poking a small hole to release the steam, and savoring the rich, warm broth inside – is part of the experience. Joe’s Shanghai’s success in delivering an authentic and memorable dining experience helped garner a reputation as one of the best restaurants in Chinatown.