Lailai Snack Dumpling
★ 4.4 ｜ 492 reviews
Shanghai soup dumplings · Crab roe specialty · Busy local spot
📍 504 Tian Jin Lu, Huang Pu Qu, Shang Hai Shi, China, 200001
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Hours
- Monday: 8:00 AM – 9:30 PM
- Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 9:30 PM
- Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 9:30 PM
- Thursday: 8:00 AM – 9:30 PM
- Friday: 8:00 AM – 9:30 PM
- Saturday: 8:00 AM – 9:30 PM
- Sunday: 8:00 AM – 9:30 PM
The full picture
Lailai Snack Dumpling is a bustling, authentic local eatery tucked away near Nanjing Road, celebrated for its specialized crab-filled xiaolongbao and traditional Shanghainese snacks.
It suits solo travelers, groups of friends, and families seeking a high-energy, local dining atmosphere.
Arrive before the restaurant opens or just before noon to navigate the heavy queues that form daily.
💡 Expect to order and pay at the counter first before being directed to a table, often on the upper floor.
Visitors love
- juicy crab xiaolongbao
- crispy fried pork steak
- fast service
- authentic flavors
- good price for quality
Some note
- long queues to enter
- noisy and rushed atmosphere
- expensive crabmeat rice dish
- strong smell of crab noodles
Good to know
- is it good for kids?
- Yes, families visit and items like wontons and pork dumplings are generally kid-friendly.
- is it OK on a rainy day?
- Yes, the restaurant offers indoor seating across two floors, though queues often extend outside.
- how long should I stay?
- Service is fast, so a typical meal takes between 30 to 60 minutes once seated.
- is a reservation needed?
- Not mentioned in reviews.
Visitor reviews
★★★★★
We arrived shortly before noon on a Friday (gladly to no queue despite the already full restaurant), were promptly directed to order and pay at the counter, then ushered upstairs for the available table.
The noise, the rush, the energy - all as anticipated, but still it gave us a jolt 🤓
Food came out fast - all hot and delicious: pork xiaolongbao, mini pork wonton soup, fried pork cutlet, crab spring roll, crabmeat over rice (we wanted just the steam rice for the nephews but they did not have, and this order alone doubled up the entire bill, but it was tasty with lots of crab roe).
Will we
★★★★
This is something I can genuinely recommend to others for the reason that it is genuinely delicious. Unlike other dishes we tried in Shanghai which tasted a bit different from the ones in Manila, this one tasted familiar and very much the same as home. But first, you need to locate their store which is along a narrow side street at the back of Nanjing road. The entrance is small and you will see people both inside and outside waiting for their table. After we got ours, we immediately ordered the Pork and Crab Xiao long bao, the Pork and Shrimp Xiao long bao and the Pure Crab Xiao long bao. The
★★★★★
There was a long queue before the restaurant even opened, with both locals and tourists waiting in line. The Crab Xiao Long Bao was good, with juicy and flavorful filling inside. I also recommend the Fried Pork Steak, it was crispy on the outside and not greasy at all.
★★★★★
First time trying crab noodles.. it's delicious but not my taste, because the smell is too strong for me. But if you like it, add vinegar and a little chili to make it delicious. For me, the delicious ones are the wanton and dumplings.. the price is okay for this kind of quality.
★★★★★
One of a kind place that anyone that is coming to Shanghai must visit either on their own with their best friend or in a group. The food is delicious that a very good price and you can really feel the authenticity of all the dishes and flavors. It was really a nice experience to come here and we will definitely come back if we are in the city again.