Shanghai You Garden

Shanghai You Garden is named after the Yu Garden in the Old City section of Shanghai, which borders one of the longest-standing xiao long bao spots called Nanxiang Bun Shop. If you’re interested in trying the city’s best xiao long bao, or you’re just looking for great dim sum lunch with a group, prioritize Shanghai You Garden. 

At their spot in Flushing, you can choose between 10 varieties of xiao long bao, all dyed with different colors so you’ll be able to tell what you’re eating from the exterior, tender skin. Our favorites are the classic, bright-yellow crab and pork (whose broth tastes noticeably crabbier and more clarified than most other versions in the city) and a giant thick-skinned version where you slurp the soup out of a straw. Get a bunch, cheers with your friends, and then proceed to suck out the meaty soup out of a gargantuan straw. Make sure to order a plate of pan-fried pork buns that have a thick exterior and crispy bottoms, or a half peking duck for $20.