Spring may be here, but there’s never a bad time to grab one of cold weather’s best comfort foods: soup dumplings, or xiaolongbao. Translating to “small basket buns,” xiaolongbao deliver a beautifully wrapped gift of flavor and comfort all in a single bite (or a few, depending on how you eat it). This delectable dish is generally served as an appetizer to share, but honestly ordering a steamed basket of 6 to 8 dumplings for yourself is just about as normal as it gets these days.
Approach these thinly wrapped dumplings filled with hot soup with caution, as they can be dangerous to handle. Because of that there’s a bit of debate about which way is the “correct” way to eat soup dumplings. Try the classic format: place the dumpling in a large spoon, take a small bite on the side to break the skin, and check the temperature of the soup. Then, slowly drink some of the steaming soup. Once it’s cooled down, pop the rest in your mouth.
The late Anthony Bourdain described soup dumplings as “pillows of happiness,” and their flavors and textures bring delight, comfort, and surprise. So don’t miss out: Philly is not short on places that offer pillows of happiness of all kinds.
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