CHINATOWN, MANHATTAN
Shanghai 21
Soup dumplings and soy-dark Shanghai fried noodles in a plain room at the foot of Mott Street.
At the bottom of Mott Street, near Chatham Square, Shanghai 21 is the kind of place Chinatown regulars send friends to when they want Shanghai cooking without the theatre: a plain, bright dining room, a long menu, and a line out the door on weekends.
The xiao long bao are the draw — hand-pleated, thin-skinned, full of hot broth, eaten from a spoon so nothing escapes. Then go Shanghainese: thick Shanghai fried noodles glossy with dark soy, scallion pancakes, and whatever braised dishes the table can manage. The menu wanders into other regions; the soup dumplings and the noodles are why you came.
Editor’s tip
Order soup dumplings and Shanghai fried noodles, and go on a weekday to skip the line.
Make an evening of it — beautiful stops nearby
Also in the neighborhood
Editorial draft — core details last reviewed October 13, 2026. Confirm practical details with the official site before you go.