There’s a difference between a good soup dumpling and one that makes you close your eyes mid-bite. Shanghai River gave us the second kind.
My partner and I have been meaning to check this place out for a while. It’s one of those Richmond restaurants that’s been around forever (since 2004, apparently) and keeps showing up in every “best xiao long bao in Vancouver” list. It’s on Westminster Highway, right near Richmond Centre, and on a busy night the wait can be real. We went during a quieter window and got seated pretty quickly.
The soup dumplings
We got two kinds: the classic pork xiao long bao and the crab meat version. Both arrived in bamboo steamers, still piping hot.
The classic pork ones came in a bigger basket — 8 plump little dumplings, delicate folds, thin enough skin that you could see the soup shifting inside when you lifted one with your chopsticks. You bite a tiny hole, let the broth cool for a second, sip, and then eat the rest. The soup was savoury, slightly sweet, with that warmth that just feels like comfort food done right. These alone are worth the trip.
But the crab meat xiao long bao? A different level. They came in a smaller basket of 5, each one topped with a little crown of golden crab roe. You can tell they’re the premium option — fewer per basket, pricier, and the broth inside is noticeably richer. It’s like the soup has more depth to it, more layered, a little sweeter. If you’re going to splurge on one thing at Shanghai River, make it these.
Honestly, between both baskets, we were already pretty full. The soup dumplings are more filling than you’d expect. Next time I’d probably just order both types and call it a meal.
The braised bean curd
We also ordered a braised bean curd dish — golden fried tofu pieces in a savoury, slightly spicy sauce with slices of ham, mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and red peppers. It was tasty and hearty. The tofu had a nice crispy edge that soaked up the sauce well, and the mix of textures kept it interesting.
That said, if I’m being honest? I’d skip it next time. Not because it wasn’t good — it was — but because the soup dumplings are so satisfying on their own that adding a whole other dish felt like too much.
The vibe
White tablecloths, tea poured as soon as you sit down, big round tables for family dinners, bright lighting, and the kind of noise level that tells you people are having a good time. There’s a window where you can watch the dumpling makers at work, which is a nice touch. It’s a kind of place my Vietnamese parents would approve.
Would I go back
Without question. Richmond keeps pulling me back, whether it’s for laksa hotpot at Deer One or an afternoon with the cats at PetPls.
Shanghai River Restaurant
📍 7831 Westminster Hwy, Richmond, BC V6X 4J4
📞 (604) 233-8885
🚇 About a 5-minute walk from Richmond-Brighouse Station (Canada Line)
Know a spot in Metro Vancouver that deserves a visit? Send me a DM!
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