Cuisine: Local Shanghainese style
Location: Jiading
Price: ¥368 per person
Group size: 1–6 guests
Auntie Shen — a true daughter of Jiading Old Town, the very cradle of Shanghai's famous soup dumplings (Xiao Long Bao). Since 2016, she has been a Superhost on Airbnb, welcoming hundreds of guests into her courtyard home. Though her English is limited, her hospitality is universal: she has traveled widely herself and communicates flawlessly through the language of delicious food. She’ll be joined by her daughter (management at foreign-owned company) or her daughter’s childhood friend (multinational corporate background), ensuring smooth conversation and cultural bridge-building over the meal or other activities.
Step into Auntie’s cozy home (together with her daughter!) where the kitchen fills with the aroma of slow-braised Hong Shao Rou (red-braised pork belly) and simmering Egg Dumpling Soup—true Benbang comfort food. The menu follows nature's calendar: Spring: Fresh bamboo shoots dug from the backyard garden Summer: Giant juicy grapes from Malu Town (famous local specialty) Autumn: Osmanthus lattes made with flowers shaken from tree in the yard Winter: Frost-kissed vegetables from the earth, transformed into hands-on Vegetable & Pork Wonton (Wrapping lessons also available) You'll dine family-style at auntie's sunny garden or indoor wooden roundtable (2-6 guests max), enjoying dishes you won't find in restaurants—just honest, seasonal home cooking.
Local Shanghainese home dining at Jiading Ayi’s table
Katina · friends couples
The family, Aunt Shen and her sister were beautiful hosts. I will remember their smile, easy to talk with and really embraced us. The food was cooked with love but the dumpling making was hilarious. We affectionately called them 'the united nations dumplings' — ours didn't look like Chinese dumplings, but they surely tasted like them and we had loads of fun making them. I'm enriched by this beautiful experience!