Capital Mini-Baos: Scarfing Down Beijing’s Xiaobao

Way back when I was studying at Bei Er Wai – aka Beijing International Studies University – a classmate of mine asked if I wanted 小笼包 xiǎolóngbāo for breakfast.

Instead, when we arrived in the bustling canteen and received our plates of the things, it wasn’t the malleable little morsels I’d found down south, but something more akin to small 包子 bāozi.

It must’ve been a mistranslation, as these little pockets of yummy, meaty goodness – I mean nothing’s wrong with what’s essentially a mini-baozi – go by the name 小包 xiǎobāo and xiaolongbao.

This happy little accident transformed me into a believer. I’d regularly go in search of xiaobao while out and about. They not only made for a good breakfast but also a nice little mid-day or afternoon snack, providing a boost of energy after class or during weekend walks.

Nothing beats a xiaobao's meaty interior

Images: sohu.cn, Vincent R. Vinci