A very popular authentic Chinese appetizer (as in something you would actually find on a plate in China - rather than Americanized Chinese food) is the order Xiao Long Bao or soup dumplings. These pastry dumplings from Shanghai are stuffed with pork or other meat and a good helping of rich broth soup. When eating a Xia Long Bao, you will want to use caution as the soup will spill all over your plate if you cut right into it. The trick to eating a soup dumpling is to pierce the edge and let the soup fill your spoon a little at a time.
