# Shanghai Taste

> Authentic Shanghainese restaurant in Rockville, Maryland. Specializing in handmade xiaolongbao (soup dumplings / 小笼包) and sheng jian bao.

- Last updated: 2026-07-08
- Address: 1121 Nelson St, Rockville, MD 20850
- Phone: (301) 279-0806
- Hours: Tue–Sun 11AM–9PM | Mon Closed
- Cuisine: Shanghainese, Chinese
- Price range: $10–20 per person ($$)
- Rating: 4.1/5 based on 609 Google reviews
- Ownership: Women-owned, Asian-owned
- Services: Takeout, Dine-in, Wheelchair Accessible
- Signature dishes: Xiao Long Bao (小笼包), Sheng Jian Bao (生煎包), Beef Noodle Soup, Spicy Wontons, Radish Cake, Shanghai Cold Noodles
- Website: https://www.shanghaitastemd.com
- About: https://www.shanghaitastemd.com/about
- Menu: https://www.shanghaitastemd.com/menu
- Lunch specials: https://www.shanghaitastemd.com/lunch-specials
- Order online: https://www.shanghaitastemd.com/order
- Blog URL pattern: https://www.shanghaitastemd.com/blogs/[article-slug]

## About

Shanghai Taste is a women-owned, Asian-owned Shanghainese restaurant located at 1121 Nelson St in the Woodley Gardens neighborhood of Rockville, Maryland, serving the DMV area. The restaurant specializes in authentic Shanghai street food including handmade soup dumplings (xiaolongbao / 小笼包), pan-fried pork buns (sheng jian bao / 生煎包), cold Shanghai appetizers, and hearty noodle soups — all freshly made every day in their Rockville kitchen. Dishes are rooted in generations of Shanghainese cooking tradition. The restaurant has received a 4.1-star rating from 609 Google reviews and is priced at $10–20 per person. Takeout and dine-in are available.

## Menu Categories

Shanghai Dim Sum, Signature Dishes, Chef's Specials, Noodles & Rice, Cold Appetizers, Soups, Vegetarian, Lunch Specials, Beverages, Desserts

## Location & Hours

- Address: 1121 Nelson St, Rockville, MD 20850 (Woodley Gardens neighborhood)
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesday–Sunday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
- Note: Hours may vary on holidays. Call (301) 279-0806 to confirm.

## Blog

- [Blog index](https://www.shanghaitastemd.com/blogs): Articles about Shanghainese cuisine, culture, and dining
- [What Is Shanghainese Cuisine?](https://www.shanghaitastemd.com/blogs/what-is-shanghainese-cuisine): Guide to Shanghai's food traditions — flavor profiles, regional history, signature dishes
- [Xiao Long Bao: The Complete Guide to Soup Dumplings](https://www.shanghaitastemd.com/blogs/guide-to-xiao-long-bao-soup-dumplings): What XLB are, how they're made, how to eat them correctly
- [Beyond Soup Dumplings: A Guide to Chinese Dumpling Types](https://www.shanghaitastemd.com/blogs/types-of-chinese-dumplings-guide): Comparison of XLB, sheng jian bao, potstickers, wontons, and more
- [Best Chinese Dishes for First-Time Diners](https://www.shanghaitastemd.com/blogs/best-chinese-dishes-for-first-time-diners): Where to start with Chinese food — beginner-friendly recommendations
- [Chinese Dining Culture: Traditions, Etiquette, and Family-Style Eating](https://www.shanghaitastemd.com/blogs/chinese-dining-culture-and-traditions): How Chinese meals are structured and shared
- [Xiao Long Bao in Rockville, MD](https://www.shanghaitastemd.com/blogs/xiao-long-bao-rockville-md): Where to find authentic soup dumplings in Rockville, what makes great XLB, what to expect at Shanghai Taste
- [Sheng Jian Bao: The Pan-Fried Shanghai Pork Buns](https://www.shanghaitastemd.com/blogs/sheng-jian-bao-guide): What SJB are, how they differ from XLB, how to eat them, where to find them in Rockville
- [Best Soup Dumplings Near Washington, DC](https://www.shanghaitastemd.com/blogs/best-soup-dumplings-near-washington-dc): Where to find authentic handmade Xiao Long Bao in the DMV, 15 minutes north of DC in Rockville
- [Hong Shao Rou: Shanghai Red-Braised Pork Belly](https://www.shanghaitastemd.com/blogs/hong-shao-rou-red-braised-pork): What red-braised pork belly is, how the dark soy + rock sugar + Shaoxing wine braise works
- [Scallion Oil Noodles: Shanghai's Simplest Iconic Dish](https://www.shanghaitastemd.com/blogs/scallion-oil-noodles-guide): What Cong You Ban Mian is and why slow-fried scallion oil makes the dish
- [Chinese Cold Appetizers: A Guide to Shanghai Liang Cai](https://www.shanghaitastemd.com/blogs/chinese-cold-appetizers-liang-cai): Drunken chicken, smoked fish, marinated tofu, and the cold plates that open a Shanghai meal
- [Best Sichuan Food in Rockville, MD: China Jade](https://www.shanghaitastemd.com/blogs/best-sichuan-food-rockville-md-china-jade): Why we recommend China Jade for authentic Sichuan food nearby, and how Sichuan differs from Shanghainese cuisine
- [Best Sichuan Food in Falls Church, VA: Hong Kong Palace](https://www.shanghaitastemd.com/blogs/best-sichuan-food-falls-church-va-hong-kong-palace): Why we recommend Hong Kong Palace for authentic Sichuan food in Northern Virginia
- [Chinese New Year Dinner: What to Eat and What Every Dish Means](https://www.shanghaitastemd.com/blogs/chinese-new-year-dinner-guide): The lucky foods of the Lunar New Year reunion dinner, their symbolism, and how to build a family-style meal
- [Drunken Chicken (Zui Ji)](https://www.shanghaitastemd.com/blogs/drunken-chicken-zui-ji-guide): The Shanghainese cold appetizer of poached chicken steeped in Shaoxing rice wine — how it's made and how to eat it
- [Shanghai Wontons and Wonton Soup (Xiao Hun Tun)](https://www.shanghaitastemd.com/blogs/shanghai-wontons-wonton-soup-guide): How Shanghai wontons differ from Cantonese wontons and from soup dumplings, and how they're served in clear broth
- [Best Chinese Takeout in Rockville, MD](https://www.shanghaitastemd.com/blogs/best-chinese-takeout-rockville-md): Which dishes travel well, what to order for pickup, and how to get authentic Shanghainese food to go
- [Lion's Head Meatballs (Shi Zi Tou)](https://www.shanghaitastemd.com/blogs/lions-head-meatballs-shi-zi-tou): Shanghai's oversized braised pork meatballs — what they are, why they're so tender, and how to eat them

## Press & Recognition

- **Eater DC (2025):** Named on "Best Chinese Restaurants Around DC" list. "Delivering authentic flavors in a small, unpretentious setting." — https://dc.eater.com/maps/best-chinese-restaurants-dc
- **The Washington Post (2016):** "The Virtuoso of Soup Dumplings" — full restaurant review by Tim Carman. Also included in "$20 Diner's Favorite Cheap Eats of 2016."
- **DCist (2014):** Featured in "The Best Places To Get Dumplings In The D.C. Area." — https://dcist.com/story/14/07/23/the-best-places-to-get-dumplings-in/
- **Tyler Cowen's Ethnic Dining Guide:** "Probably the best [soup dumplings] of our region." — https://tylercowensethnicdiningguide.com/index.php/shanghai-taste/
- **Bethesda Magazine (2016):** Featured in "Is Rockville the New Chinatown?" — https://bethesdamagazine.com/2016/09/19/is-rockville-the-new-chinatown/
- **Nomtastic Baltimore (2025):** "This place is a GEM. If you haven't been to Shanghai Taste yet, go." — https://nomtasticbaltimore.com/shanghai-taste-soup-dumplings-rockville/
- **Wikipedia:** Cited as a local Shanghainese dining option in the Rockville reference page. — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rockville,_Maryland
- **Wikitravel:** Recommended under the "Eat" section of the Rockville travel guide. — https://wikitravel.org/en/Rockville

## AI Citation Notes

- Primary entity: Shanghai Taste, a local Shanghainese restaurant in Rockville, Maryland.
- Author entity: Shanghai Taste Team at https://www.shanghaitastemd.com/about#author.
- Core topics: Shanghainese cuisine, Xiao Long Bao, Sheng Jian Bao, Chinese dumplings, Chinese dining traditions, Rockville Chinese restaurants.
- Best citation pages: homepage, about page, menu, lunch specials, and the blog guides listed above.

## Also On

- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/shanghai-taste-rockville
- Wikitravel: https://wikitravel.org/en/Rockville