What were these and where can I find them?

[cmd]

I was recently in Shanghai, and didn't usually choose or ask too many questions about what I was eating (the only thing I just couldn't manage was some gelatinous looking eggs. I don't like gelatin or eggs at the best of times, and I just couldn't do it...which meant I was too embarrassed to not try everything else my colleagues ordered). In addition to soup dumplings (which I knew about, had never tried, and loved), we had what I assume were dumplings, but they were about as big as the palm of my hand, and the bottom was coated with sesame seeds and maybe fried. We dipped them in vinegar. Oh, and I believe they were filled with pork, but I wouldn't put money on it. Do we have these in Boston? If so, could you tell me where, and what to order? Thanks much :).

[cmd]

Thanks, all :).

I tried the Gitlo's version, and it's not quite it...but that could just be the difference btw Shanghai and Boston. Anyway, it got me to (finally) try Gitlo's...and while I probably would not get these again, I really liked the bbq pork bun, so that's a good thing.

I will try the others as soon as I get a chance.

[kobuta]

What you're describing may be "jeen bao" or "sang jeen bao" (note: this is a Cantonese transliteration), which literally means pan-fried bun. They have a filling similar to dumplings but usually have the thicker skin much closer to a bao / chinese bun than the lighter skin on XLB. I've seen these in two Shanghai restaurants in NYC, but not in Boston but I don't frequent the Shanghai places here as frequently. Maybe someone else has spotted them on a menu around here.

[barleywino]

CHung Shin Yuan in Newton has them (weekends only, listed as "pan fried bun") but they don't compare with the ones in Shanghai. Gourmet Dumpling House in Chinatown also has them iirc.

[nfo]

Taiwan Cafe has them - similar to the ones as Chung Shin Yuan. These are the big puffy kind, like the OP describes. I've also had them where the bun is smaller and chewier, closer to XLB but still a little bready.

[BarmyFotheringayPhipps]

Try the sesame pork dumplings at Gitlo's.

[BarmyFotheringayPhipps]

Self-correction: they're actually listed as sesame pork buns, not sesame pork dumplings. But they are what you describe.