Private Cooking Class: Make Your Own Dim Sum In Shanghai

Shanghai dim sum is best learned with your hands. In this private two-hour class, you choose two dishes from a broad menu, then shape, fill, steam, fry, and eat them with one instructor focused on your group. Chef Mike is praised for clear English, patience, and a well-planned way of explaining tricky steps.

I like the freedom to choose between soup dumplings, siu mai, egg rolls, and sweet treats. I also like that the class includes the equipment, ingredients, instruction, and the food you prepare. The main consideration is practical: the meeting point can be a little hard to spot from the street, and hotel pickup is not included.

Key points to know before booking

• Choose two dishes in advance: Your menu includes shrimp dumplings, goldfish dumplings, siu mai, xiaolongbao, egg rolls, sesame balls, and more.
• Chef Mike teaches in English: His patient explanations are useful for first-time cooks and families with older children.
• Your cooking becomes lunch: The handmade dim sum is included, so this is both a class and a meal.
• Private means focused instruction: Only your group participates, with time to ask questions and correct techniques.
• The class is near Moganshan Road: Public transportation is nearby, but the kitchen may not be obvious from the street.
• Tell the operator your needs early: Request your preferred time, two dishes, and any vegetarian preparation when booking.

Choosing two dishes in Shanghai

The central decision comes before class: pick two items from the menu and tell the chef when you book. This matters because dim sum covers very different skills. A filled dumpling, a soup dumpling, a fried bun, and a sweet soup each require a different kind of preparation.

The menu includes shrimp dumplings, goldfish dumplings, Four Happiness dumplings, siu mai, big wontons, leaf buns, fried buns, egg rolls, sesame balls, red bean paste sweet soup, and coconut sago sweet soup. Xiaolongbao, the famous steamed pork dumpling with soup inside, is also available.

If you want the most useful lesson to repeat at home, dumplings and egg rolls are sensible choices. If you are curious about Shanghai’s signature bite, choose xiaolongbao, though its soup-filled center requires careful handling. Sweet options make sense for families or anyone who would rather learn a dessert than work with meat.

You should not assume you can decide on arrival. The instructions ask you to select two dishes when booking, so make that choice before the class. Vegetarian cooking is available, but you need to request it in advance.

Meeting the chef near Moganshan Road

The stated meeting point is on Moganshan Road in Putuo District, Shanghai, and the class starts at 10:00 a.m. The activity ends back at the same meeting point. Public transportation is nearby, which is helpful because there is no hotel pickup or drop-off.

Give yourself extra time to locate the kitchen. One especially useful detail from the class feedback is that the room can be tricky to find from the street because signage is limited. Once inside, you can expect an industrial-style kitchen set up for teaching, rather than a polished restaurant dining room.

That setting is a plus for anyone who wants to focus on technique. You are there to work with dough, fillings, wrappers, and steamers, not to sit through a formal meal. Still, the entrance issue is worth taking seriously. Save the meeting details, allow a cushion before 10:00, and contact the operator if you are uncertain about the exact entrance.

You can request a morning, afternoon, or evening time when booking. The published start time is 10:00 a.m., so confirm the final time you receive rather than assuming another slot is available.

Learning two dim sum dishes step by step

The class lasts about two hours. That is long enough for hands-on practice without turning into a full-day cooking school. You receive the equipment and ingredients, and the professional instructor leads the preparation.

A key advantage of a private class is the ability to stop and ask questions. If you have tried to make dumplings from online videos, you know where written instructions fall short. The wrapper may be too thick, the filling may leak, or the folds may look simple until your hands try them. Here, the chef can watch your technique and adjust the explanation.

Chef Mike receives particular praise for his English, patience, wit, and careful pacing. One family found that he handled a distractible teenager well, even when the student kept dividing portions into smaller pieces. That detail says more than a generic claim about friendly teaching. The class appears suited to people who need a little time to get the motions right.

The private format also helps if your group has different cooking speeds. One person can ask about folding while another catches up with the filling. You are not competing with a large class for the instructor’s attention.

The exact sequence depends on your two selections. Dumplings may involve preparing or handling fillings, shaping wrappers, and learning folds. Xiaolongbao brings the extra challenge of keeping soup inside the dumpling until it reaches the steamer. Egg rolls and fried buns add different handling and cooking methods. Sweet soups and sesame balls shift the lesson toward dessert.

The class gives you more than a recipe card. You learn how the ingredients behave and what to watch for while shaping and cooking. That is especially useful if you want to recreate the meal after returning home.

Eating what you make

The best practical feature is simple: your handmade dim sum becomes your meal. You are not cooking a small sample and then being sent elsewhere for lunch. The class includes the food you prepare, and there is reported to be plenty to eat afterward.

This makes the $88 price easier to judge. It is more expensive than ordering a plate of dumplings, but you are paying for a private lesson, the ingredients, the kitchen equipment, the chef’s time, and a meal. For a couple, family, or small group, the private arrangement can offer better value than a larger class if personal instruction matters to you.

The meal also gives the class a clear finish. You can see how the items turned out, taste the texture, and compare the finished food with what you expected. If a fold is imperfect, it is part of the learning rather than a problem that disappears behind a restaurant kitchen door.

Do keep your expectations in line with the format. You are choosing two dim sum items, not sampling every dish on the menu. The broad menu gives you choice, but the two-item limit keeps the session focused and manageable within two hours.

Why the private format matters

Many cooking classes are social group events where the instructor demonstrates and participants copy. This one is explicitly private, so only your group takes part. That changes the experience in several useful ways.

First, you can ask questions without interrupting a larger class. Second, the chef can spend more time fixing your folds, filling amounts, or shaping technique. Third, your group can choose dishes that match its interests instead of following a fixed menu.

This format suits families particularly well. Children under two can join free, and children must be accompanied by an adult. Adult pricing applies from age three. The feedback includes a successful class with a parent and daughter, along with a separate family experience involving a teenager.

I would still think about your child’s attention span. Two hours of food preparation can be a lot for a very young child, even if the age policy allows participation. The private setting helps because the pace can feel less formal, but the class remains a hands-on cooking lesson rather than a short demonstration.

The private setup is also useful for couples and friends who want a shared activity. You can treat it as a break from sightseeing and leave with a skill rather than another souvenir.

Location, timing, and small practical concerns

The class takes place in Shanghai’s French Concession area according to the activity description, while the stated meeting point is on Moganshan Road. Use the exact confirmation details you receive, since the meeting address is the information that should guide your route.

The class operates in all weather, so dress for the forecast. Cooking can involve heat, steam, flour, fillings, and oil, depending on your selected dishes. Comfortable clothing is the sensible choice.

The activity has a mobile ticket and confirmation is provided at booking. Public transportation is nearby. Since transfers are not included, you are responsible for getting to the kitchen and returning from the same meeting point after the class.

The experience is booked an average of nine days ahead. That is not a guarantee of limited space, but it is a useful planning signal. If you need a particular day, time, or vegetarian menu, booking ahead gives the operator time to prepare.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not accepted for a refund. Keep that deadline in mind when arranging a busy Shanghai schedule.

Who will get the most from this class

I would recommend this class to you if you want more than a restaurant meal and prefer an activity with a clear result. It works especially well for:

• Couples seeking a shared food experience
• Families with children old enough to follow kitchen instructions
• First-time cooks who want patient guidance
• Visitors interested in learning xiaolongbao or other dumpling techniques
• Anyone who wants a break from sightseeing and a meal at the same time
• People who have tried online recipes and want a chef to correct their technique

It may be less suitable if you want a broad tasting tour, a large restaurant meal, or a class with hotel transportation. You also need to choose only two dishes, so people who want to sample a long list of dim sum should look for a dedicated food tour instead.

The class is also not the best fit if finding an unmarked entrance would cause stress. The limited street signage is a small issue, but it can matter when you are trying to arrive on time in an unfamiliar part of the city.

Is $88 a fair price?

At $88 per person, this is not the cheapest way to eat dumplings in Shanghai. It is also not priced like a casual group demonstration. The value comes from the private instruction and the fact that your cooking equipment, ingredients, chef, and handmade meal are included.

For a group that would otherwise pay for separate sightseeing activities and lunch, the class combines both. You also leave with methods you can use at home, which adds value if you cook.

The strongest case for the price is personal attention. The chef can answer technique questions, slow down when needed, and help a child or beginner handle the process. If you already cook dim sum often, the lesson may offer less benefit.

The price also makes more sense when shared with a small group under the private format. Ask about group discounts when booking, since they may improve the per-person value.

My call: book it for focused, hands-on food learning

I would book this class early in a Shanghai visit if you want to understand how dim sum is made, not just order it. The private setting, choice of two dishes, patient English-speaking instruction, and included meal give the experience a clear purpose.

Choose dishes that match your goal. Pick xiaolongbao for a classic Shanghai challenge, egg rolls for a more approachable hands-on lesson, or a sweet item if your group prefers dessert. Confirm the meeting details, vegetarian needs, preferred time, and menu choices before you go.

Skip it if your priority is a large tasting menu, hotel pickup, or a relaxed meal with no kitchen work. For everyone else, this is a practical way to turn a favorite Shanghai food into a skill you can take home.

FAQ

How long is the dim sum cooking class?

The class lasts approximately two hours.

Where does the class meet?

The stated meeting point is on Moganshan Road, Mo Gan Shan Lu, in Putuo District, Shanghai. The activity ends back at the meeting point.

What time does the class start?

The listed start time is 10:00 a.m. You can request a morning, afternoon, or evening cooking time when booking.

How many dim sum dishes can I choose?

You should choose two dishes from the provided menu and tell the chef your selections when booking.

Which dishes are available?

Options include shrimp dumplings, goldfish dumplings, Four Happiness dumplings, siu mai, xiaolongbao, big wontons, leaf buns, fried buns, egg rolls, sesame balls, red bean paste sweet soup, and coconut sago sweet soup.

Is vegetarian cooking available?

Yes. A vegetarian option is available, but you must request it when booking.

Is the class private?

Yes. Only your group participates in the activity.

Are ingredients and cooking equipment included?

Yes. The class includes cooking equipment, ingredients, professional instruction, and the dim sum meal you make.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. The meeting point is near public transportation.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time. Cancellations made less than 24 hours in advance are not refunded.