Shanghai Radish Fritters 油墩子
Shanghai Radish Fritters is featured among the local specialties of Shanghai.
Youdunzi (油墩子) are mould-fried snacks commonly filled with shredded radish. A golden batter shell encloses the vegetables, producing a crisp outside and a softer, moist centre.
How it is prepared
A firsthand account in Yangpu's local newspaper describes batter layered into a mould, filled with radish shreds, covered with more batter and fried. Shanghai's coastal food descriptions also document versions with small shrimp.
Flavour & texture
The radish filling supplies a different texture from a solid fried dough cake. Seafood additions can change the flavour, so the plain-looking exterior does not tell the whole story.
Local context & naming
This entry describes the Shanghai radish-fritter tradition. Other places and vendors use similar names for different fillings; retaining the Chinese identity and asking about the centre helps distinguish them.
Ordering this dish
Ask whether the filling is radish only or includes shrimp or meat. Confirm the batter ingredients if wheat matters to you, and order a single piece first to judge its size and richness.
At the table
Let a fresh fritter cool before opening it, because the enclosed filling can hold heat. Break off a small edge over its wrapper or a plate, then compare the shell with the radish inside.
Ingredients to check
Check wheat or other flours in the batter, seafood additions and frying oil. A vegetable-filled fritter is not automatically prepared without animal ingredients.
More dishes to compare
Explore related local specialties and compare their names, preparation notes and ordering guidance.
Shanghai Fried Rice Cakes 粢饭糕 →
Zifangao (粢饭糕) is a Shanghai snack made by compressing cooked rice into blocks and frying them until golden. The resulting cake has a crisp surface with rice still recognizable inside.
Baked Flatbread with Fried Dough 大饼油条 →
Dabing youtiao (大饼油条) brings together two Shanghai breakfast foods: baked wheat flatbread and a crisp fried dough stick. It is a combination to assemble or eat together, not the name of one stuffed dumpling.
Questions before you order
Can youdunzi contain seafood?
Yes. Shanghai descriptions include a coastal radish-and-small-shrimp version, so ask about the filling.
Sources & reading
Identity, the described preparation and local context checked against the linked sources on 8 September 2026. Where a home recipe is cited, it is a documented example, not a restaurant standard. Ordering and serving suggestions are editorial guidance. No recipe testing, exclusive origin, current venue availability or dietary certification is claimed.
Recipes and servings vary between kitchens.