NE China’s cuisine iron pot stew makes its way to Shanghai restaurants

Staple foods in iron pot stews styled to resemble plush toys have become a new social media buzz in Shanghai, with many netizens praising its appeal. 

The most recent week, according to figures provided by e-commerce platform Meituan.com, the search volume of this form of cuisine rose over 970 percent week-on-week.

In Northeast China, iron pot stew is a popular dish for social gatherings. The staple foods are typically corn cakes and steamed buns, stewed together in the iron pot. 

Many shops are now fashioning the staple food into plush toy designs with decorative eyes and mouths, resembling the British brand Jellycat, a favorite soft toy in China.

The number of restaurants that have listed “steamed buns styled like plush toys” on Meituan.com doubled in two months.