Baozi, a steamed filled bun, is such a common food in China that most of us take it for granted and don't particularly look out for it when dining in restaurants.

Chenshazi (idiot Chen) Baozi

This is another famous baozi brand from Tianjin. In contrast to other restaurants, the most famous baozi here is made of specially processed pig skin and shrimp.There are strict requirement over the proportion of materials and the steaming time.A feature of the restaurant is the "Baozi Banquet," which comprises nine different types including pork, vegetable, spicy and sweet. These include northern, southern and western styles.Location: take No 13 bus and get off at Hepingjie, 200 metres to the south of Hepingdongqiao Flyover on the Third Ring Road, 2/F Tianjin Hotel, Jinshanchun Restaurant.

Tel: 8425-0324

Xisi Baozi Restaurant (Er You Ju)

This is a legendary restaurant known to many Beijingers. This was what they grew up eating. Today the small baozi restaurant of only 38 square metres is still known for its high quality.There are six types of stuffing including pork and spring onion, vegetable stuffing, as well as sweet and salty stuffing. It costs from 18 to 26 yuan (US$3.1) to get 500 grams of baozi.Location: Xisi southwest corner.

Tel: 6618-0535

Goubuli Baozi

Established more than 100 years ago in Tianjin, its fame has spread across China.Literally Goubuli means "the dogignores." In fact it is named after its founder, nicknamed Gouzi, or "doggie." He had such a good business selling baozi that he had no time to attend to all of his customers.There are six branch restaurants in Beijing, the first of which was its Di'anmen branch. The other branches are at Wangfujing (two branches), Qianmen, Muxidi and Beijing West Railway Station.Location: No 55 Di'anmenwai Dajie, northwest corner, Di'anmen crossroad

Tel: 6404-2460

Qingfeng Baozi Restaurant

An old brand name in Beijing, it features baozi stuffed with three fillings, lean pork, mushroom and shelled shrimps. The baozi here are big.

Location: take buses No 103 or 109, get off at Xi'anmen Fuyoujie.

Jia San Guantang Baozi (baozi with soup)This is a Muslim-style restaurant from Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi Province. The wrap is made of white flour and stuffing made of beef and calf marrow soup.This is famous for containing delicious-tasting soup inside the wrap. So don't be too rash in biting it.

Location: take No 15, No 19 buses and get off at Fuwai Dajie. Zhenwumiao Ertiao Food Street, Xicheng District.

Laijinyuxuan Restaurant

This restaurant is famous for recipes taken from the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) novel Dream of the Red Chamber.The baozi here is of southern Chinese style, the representative of which is meigancai (dried pickled vegetable) stuffing.Location: West of Zhongshan Park

Tel: 6605-6676