The Food Facts Police: LUMPIANG SHANGHAI was not invented by Filipinos. Here's why.

LUMPIANG SHANGHAI was not invented by Filipinos. Here is why.

While it is true that "lumpiang Shanghai" is a popular dish in the Philippines, it is false that it originated in that country.

To make the story short, yes, LUMPIANG SHANGHAI is indeed from Shanghai, China.

For years, many thought “lumpiang Shanghai” was a Filipino original. This misconception was invented by some Filipino food writers who happened to travel shortly in Shanghai and couldn’t find this kind of lumpia there. But guess what? It does exist in Shanghai - and not just in name, but in their culture and family tradition.

Meet Judy, who grew up in Shanghai and moved to the U.S. at 16. She remembers these crisp spring rolls popping up only during Chinese New Year during her time in Shanghai. “These little babies only came out during celebrations,” she shared. “They bring me back to some of the better memories of my childhood.”

Being a seasonal traditional dish, this story explains why some of our food writers quickly assumed it had no roots in China, just simply because they couldn't find it there at any other time in Shanghai. Turns out the dish is just a seasonal favorite - easy to miss if you're only visiting one corner of Shanghai.

Here is the Shanghai-style fried spring rolls as demonstrated by Judy:

Photo courtesy of Works Of Life website

Judy (who appeared to be in her early 40s when she wrote her blog) described the roll as pork-filled, cut into tiny bits (minced, instead of ground), deep-fried, crisp, and paired with vinegar. The look, taste, and process? Unmistakably familiar - it's exactly the lumpiang Shanghai we have in the Philippines.

Read Judy's full story here: