Top Shanghai Restaurant in Richmond is definitely the place that I would recommend to others for the Xiaolongbao (XLB) or the soup dumplings, which is probably the most well-known Shanghai dish around the world. This time I took my buddy Morgan here for a quick dinner before our business meeting. And boy this place was noisy and packed with people as always. Luckily we found a tiny table although it was extremely close to their register / bar, and I felt like sharing the same table with the diners at the table right next to ours. The servers were running around like crazy, and I did have to stopped them a couple times for getting some service. However, we are here for the food , not so much for the ambiance.
The XLB ($6.99) arrived first and piping hot. Here each dumpling is placed on a thin slice of daikon radish in the steamer. The use of daikon is a bit of extra work but it shows thoughtfulness and craftsmanship. It’s probably one of the main reasons why I NEVER saw a dumpling with broken skin here. A broken XLB is already a fail no matter how delicious the filling is. Here they never disappoint because of this little trick. I carefully showed Morgan how I enjoyed a XLB – I put a drop of yellow vinegar and one slice of ginger on a spoon, placed a dumpling on the spoon, bit into the paper thin wrapper skin, slowly sucked out all the broth, and ate the rest of the dumpling in to a couple bites. The broth was clean and well balanced of sweat and savoury. The pork filling was well seasoned with a subtle umami flavour, and the texture was soft but still slightly chewy. And that’s what I call a perfect XLB!
We accutane online india also ordered a couple dishes that could be found in most local Shanghai restaurants. The Crispy Fried Duck ($16.99 for half) is always a crowd pleaser. The frying process infused the five-spice seasoning not just in the perfectly crispy skin but also the duck meat and even the duck bones. And guess what else also go with the duck incredibly well besides the soft little white bao buns? A crisp and light tasting Tsingtao beer from China.
Besides the ingredients described in the dish name, the Shanghai style Soup in Casserole with Bamboo Shoots and Pork ($25.99) also came with those cute little tofu skin knots and Shanghai bok choy, adding more vibrant colours and refreshing flavours to the soup. It was so simple, and yet so comforting with that mild saltiness from preserved pork. The size of the casserole could yield 8 – 10 small bowls of soup, which is quite a lot for just 2 people.
The XLB here is just simply divine. I could just come back and eat it again and again. Be warned of the size of their dishes such as Crispy Fried Duck and Soup with Bamboo Shoots and Pork in Casserole. We could barely finished half of them between just 2 of us. So I would suggest of going their with in party of 4 at least if possible. Also the place was quite noisy and always packed with people, and the service could be a little slow. But if you just come here for the food, it is still worth a visit.
Website:
http://www.topshanghaicuisine.com/
Menu:
http://www.topshanghaicuisine.com/menu.htm
More Reviews:
Location:
