Small, Medium, Big Bao @ Shanghai

Few weeks ago, I was in Shanghai for a week business trip. That was my first visit to China mainland, everything so new to me, nice buildings, night scenes, crowded city, ridiculous property price... Frankly, I don't quite like the environment and living style there, only work there maybe is fine, but living there will be a no no for me.

In a week time, I didn't really try all the local foods, but luckily colleagues brought me to City God Temple (城隍庙) so I didn't miss the famous original Nan Xiang xiao long bao (南翔小笼包).

Nan Xiang is an ancient building near the lake, first floor, second floor and third floor selling different grade of dishes. We had our xiao long bao at 2nd floor, price at RMB 12 (6 pieces), a lot cheaper than M'sia, BUT... one of my Shanghai colleague also try this for the first time, we all agreed that this is not good at all. This is rather disappointed, can't imagine why long queue at first floor to buy this xiao long bao. The skin is thick, rough and not much soup inside, heard that Nan Xiang is working hard to keep their prestige in Shanghai after Din Tai Fung entering into China, but with this taste, the quality just too far away.

After the disappointment at Nan Xiang, we moved to another restaurant nearby, can't recall the name but they also one of the signatures here, serving very large xiao long bao.

Same type can be found in Nan Xiang M'sia, but what I have tried in Shanghai again is just so so. Well, I dare not say it is too bad, because I can finish it (except the skin), but how can these dishes in City God Temple tagged as best in Shanghai?

With all the disappointments, I went back to my hotel near to 吴江路 (wu jiang), which also a famous street selling lot of local specialties. I have seen long queue everyday outside a shop name Yang's Fry-Dumpling (小杨生煎馆) but no chance to try, since I was still hungry after the small and big bao, so I decided to try the fry dumpling as well.

(I snapped the shop again during day time.) Ah... finally I found something good :-). With only RMB 4 (4 pieces, damn cheap), quality over price I have no complaint at all. The little dumpling filled with lot of soup inside, combination of fried skin, sesame, hot soup and minced meat is so great, indeed it is a bit oily due to pan fried, so I didn't finish the skin. Saw 小杨生煎 along Nanjing Road but heard the most authentic one is this outlet at Wu Jiang Road. Don't be too greedy if you buy dumpling here, 4 pieces are enough to me.

The rest are just some random shoots along Nanjing Road.

Technorati Tags: Shanghai + Xiao Long Bao + Nan Xiang