11 December 2014

New Shanghai

Review December 11, 2014 0

by Ms XS

New Shanghai is a new addition to the Chinese dumpling scene in Melbourne. Having tried many dumpling restaurants in Melbourne, I have to admit that I have more often than not been disappointed by the standard of the xiao long bao served. Most of the skin were too thick for my liking, or the tang contained within the dumpling was too oily. When word spread that New Shanghai is opening its door in Emporium Shopping Mall, I was elated.

Among the four of us, we shared the Xiao Long Bao, Shen Jian Bao, pan fried dumplings, braised pork belly and prawn Wonton with chilli oil and peanut sauce.

The Xiao Long Bao (8 pieces for $7.80) was served fresh off the steamer and piping hot. I bit into the skin, which was thin and light, yet sturdy enough to be carried by a pair of chopsticks without tearing. I was impressed. The inside revealed an abundance of dumpling tang, or soup. The tang was just the way I like it - deeply flavourful, and non-greasy. It was definitely one of the best xiao long bao I had in Melbourne.

The Shen Jian Bao is pan-fried at the bottom and steamed above. The bottom was exquisitely crispy but the top skin was very thick - with a consistency like bread. Pretty good, though the bread-like texture had absorbed most of the dumpling juice by the time it came by our table. Bonus tip: Bonus tip: the vinegar is in the container with a piece of tape over it.

The guo tie, pan-fried dumplings, was a bit dry.

The Braised Pork Belly came in a small claypot. The sauce was sweet and tangy and went well with a bowl of rice. However, the pork belly was too fatty for my taste, and I wished it was more tender.

The star dish of the meal was the Prawn Wonton with chilli oil and peanut butter. The wonton skin was thin and silky, and the prawn meat was generous and fresh. Surprisingly, the peanut butter was an inspired ingredient, and lends an excellent flavour to the dish. Update 2016: they have changed the recipe and made it less spicy, but the dish remains delicious. Bonus tip: we like the prawns a lot more than pork!

Update 2016: Their Braised Beef Noodle Soup ($13.50) is a great find. The meat was tender, noodles were chewy and broth was brimming with flavor. I love it.