手感抄手 (Hand made dumplings), Chengdu, China

It seemed to me the food I tried in Chengdu wasn't that heavily seasoned or salty.  It's rather with more Chinese herbs, and mostly in Sze Chuan pepper.  I found my stomach better after taking the Sze Chuan pepper.  I recall the first time I tried the hot and spicy hot pot in Taipei, that Sze Chuan pepper was used.

This shop was quite impressive to me as they made the chicken broth very aromatic.  The dumplings were freshly made to order.  So RMB24 for this soup dumpling was quite a bargain deal.

船歌魚水餃 (Chungge fish dumpling), Qing Dao, China

Dumplings seem to be quite popular in Shan Dong province.  Perhaps Qing Dao is just by the seaside.  I have seen quite many different seafood dumplings.  This one caught my attention.  It was rather more impressive for me to taste a very authentic tofu veggie soup and a prawn stewed with cabbage.  The strong home style cooking of these 2 reminded me of my childhood.

餃子源 Beijing dumpling shop, Lockhart Road, Causeway Bay, HK

In the late 90's, there were several shops taking their foothold on Wellington Street, Central, e.g. Nha Trang, Mak Um kee and this dumpling shop.  Unfortunately the shop owners of this dumpling shop got in a fight and closed the shop.  So I missed it for years until a few weeks ago, I found it reopened in Causeway Bay.  Right away I got in for a try.  Their dumpling is still as good as what it was.  Happy that there is a nice dumpling shop in Causeway Bay.  Their haw drink is not to be missed.

東北人餃子店 (North Easterners dumpling shop), Sanya, Hainan Island, China

Just like LuLu time that I went to Shen Zhen and Canton in the late 90's and early 00's, this shop was my favourite in Canton.  Back then there were only a few branches but now over hundreds across the whole mainland.  I'm happy to see it being maintained at a good quality and service too.  

日月樓 Sun Moon Dumpling shop

 This place doesn't offer any fancy food but the way they cook is very classic and I like the way they made all the food to the order.  The pan seared "four season" string beans 干煸四季豆 was done in a right way.  The dumpling is so good with a nice flour flavour of the wrap and chunky filling.  The tossed noodle with meaty sauce is nice too.  Interesting that all the food were not heavily seasoned.  Very down-to-earth.  Made me so happy and so are the other customers (see the last photo).

2012 Spring review: 八方雲集 (Altogether), Quarry Bay, HK

This shop may not be the best in making dumpling but it's the best to me in terms of price and food freshness and cooking in Taiwanese style. I found out a set of pig's intestine soup, 5 dumplings and a soy bean drink at just HK$30. Need to update our overseas friends that right now the food price has been at around 20-30% increase due to the minimum wage implementation. So taking a lunch at a local restaurant cost about HK$40-50 (was HK$25-35). Besides, most waiters and waitresses are always having a black face. Why? Their bosses can't afford so many minimum wage staff and so need to ask 1 staff to work for 2 staffs' job.

So I really get amazed at this shop for keeping the $30 set and yet the quality and service aren't bad, and much beyond my expectation. The pig intestine's noodle soup is my favourite but almost none of my friends would take it. So it's good for me to have this set by myself. Another remark is on their food freshness and freshly made on order. Their beef noodle is also very nice with quite 1 big carrot cut and turnip and a big veggie, as well as 1 big tendon (very well cooked), big brisket and beef chunk. Note that the soup is very authentic Taiwanese in a "hot burnt red oil" soup. Though I don't like it too oily (I would take that out carefully), it's very aromatic in the soup. So it's just HK$39 for such a big bowl of renowned Taiwanese "hot burnt" beef noodle soup (and with some healthy veggie fiber). Highly recommended to get some low cost nice food during this tough time of super jump inflation.

Nan Xiang Siu Lon Bao shop, Causeway Bay HK

Couldn't visit the original shop in Yue Yuan in Shanghai. So I came back their HK branch and I got more than its renowned siu lon bao, and they are:

1. drunken chicken. 2. drunken pig's knuckle. 3. fish filet in vinegar soup. 4. spare ribs in plum sauce (*this is the Chinese preserved salty sweet plums.). 5. spinach in fish soup. 6. Tan Tan noodle. 7. deep fried pork chop. 8. stewed meat balls (lion head). 9. siu lon bao. 10. steamed veggie bun. 11. mini dumplings in rice wine sweet. 12. pancake with red bean paste.

All are very nice, esp. the drunken dishes, the soup, the pork chop and the spare ribs in plum sauce, and most of all, their must-try siu lon bao. This branch has even further improved with their other Shanghai dishes, as compared to my visit of 1.5 years ago. Very impressive.

Seeing only - 上海豫園南翔小籠包 Nan Xiang Siu Lon Bao, Yue Yuan, shanghai

As you can see "People mountain People sea", I just passed by the shop and went up to check how long for a table (at 3pm) and got told I had to wait for 2 hours. :( I even didn't see where is the end of the long line for the take-away. I then took some photos when the kitchen door was opened.