dim sum | Sugared & Spiced

2015/02/122015/08/05

[Shanghai] Shangxi 尚席

Shangxi at Four Seasons Pudong 浦東四季酒店尚席

Add: 2F Four Seasons Pudong, 210 Century Avenue / 世纪大道210号四季酒店2楼, 近浦城路
Tel: 2036 8888
Hours: 11:30am-2:30pm, 5:30-10pm
Website: www.fourseasons.com/pudong
Price: 400-600 RMB/person
Visited: Feb 2015

Please note that this is an invited tasting.

Among the few hotels that have opened since I left Shanghai in 2012, Four Seasons Pudong is one that I heard quite frequently about. Compared to its Puxi sibling, Four Seasons Pudong is much smaller in scale, more modern in design, and more exclusive in vibe. I visited on a Saturday to try Shangxi, the hotel’s Chinese restaurant famed for its dim sum lunch, and was charmed by both the elegant ambience and the delicate dishes.

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With only 22 seats in its main hall, Shangxi is probably the smallest hotel-owned Chinese restaurant I’ve been to (additional private rooms available). The atmosphere is exceedingly calm, with tables spaced at a comfortable distance from one another. A great place for private tête-à-têtes.

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2012/08/282015/09/23

[Shanghai] Tang Gong 唐宫

restaurant

Tang Gong 唐宫

Add: 1/F, 103 Dong Zhu’anbang Lu, near Jiangsu Lu 东诸安浜路103号维景酒店公寓1-2楼, 近江苏路
Tel: 6251 6148
Hours: 7:30am-10:00pm
Price: 50~80 RMB/person
Visited: Aug 2012

Knowing that I won’t be able to get any good dim sum in Paris (not at this price, at least), I went for a dim sum brunch at Tang Gong right before my departure. Cha siu sou, shrimp dumplings, roasted pigeons, turnip cakes, egg tarts, cha siu buns, chicken feet, stir-fried noodles with beef…The best part? We stuffed our faces, yet the bill came out to be less than 60 RMB per person.

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2012/01/082015/09/23

[Shanghai] Ming Court 明閣 at The Langham Xintiandi

restaurant

Ming Court 明閣 at The Langham Xintiandi

Address: Langham Xintiandi, 5/F, 99 Madang Lu, near Taicang Lu 马当路99号5楼, 近太仓路
Tel: 2330 2428
Hours: [lunch] 11:30am-2:30pm [dinner] 5:30-10:30pm
Website: intiandi.langhamhotels.com/restaurants/ming_court.htm
Price: [weekend brunch] 128 RMB/person [lunch] 250~300 RMB/person, [dinner] 300~500 RMB/person
Visited: Jan 2012

With its 2 Michelin star standing in Hong Kong, Ming Court at The Langham Xintiandi raises expectations. To test it out, I gathered a group of 5 hungry dim sum lovers to try their 128 RMB/person all-you-can-eat dim sum brunch. The verdict? It’s not 2 Michelin stars, but it’s an excellent deal.

We were seated in one of the nine private dining rooms, a pleasant space complemented with smooth and considerate service.

The 128 RMB price tag covers everything on the menu except drinks, and tea comes at 25~35 RMB per person. Among everything we ordered (all are of satisfying quality), my favorites were 鮮蝦炸腸粉 (deep-fried rice rolls with shrimps), 明閣四喜餃 (steamed dumplings with shrimps, fish roe, crab meat, and dried scallops), and 鮮蝦雲呑湯 (shrimp and vegetable wonton soup).

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2011/09/182015/08/31

[Shanghai] Jin Xuan 金軒 at The Ritz-Carlton

restaurant

Jin Xuan 金軒

Add: The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, 8 Century Avenue 浦东陆家嘴世纪大道8号上海国金中心
Tel: 2020 1717
Hours: 11:30am-2pm, 5:30-10pm
Website: www.ritzcarlton.com/shanghaipudong
Price: [lunch] 168~300 RMB/person [dinner] 480~880 RMP/person
Visited: Sep 2011

Please note that this is an arranged tasting.

The highlight of my weekend was a delightful dim sum lunch at Jin Xuan, the Chinese fine dining restaurant at The Ritz-Carlton Pudong. Its interior, designed by Steve Leung, is characterized by high vaulted ceilings and tones of gold, wine red, and purple – grand, yet comfortable and intimate. And the food? Delicious.

Lunch began with a small cup of complimentary “appetizer” tea, followed by soup of the day (45 RMB). The appetizer tea, a slightly sour blend of goji berry and hawthorn fruit, was a hit for me and did its job in working up my appetite.

Jin Xuan’s crystal shrimp dumplings 鮮筍鮮蝦餃 (45 RMB) were – as you can see from the picture below – quite perfectly done. Delicate, translucent wheat starch skin snuggly hugging whole plump shrimps, these dumplings were a delight for both the eyes and the tastebuds.

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2011/04/192015/08/31

[Shanghai] Jade Garden 蘇浙匯

restaurant

Jade Garden 蘇浙匯

Add*: Building A, No. 2558 Yan’an West Road (near Shuicheng Lu) 延安西路2558号A楼 (近水城路)
Tel: 6278 9558
Hours: 11am-10pm
Price: 100-200 RMB/person
Visited: Apr 2011

Jade Garden is most famous for its well-prepared 上海本幫菜 (Shanghainese cuisine), but few people know about the excellent dim sum served at its Gubei branch*. The decor is posh, the food is satisfying, and the round tables are perfect for group conversations – it’s an ideal weekend gathering place for a lively big family brunch. Reservations are highly recommended.

*Multiple locations available, check SmartShanghai or Dianping for details. I’ve only been to the Gubei branch so I can’t say much about the quality at other branches.

We started off with 沙姜霸王雞 Simmer Grilled Chicken with Ginger (48 RMB/half a chicken) – tender and succulent, a must order.

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2010/12/142015/09/01

[Shanghai] Yue 1525

restaurant

Yue 1525

Add: 2/F, 1525 Dingxi Lu, near Changning Lu / 定西路1525号, 近长宁路
Tel: 6225 8665
Hours: 11.30am-2.30pm, 5.30-10pm
Price: 70~100 RMB/person
Visited: Dec 2010

A recently-opened Canotnese restaurant adjacent to the New World Mayfair Hotel in Zhong Shan Park. Pleasant environment, good food, and friendly service. Until Dec 31st, lunch hour dim sum items are only 15 RMB each. There are only 15 days left, so hurry up and weave this into your itinerary!

The decoration is nothing fancy, but overall pleasant enough. Since the all the dim sum items were on promotion, we went straight to menu and ordered away. I’ve included the price FYI, but for now everything except the noodles and stir-fried vegetables (which are not on the dim sum menu) is 15 RMB: