Some sets are only served during lunch so went for lunch. As usual you get the compulsory Jasmine tea which is compulsory charged. ★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★ Tofu puff and glass vermicelli in soup: This was delicious and the tofu puffs were not rancid or oily and there were loads of glass vermicelli in it. ★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★ Chicken and duck blood: This was boring because I didn't realize it was going to be blood jelly and the soup was a bit bland. ★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★ Scrambled egg with shrimps: The scrambled egg was very satisfying because it was not that oily and the egg was fluffy and fragrant. You get two bowls of rice but they were small bowls so two are definitely needed. ★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★ ◎ⓢⓤⓟⓔⓡⓢⓤⓟⓔⓡⓖⓘⓡⓛ◎ 上海三六九菜館
It took me by surprise that Paradise Dynasty which serves Chinese food was from Singapore but then some Chinese foods such as dimsum taste better in the UK compared to local crap.
At Paradise Dynasty, I appreciate the spaciousness of the tables which are well spaced out and you won't feel claustrophobic staring and listening to people who are on the other table that seem right next to you.
Most of the tables are normal sized (but by Hong Kong standards HUGE!!). At the entrance, there is a lovely open kitchen protected by glass where you can see the Xiao Long Baos being made.
Here was what we tried:
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★ Steamed Original Xiao Long Bao: It was the first time I learnt how to pick up a XLB properly with chopsticks because you have to pick it up at the strongest point which is near the top. The broth was extremely clear and almost oiless which was pleasing to see because they don't use pigs skin. I liked their recipe because you won't feel bloated after having one. ★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★ Assorted Xiao Long Baos: There are eight flavours and you eat them in order of lightest taste. It was really thoughtful of them to arrange more than one basket so that we could taste more than one flavour. I tried the ginseng, cheese and crab. The ginseng was not strong enough but the cheese was likeable because it had soft mozzarella in it that did not over power the XLB. The crab was really nice too with lots of crabmeat in it. At the moment there is a buy one get one free promotion on the weekends. ★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★ Drunken Chicken: The chicken was tender infused with fragrant wine. ★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★ Chilled Jellyfish and Seafood in Vinaigrette: This was my favourite because their fruit vinaigrette was really appetizing. As well as jellyfish, there were squid and prawns too. ★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★ Lettuce rolls with homemade Sesame sauce: This is just simple rolled lettuce held together by a piece of cucumber to be dipped in their homemade sesame sauce. I loved this because it was just like eating sesame salad in a convenient way packed with so much lettuce in one bite covered in delicious sweet sesame sauce. ★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★ Pork Dumpling with Hot Chilli Sauce: This was nice but I found it too spicy. ★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★ Radish Pastry: The radish pastry was nice but after having so much tasty dishes I needed chili oil on it to spice it up. ★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★ tri coloured egg: The tri coloured egg was delicious with tones of salted egg yolk contrasted by the century egg's akaline taste. ★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★ vegetarian buns: The buns were on the small side but quality is better than quantity because the vegetables in the buns were fresh and green in colour wrapped in a delicious fluffy bun. ★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★ Spicy Szechuan Crispy Chicken: When this dish was brought over, you could smell the fragrant chilis and Sichuan peppercorns but again the spicy dishes at this place are guaranteed spicy!! ★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★ Stir-fried Marbled Beef with Scallion: This was juicy slices of beef in delicious oyster sauce with onions tasting similar to the beef and onions that you get at British Chinese takeaways. ★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★ Scrambled Egg White with Fish and Dried Scallop: Another simple dish eaten with the egg yolk smeared on top of the egg white. Great and simple with rice. ★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★ Stewed Sliced Fish with Chinese Wine Sauce: The fish was chunky infused with strong wine flavour. ★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★ Steamed chive and pork dumplings: These were my favourite because the dumpling skin was soft and not too thick filled with delicious minced pork and fragrant chives. ★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★ Doubled-boiled Chicken Soup: The soup was lovely and clear with strong chicken taste. ★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★ Chilled Aloe Vera and Osmanthus Jelly in Honey Lemon Juice: Refreshing dessert with honey lemon juice loaded with aloe vera pieces, osmanthus jelly that was not too sweet. ★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★ Durian Xiao Long Bao: Exclusive Durian XLB's only in Hong Kong. This was amazingly delicious served HOT!!! I assumed that Durian was going to taste weird hot but the durian taste was not altered by the steaming process. The best sweet version of XLB I have tasted but for Durian lovers only because it has real and fresh durian flesh in it from Malaysia. ★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★ ◎ⓢⓤⓟⓔⓡⓢⓤⓟⓔⓡⓖⓘⓡⓛ◎ Paradise Dynasty: 6F Lee Theatre Gardens Causeway Bay
Previously had great dumplings at their new Sai Ying Pun branch so decided to go to the Central branch for the vegetable dumplings again and try the yellow bean pudding.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★ vegetable dumplings:
Sadly, the vegetable dumplings were not as nice as the ones at Sai ying pun because the vegetables inside were not that fresh and lacked taste. ★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★ yellow bean pudding: The texture of this was interesting, it was all starchy and decomposed in your mouth like thick starchy paste. It would have tasted nicer if it wasn't so sweet. ★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
This restaurant is quite good for quick Shanghainese snacks such as tofu, soymilk, rice with spare ribs etc. However it is easily forgotten because it is located on a back street of some unpopular mall and the restaurant itself is quite grubby.
Anyway here was what I had: ★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★ Soymilk:
Lightly sweetened soymilk with a mild soybean taste. ★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★ Savoury soymilk: This was item that I came for and it did not let me down. There were generous amounts of tiny dried shrimps, preserved vegetables (jaa-choi), spring onions and fried dough sticks in the soymilk. It reminded me of Western soup because it was thick and wholesome yet tasty because of all the tasty elements especially the preserved vegetables and fried dough sticks. ★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★ Fried tofu: The tofu blocks were fried just right with a golden colour. Inside it was soft and silky which tasted great with the chili bean sauce condiment on the table. ★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★ Sweet soymilk with dumplings: I was disappointed with the dumplings because they used to taste really good. The dumplings were too soft this time with holes and the fillings came out. ★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
上海真美豆漿大王 Shop No.G22, G/F,Metro City Plaza 3, 8 Mau Yip Road, Tseung Kwan O
Previously tried Shanghai Po Po 336 and admittedly the other branches are not as good and they do not offer as much variety as this branch.
Here was what we tried *** means highly recommended ★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★ ***Wuxi crispy eel: Sweet and sour pork lovers will like this because the eel is crispy with a delicious complementing sweet and sour sauce. The eel was boneless too. ★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★ Black fungus in special sauce:
The black fungus was slightly sweet with tones of wasabi in it. ★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★ ***Drunken chicken in iced huadiao wine: I loved this because the wine was frozen and served as crushed ice on top of the chicken with more wine beneath the chicken. ★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★ Smoked eggs: Perfectly smoked with lovely runny yolks. ★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★ Fried string beans with olive and minced pork: Nicely fried string beans with olives that gave it flavour. There is also another dish with string beans and salted egg too. ★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★ Salted pork, bamboo shoots and beancurd soup: The soup had a strong soy bean taste but I found it a tad too salty. ★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★ Stir fried beef cubes with pistachio nuts and asparagus:
This was interesting because of the pistachio nuts, but it was nice. ★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★ Crispy prawns in salted egg yolk coating:
The pork dumplings were delicious with the vinegar which balanced out the oilyness. ★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★ ***Sweet and sour fish with pinenuts: The fish was nicely done coming off boneless and crispy with the sweet and sour sauce was just right. ★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★ ***Stir fried veal with wild chilis: I didn't realize this dish was that spicy!! People who love chilis with a real proper kick, this is the one!! ★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★ Video of the huge xiaolongbao:
***Steamed jumbo xiaolongbau!!!!! I have always wanted to try this but couldn't find it in Hong Kong. They used to do it at JieSheng in MK but I never got round to trying it because there is no where to sit. The soup dumpling was huge and I asked for a straw to have it the way you see on TV. The soup was at the right temperature so I did not burn my mouth. After drinking the broth, I tore apart the dumpling skin and dipped it in the vinegar which made it even more appetizing. The minced pork inside was the same size as the ones in the normal sized ones so the jumbo version will not stuff you up. ★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★ Spring onion pancakes: The pancakes were nice for dipping the strong sauces. ★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★ ***Salted egg fried rice:
Each grain of rice was covered in delicious crushed egg yolk giving it that lovely golden colour. ★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★ ***Shanghai special chili wontons:
These innocent looking wontons were delicious but extremely spicy with a fragrant Sichuan peppercorn taste. ★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★ ***Fried pumpkin cake:
The pumpkin cakes were nice and crisp on the outside and chewy in the middle filled with lovely red bean puree. ★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★ ***Red beans and banana souffle balls:
The souffle balls were nicely done, filled with red bean puree and mushy banana. ★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★ ***Mini dumplings in rice wine and osmanthus with mixed fruits:
These little mochi dumplings were lovely in the rice wine and osmanthus soup because it was not too sweet. The texture of the mochi dumplings were nice and chewy, but I would probably order the non fruit version because it was just canned fruit. I would prefer fresh strawberries or blueberries instead of canned fruit.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★ Photos of the restaurant:
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★ Shanghai Po Po 336 Shop 605-606, 6/F, iSQUARE, 63 Nathon Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
