Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao – Satisfying Shanghainese-style La Mian!

Nothing beats the texture of la mian. The art of good noodles is difficult to grasp, but Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao has done it well, for the la mians are thick and have a bite to it.

Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao has opened her 8th outlet at basement 2 of Ngee Ann City, which was formerly occupied by Crystal Jade Korean Ginseng Chicken and BBQ. Other than la mian and xiao long baos, the restaurant serves up various Chinese cuisines – Shanghainese, Cantonese, as well as Sze Chuan cuisine.

The Deep-fried White Bait in Wuxi Style ($8.30) is a great appetiser that will be a huge hit. Each white bait is coated in batter before being deep fried till golden brown, then tossed in Wuxi-style vinegar which caramelizes. The white bait is sweet, and savoury and carries an appetite-whetting aroma. These crispy morsels are addictive; one plate may not be enough!

Synonymous to its name, Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao specializes in Shanghainese-style xiao long bao with modern flavours such as salted egg yolk, chilli crab and mushroom. Diners can get a taste of every flavour with the Steamed Assorted Flavours Xiao Long Bao ($9.30), which has all the modern flavours, and the classic xiao long bao.

The restaurant also has a rendition of a Singapore hawker favourite – chicken rice – done in its signature xiao long bao style. Each Hainanese Chicken Xiao Long Bao ($6.80/4 pieces) encases a mixture of chicken and pork meat, and a rich, flavourful and savoury chicken broth. Pair it with the accompanying ginger sauce to complete the whole Hainanese chicken rice experience!

To mark the opening of their eighth outlet, the restaurant is running a promotion for their limited edition Hainanese Chicken Rice Xiao Long Bao. Instead of the usual price of $6.80, one basket of xiao long bao is only going for $1! This offer runs till 31 January 2018 and is valid with a minimum spend of $45 on a la carte food items, limited to one redemption per table.

The la mian at Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao have a nice bite and do not turn soggy even after sitting out. Have it simple with the La Mian with Scallion Oil ($8.30), which really showcases the texture of the noodles, or go for the Signature Szechuan Dan Dan La Mian (Peanut Sauce with Chilli Oil) ($10.80) which features a thick and creamy sauce that clings on to each strand of noodle, if you prefer something richer.

One of my favourite dishes to order at any Chinese restaurant would be sai pang xie. Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao calls their version the Sauteed Egg White with Conpoy & Fish Meat ($15.80). Basically, a mixture of egg white, conpoy and fish meat “mocks” the taste and texture of crab meat. I think it’s a great combination on its own – there’s no need for this humble dish to be compared to crab meat. Served with an egg yolk perched on top of the cloud-looking whites, the dish can be elevated with a dash of black vinegar.

Another dish that is great for sharing is the Sautéed Rice Flour Cake in Shanghainese Style ($14.80). The chewy slices of rice cakes are paired with Napa cabbage and slivers of pork fried in a savoury dark sauce. The thick, wok-hei rich sauce coats the rice cake evenly, and every bite is amazing.

The Chilled Poached Chicken in Szechuan Style ($10.30) is not to be missed. The poached chicken is tender and has a layer of gelatinous fat which melts in the mouth almost immediately. Ladle the dark red sauce over a bowl of steamed, fluffy white rice and you’re in for a treat!

It is a common sight to see a large, communal soup dish on every Chinese dinner table. The Poached Sliced Fish in Szechuan Spicy Soup ($22.80), which I felt was a cross between a soup and a stew, is a must-try if you love spicy food. Laden in the soup are pieces of dory fillets and liang fen noodles.

For desserts, Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao does a pearly white looking Coconut Cake ($5.30). The cake – which has the texture of agar-agar – is creamy but not overly cloying. For hot desserts, try the Pan-fried Red Bean Pancake ($6.30) which has a generous filling of sweet candied red bean in a crispy pastry.

There are so many provinces in China that have their own ways of preparing food. It’s definitely great and convenient to be able to get a taste of all the different Chinese cuisines in Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao!

This post was brought to you by Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao.