[sc0wser]

Calling all dumpling lovers:

I write to you this evening a recent transplant from NYC, loving HKG to death so far, but dying for one thing I used to get back home, at several excellent restaurants on/around Mott St, in abundance: Shao Lum Pao!

As the holidays fast approach I have no desire to eat turkey, or anything traditionally western for that matter. Instead, I find myself longing, really quite desperately, for my favorite dumpling of all time!

So to those of you out there with somewhat similar disposition, but possessing more local experience, I am keen to gather your opinions on the best Shao Lum Pao in Hong Kong (and by that I do mean the entire SAR. Hell, throw Shenzhen in there too, if you know of a place on that side of things that's particularly good. Have visa, will travel).

Where can I go to properly reunite myself with this culinary masterpiece?

Yours in pork,
-Damian

[jayinhongkong]

i was born in hk and ive been down on mott n canal in the city 100's of times...but i have no idea what a shao lum pao is care to enlighten me?

[sc0wser]

the only way i've heard it referred to in english, is as "Soup Dumplings". Basically, your standard dumpling, pinched at the top, with pork (or crab, or both) and a wonderful tasting soupy broth, cooked inside. you start with it on a soup spoon, pinch a side with your teeth, suck out the soup, kick it up with some sauce and/or chili oil, and eat the rest.

the stuff is amazing.

so walking south along mott st, starting at, say, hester, you've got shanghai cafe at 110 mott--straight across from the venerable new chao chow--which does particularly good ones. then you've got joe's shanghai just down a bit on pell st (on the right, past doyers). there's also joe's ginger right next door to new chao chow, some place whose name escapes me at the corner of bayard and mulberry, and i'm sure several other places as well.

so mate, you're from hong kong, maybe "shao lum pao" is the mandarin/shanghainese way of saying it (as i think the dish originates from there)? if you know the stuff i'm talking about, maybe you can help me out with the cantonese pronunciation?

thank you jay!
-damian

[Syd]

xiao long bao - pinyin form.
in cantonese it translates to - siu lung bao.
Literal American translation - little dragon dumpling.
It would have been nice to know about that place in NYC when I was there this summer. I had a craving for it.

Hope you find a good dumpling place in HK.

By the way, if you don't mind... how did u end up in HK? I'm finding that if I want to go to HK to live is either work, marriage or being born there.

cheers!

[KnowItAll]

I'd bet Ye Shanghai in Pacific Place does a good Shao Lum Bao. I'd also check out Heaven on Earth in Lan Kwai Fong.

There are dozens of other Shanghainese places.... just cant remember them.

[travelem]

Thanks Syd for the "translation".

I love siu lung bao too!

[jayinhongkong]

Damn, I have to try some siu lung baos Yeah, I was born here, but I'm of Indian descent...lived in New York (Manhattan, Queens and Nassau) for the last eight years...I guess I somehow missed the great 'soup dumpling' in favor of more exotic Cantonese dishes....