Taste of Shanghai, Ashfield
Squishies and I share a fatal weakness for dumplings, especially on Mondays – our old schedule used to be to hit up the gym for an hour then reward ourselves with a dash over to Chinatown for our dumpling fix (yes, I know that makes absolutely no sense whatsoever). With our gym closing down we suddenly find ourselves deprived of our dumpling schedule, it doesn’t take much to convince Squishies to come along with me for a dumplings fix in Ashfield.
The logic is simple – the quality of the dumplings is just as good out west and the prices easily 2/3 of what they would be in the city. A few emails later and we’ve got a group of 5 tagging along with us to our favourite Ashfield restaurant, Taste of Shanghai. It’s been a while since our last visit and the restaurant has been renovated in our absence, the counter top is sleek and the menus are now sadly missing all photos, but the food remains as good as we remember.
Xiao Long Bao, 8 for $8.80
We know what we’re here for, the delicately pleated and steamed Xiao Long Bao. The dumpling skin is thin enough that it stretches dangerously as we greedily pick them up by the tips. We’ve ordered 2 servings of the dumplings between the 5 of us, knowing there’s no way we’d be satisfied with just one! While I watch the others nibbling slowly at their dumplings to avoid being burnt by the hot soup inside, I know it’s all mind over matter – my dumpling is drained, pork devoured and dumpling in my belly within seconds.
On Howard’s last visit the Xiao Long Bao were $7.80, so it’s interesting to note that over two years the price has risen by $1.
Shrimp and Pork Mini Wonton Soup, 12 for $8.80
The Shrimp and Pork Mini Wonton is actually a dish which Squishies and I have ordered in the past by accident. Both of us are woefully bad at reading Chinese characters and often we’re stuck trying to guess which dumpling description matches up best with Xiao Long Bao. The word soup was close enough for us to try, but it’s a dish that we enjoyed enough that it’s become a regular on our menu.
The dumplings are made simply by being folded over and the ends pressed before being drowned and presented to the table. I find the soup a little bland for my tastes, but it’s perfect for the table as one of us has developed an intolerance against salt, a splash of soy sauce is all that’s needed to bring the salt levels up to my liking.
Pan Fried Pork Dumplings, 8 for $9.80
We’ve had steamed and soup dumplings, it seems only right to continue the trend by also ordering Pan Fried Dumplings. It’s a crisp contrast to the previous dumplings, the bottoms of the dumplings have been pan-fried and are golden brown resulting in a delicious crunch as they’re bit down on. I enjoy the first dumpling, but find myself struggling by the second finding them a little dry, preferring the soupy contents of the other dumplings.
Shanghai Style Fried Pork Buns, 8 for $8.80
If I was only allowed to order one style of dumpling for the rest of my life, this would be it. These puffy round Shanghai Style Fried Pork Buns are made with a fluffy dough that is fried on the bottom and unexpectedly, when torn open they reveal a pork center swimming in soup stock. The thick shell of the Pork Buns manages to keep the soup piping hot and there’s mayhem at the table as we all juggle the hot buns while trying to sip the soup.
Dumplings are something best eaten as soon as they’re cooked but I like to take away any left over fried pork buns, the soup inside actually get absorbed into the thick dough and when thrown into the microwave the next morning it becomes the best breakfast possible.
Shanghai Style Stir Fry Noodles $9.80
Reasoning that we perhaps need something a little more substantial than just dumplings to fill us up for the night we add in an order for Shanghai Style Stir Fry Noodles. They’re a delight to the eye, beautifully thick yellow noodle strands which have been cut into shorter more manageable strands. It’s a perfect texture and the sauce saltily sweet enough to satisfy us all.
Stir Fried Shanghai Bok Choy in Garlic Sauce $12.80
The ever compulsory greens make their appearance at the table! I mock, but I’d actually had my eye on the Shanghai Bok Choy ever since initially flicking through the menu. There’s only so much fried greasy goodness you’re able to enjoy before wanting something green and cleansing! One of us is Shanghainese (Shanghainian?) and she’s particularly impressed with the noodles and the Bok Choy, saying they’re just as good as her mum’s.
Savory Soybean Milk $4.80
Have you ever tasted something was so bizarre you had no idea how to react to it? That was us when we tried the Savory Soybean Milk. We’ve been coming to Taste of Shanghai for so long that I’d actually memorised the positions of the dishes on the old photobased menu, it’s thrown us for a loop when the new menu is simply lists of dishes. The last time we ordered Soybean Milk it came out warm in a bowl that had to held by two hands! This dish is not exactly that.
The bowl may be the same but the Soymilk itself has a confusing swirl of yellow, green and… brown all floating about on the surface. A quick poke around reveals that the brown is actually fungi mushrooms and it’s with raised eyebrows that we take our first sip – Squishies immediately coughs, “CHILLI!” I simply scoff at her and take my sip. The milk somehow manages to be utterly bland, salty and inexplicably ends with a chilli aftertaste, something that we attribute to the yellow chilli oil floating on the surface.
We’re Asian enough to not want to waste our money and do our best to drink it all, but after a few mouthfuls the sheer blandness along with the bizarre salt has me defeated!
Cheese Cracker anyone?
The dumplings have us full enough that we’re forgoing the dessert menu and instead indulge with a packet of Want Want Rice Crackers I’ve bought from the Asian grocery store next door (Cheeeeese flavour!).
It’s 9pm by the time we’ve finished and the restaurant is half empty as our satisfied crew stumble out of the restaurant. The service is brisk if a little confusing at times with the difficulties the staff has with english, and after a bit of an initial wait for our food the rest of the dishes arrive quickly and piping hot. With a bill of $15 dollars each, our wallets are easily as satisfied as our bellies.
Taste of Shanghai
264 Liverpool Road
Ashfield, NSW, 2131
Ph: (02) 9798 2877
Author
By Minh
Minh is a food, photography, tv loving girl who on occasion likes to think that she can cook. I can't hold my drink for what its worth and have an unhealthy obsession with green tea products.
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This article was written on 25 Aug 2010, and is filed under Chinese, Dinner, Sydney, West.
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haha i want want some dumplings now. and rice crackers.
chocolatesuze´s last [type] ..Meidi BBQ House- Parramatta- meat on sticks!
I’m Suze, I want dumplings!! Now how about KFC, spinning skewers and dumplings all in one day? Oh! Don’t forget the pho too!! Hehehehe… Not necessary in that order..
Billy@a table for two´s last [type] ..Grand Marnier Pecan Pie
Oooh leftover fried pork buns microwaved? I have to try this! Usually I just force myself to finish them all at the restaurant.
Steph´s last [type] ..Baked Cinnamon Doughnuts
This is only a short drive from my place – might just go there tonight for dinner! Great photos as always guys and some really unusual dishes that I am now confidently going to order!
I heart dumplings steamed, fried or in soup. Looks delish and love the wallet impact.
Sara @ Belly Rumbles´s last [type] ..Happy Blog Award
Yum, those pan-fried pork buns are my must-order dish every time I visit. I’ve had the savoury soy milk a couple of times at Mother Chu’s. It takes a bit of getting used to. I want want dumplings now!
Omg I love those cheese rice crackers! I remember my mum used to pack them into my lunchbox for school hehe
Jacq´s last [type] ..Adriano Zumbo Patisserie- Balmain and Belle Fleur Fine Chocolates- Rozelle
Mmmm love the thick fluffy shang style pork buns. Somehow I imagine this all in anime style “Squishies immediately coughs, “CHILLI!” I simply scoff at her and take my sip.” Hee hee hee hee hee
FFichiban´s last [type] ..Soban Korean Cuisine – Chatswood- Sydney
OMG!! the Shrimp and Pork Mini Wonton Soup looks delecious….
Eww @ the soybean… It looks like something in a children’s art class…!? :S
Tina´s last [type] ..Saigon snack
Dumplings would be great on a chilly day like this
Fiona´s last [type] ..MixMyMuesli – Muesli in a Tube
Mmm…savoury soy milk. Maybe it’s something only true Shanghai-ers understand, like savoury tofu fa?
i miss having my mouth scalded by hot xiaolongbao soup. and right now, it’s the perfect kind of weather for xiaolongbao too.