Chen’s Shanghai Kitchen- Awesome Xiao Long Baos and Salty Soy Milk
I went to Chen’s Shanghai Kitchen a few days ago with my mom
and we kind of went there on a wim because we have always had mixed feelings
about this place. They are located on Park Road in the same area as Happy Date.Their xiao long baos are certainly one of the best in
Richmond (in my opinion) but their service sucks like no other.
The standard Xiao
Long Baos (6 pcs) ($4.50) arrived piping hot and were super plump and juicy
looking.
Long Baos (6 pcs) ($4.50) arrived piping hot and were super plump and juicy
looking.
I was afraid the skins were going to tear when I picked them
up since they were sticking together, but it was completely fine and almost
every single bun was intact with their juices.
up since they were sticking together, but it was completely fine and almost
every single bun was intact with their juices.
I was incredibly happy because each bun was overflowing with
soup! The meat was also very flavourful and tender. I highly recommend getting
this because I feel like very few Shanghai restaurants can make XLBs THIS good.
soup! The meat was also very flavourful and tender. I highly recommend getting
this because I feel like very few Shanghai restaurants can make XLBs THIS good.
Now, from the best to the worst dish… the Potstickers (6 pcs) ($4.50). Why were
these bad? Let me tell you.
these bad? Let me tell you.
THIS is why. The bottoms of the potstickers were quite burnt
and one in particular (the one in the front) was charred black. I wanted to
tell the server but my mom insisted I not because we know how the servers are
like here. The servers here will argue with you and take no responsibility for
any complaints you have, even if they are surely wrong. For example, my mom and
I came here a long while ago and ordered a few dishes. They gave us one dish we didn’t order so
we told the server. She didn’t take it off our bill so we were confused and
asked her to take it off since we told them we never ordered it, plus they took
it away when we told them anyways. They insisted they heard us order that dish
and forced us to pay for it. It was a measly two dollar soy milk but the lasting
impression of their service haunted us forever. Thus… this is why we throw
caution to the wind whenever we come here.
and one in particular (the one in the front) was charred black. I wanted to
tell the server but my mom insisted I not because we know how the servers are
like here. The servers here will argue with you and take no responsibility for
any complaints you have, even if they are surely wrong. For example, my mom and
I came here a long while ago and ordered a few dishes. They gave us one dish we didn’t order so
we told the server. She didn’t take it off our bill so we were confused and
asked her to take it off since we told them we never ordered it, plus they took
it away when we told them anyways. They insisted they heard us order that dish
and forced us to pay for it. It was a measly two dollar soy milk but the lasting
impression of their service haunted us forever. Thus… this is why we throw
caution to the wind whenever we come here.
We ordered the Preserved
Snow Vegetables and Meat, Noodle in Soup ($5.80) and it was a gigantic
portion considering how cheap it was.
Snow Vegetables and Meat, Noodle in Soup ($5.80) and it was a gigantic
portion considering how cheap it was.
The noodles were perfectly al dente and the topping of
panfried pork strips, bean sprouts, and “snow” vegetables were incredibly
delicious. I could down that whole noodle by myself if I wanted.
panfried pork strips, bean sprouts, and “snow” vegetables were incredibly
delicious. I could down that whole noodle by myself if I wanted.
Lastly, we ordered the Salty
Soy Milk ($2.50) and this is one of my favourite things to get here because
they do it so well. They flavour their soy milk with many ingredients and it
turns into something like a savoury milk soup!
Soy Milk ($2.50) and this is one of my favourite things to get here because
they do it so well. They flavour their soy milk with many ingredients and it
turns into something like a savoury milk soup!
In the flavourful soy milk, there are pieces of seaweed or
kelp, green onion, chilli oil, dried shrimp (my favourite), and chopped up Chinese
donut. It may look and sound strange, but totally be adventurous and give it a
try!
kelp, green onion, chilli oil, dried shrimp (my favourite), and chopped up Chinese
donut. It may look and sound strange, but totally be adventurous and give it a
try!
So you may be thinking, “Wow, how can two females eat that
much food?!”. Well, we packed the above leftovers home. The bill came up to
about $10 bucks per person and our leftovers were enough to feed my brother for
dinner as well. Despite their bad service, their great food and cheap price
gets us every time.
much food?!”. Well, we packed the above leftovers home. The bill came up to
about $10 bucks per person and our leftovers were enough to feed my brother for
dinner as well. Despite their bad service, their great food and cheap price
gets us every time.
Service Rating: 1/5
Food Rating: 4.5/5
Price: $-$$
Overall Rating: 4/5
Happy Eating!
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I think I'm gonna take Mama Leung to this for lunch next week! Thanks for the post! I can never think of what to eat and my family always pressures me into thinking for them.
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haha no problem! Let me know how their service is! 😛
I wanna go try the salty soy milk and the XLB. But your story about forcing you to pay for a dish you didn't order kind of scared me off 😛
Yeah… it was a pretty horrible experience, and that wasn't even the only time I had such an big case with them too. =.= I guess it all depends on whether you are willing to risk such bad service for great food! haha
Is that the place that's a hole in the wall? The salty milk looks intriguing and adventurous.. although my pet peeve is bad service and I can totally see myself get into a bitch fight there hahaha
Oh wait, I have to share a relevant story lol. We ordered dan dan noodles and it arrived with a hair on top. My sister quickly pointed it out even before they let go of the bowl so they had no choice but to make us a new one. We could even see through their kitchen if they were making it or not. Yeah, they weren't too happy.
Yeah mimi it's the holy in the wall restaurant that doesn't look too pretty from the front. And oh gosh good thing you caught it in time! or else I can imagine them say it is your hair so they don't have to make it again. Did this happen at this or another Shanghai restaurant?
I have been going to Chen's most sundays for at least half a year now, and all I can say is that I've always experienced great service from the staff there. Once my father in law was odering for us, and after he was done, the waitress reminded him that he had forgotten my favourite dish (the szechuan chicken – so good!!!). That really struck me as good service.
I guess they are nicer to loyal and returning customers? I'm not sure. I do get alright service here sometimes! Just not.. .all the time. 😛