"I welcomed the arrival of a fast-casual, counter-service offshoot of the Michelin-recommended Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao in Chinatown this week: a shorter, takeout-friendly menu that riffs on the Flushing original. The offerings include flavor-packed soup dumplings—crab meat and pork, plus chicken, pork, or spicy beef varieties—alongside fried udon, noodle soups and appetizers like cold cucumber salad and beef tendons and tripe in a spicy sauce. The shop at 52 Beach Street is open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and the team says they partnered with a local franchisee to bring the brand to Boston with plans for additional Express locations and potentially a full-service Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao." - Erika Adams