Carol X.
Yelp
In a nutshell: PASS the dumplings! Scratch that, pass me EVERYTHING!
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From the clutches of the howling wind, my family dove into the Shang Noodle & Chinese restaurant for lunch and shelter. There's a Chinese word 热闹 (re nao) which is kind of lost-in-translation, but roughly means "lively," and that's exactly the kind of vibe Shang evokes. Full of hearty customers when we walked in, the room bustled with good cheer and chatter and warmth.
The waitresses there are genuinely excited for new customers when they come in, and I found it so sweet when they referred to the youngins by cute Chinese nicknames like "handsome boi" and "little beauty."
But anyway. The 'dumps.' The steamed pork and cabbage dumplings. A classic dish you'll find on almost any traditional Chinese restaurant menu. The pressure was on.
Let me just share with you my personal, *very* reliable dumpling test. You take one chopstick and try to skewer a dumpling right in the center, where the round ball of filling is. A good, sturdy dumpling should hold firm when poked. If it falls apart when you try to take a bite out of it... DUMP that dumpling!
(Sorry, that's a bit extreme).
But luckily, Shang's dumplings passed with flying colours. The dumplings looked like plump little sailboats with flappy wings (weird simile sorry) and the rich filling was enveloped by good, thick pastry skin. I honestly could rave about the dumps for ages. Do note that the dumplings are steamed fresh so they will take longer than most of the other dishes to arrive on the table, but they're totally worth it.
I also ordered the hot taro milk tea, which came almost straight away in a nice mug, and when I took my first sip, the drink's light creaminess and faint sweetness made my taste buds sing. My dad, who is definitely not an avid sugar fan, pronounced the tea surprisingly good, so you also have his word.
Any spice lovers should try some of the mini hot pots offered; my parents got the fish fillet and lamb casserole one, and it's just chef's kiss, all-round. I particularly liked the fish, which was all rich and tender. For those with low spice tolerance, the spiciness is more like an after-effect that slightly stings at your taste buds, but not enough to make you gulp down water or wipe away streaming tears from your eyes, so I think you can take the chance on the hot pots.
The sauteed shredded potato dish (basically thin, translucent potato strips topped with carrots and herbs I should know the name of but I don't) can be a refreshing respite from any spicy dish. With slightly heavy white vinegar dressing, the potatoes can taste more sour if you take larger, consecutive bites, but I think that depends more on personal preference.
So all in all, when the winter bites, don't have a fright, just go to Shang's and you'll be alright :)