PrintThe City's Best Soup Dumplings at Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao in Flushing
When it’s bone-chillingly cold, soup is usually the order of the day. Yet sometimes a gigantic steaming bowl is simply too much. Sometimes you crave soup in small, self-contained packages. That’s where xiao long bao, or Shanghai soup dumplings, enter the picture. Many of you have had these juicy little suckers before, most likely at the Flushing or Manhattan location of Joe’s Shanghai, and you probably swear by their soup dumplings. I know I used to.
People, I have seen the xiao long bao light, and it shines brightly at Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao in Flushing. Granted, no side-by-side comparison with Joe’s was performed, but the namesake dish at Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao is simply the best version I’ve ever had.
As elsewhere, Nan Xiang’s soup dumplings are made fresh by cooks who tend a seemingly endless array of steamers. Listen closely and you can hear the digital timer go off when a batch finishes. It’s fun to try guessing whether it’s your order. Don’t be too upset if it’s not. You’ll soon be presented with steaming tray of xiao long bao.
Yesterday I went for jia xie xiao long bao, or pork and crab soup dumplings. Actually, that’s what I always order; why get just pork when you can have a miniature surf and turf soup?
The wrappers weren't quite translucent, yet they were incredibly delicate. Perfectly steamed, too. No gumminess whatsoever.
You might even be tempted to pick one up like to examine it. It’s a great way to gauge just how much is packed into these little wonders.
Of course, the only way to know what lies inside Nan Xiang’s soup dumplings is to eat one. Each is crammed with juicy pork, sweet crab, and plenty of delicious broth. Various schools of thought on xiao long bao eating exist. I used to be a side nipper, but yesterday I resorted to being a top biter, maybe to get a better look at the innards. This method produced a lot of broth waste for one dumpling. No matter, I simply poured the precious liquid from my plate back into the spoon. Be sure to add a bit of ginger and black vinegar. But one rule abides: Be careful when you bite into a xiao long bao—they are really hot. Eating one whole after biting through the wrapper is not recommended for soup dumpling virgins.
Nan Xiang is the district where xiao long bao were invented, hence it's an apt name for a place that serves what may well be the city's best.
Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao
38-12 Prince Street, Flushing NY 11354 (map)
718-321-3838
Add a comment:
Previewing your comment:
HTML Hints
Some HTML is OK: <a href="URL">link</a>, <strong>strong</strong>, <em>em</em>
Comment Guidelines
Post whatever you want, just keep it seriously about eats, seriously. We reserve the right to delete off-topic or inflammatory comments. Learn more at our Comment Policy page.
If you see something not so nice, please, report an inappropriate comment.
15 Comments:
What about fried pork dumplings? I'm disappointed every time I try these in Chinatown.
bephf at 12:21PM on 02/06/09
Actually, that’s what I always order; why get just pork when you can have a miniature surf and turf soup?
No, the crab taste just gets in the way of the pork!
I'm not sure you truly can proclaim who has the best soup dumplings if you are doing a crab/pork dumpling to dumpling comparison.
kathryn at 12:30PM on 02/06/09
Traditional pork for me as well... but I want to see how it stacks up against LA's best (Ding Tai Fung).
kokomo at 2:10PM on 02/06/09
the picture already told me that the dumpling failed to be a great xiao long bao: skin too thick, meat to dumpling skin ratio totally off. I don't even have to taste it to say it fails because even if it tastes fantastic the dumpling failed two of the most important dimension of a good xiao long bao.
I am going to get bomb for this post, but that's my conclusion.
kobetobiko at 4:25PM on 02/06/09
@kobetobiko: no bombs from me, I did say it "may well be the city's best." Maybe I don't get around enough. Please, please let me and everyone else know where better can be had.
Joe DiStefano at 4:34PM on 02/06/09
Then again, the city's best may not be a great soup dumpling when judged against standards in other countries!
kathryn at 4:54PM on 02/06/09
Yes kobetobiko, I second the call. Please tell us where to find better. And don't say at my mom's house, or anything like that. We're waiting :)
simon at 5:27PM on 02/06/09
I don't know about dumpling skin to meat ratio but I think the xiao long baos here are excellent. I think the picture is making the skin look thicker than it is in real life. I also enjoy their breakfast dishes of hot soy milk and fried crullers. They have other shanghainese dishes also.
maportofu at 10:01PM on 02/06/09
For soup dumplings in Flushing, I go to:
Shanghai Tide
13520 40th Rd
Flushing, NY 11354
(718) 661-0900
This place was recommended to me by a former roommate who was from Shanghai. They're usually quite juicy, with thin skins and well-seasoned fillings. They are smaller than the ones at Nan Xiang, but you get more to the basket. It's cheap enough to give it a whirl. :)
Gastro888 at 3:05PM on 02/07/09
Tried them today and wasn't that impressed. I've given up on NY for good Chinese. It just doesn't exist. I wait until I go to Hong Kong, San Fran for something decent.
chaevans at 4:20PM on 02/07/09
Like kathryn said, the best in Manhattan is nothing really outstanding compared to what you get in Asia. If I were to pick, Joe's Shanghai (not Ginger) has the thinnest skin and the meat ratio is fine, but the problem is the meat is too dense and not soft enough. The dumplings at Shanghai Cafe is thicker (seems slightly thinner than the picture above, but thicker to Joe's), and the meat is soft and juicy. Unfortunately the juice lacks meat flavor.
Unfortunately most of the times restaurants seem to excel in one dimension and not all, so you just can't find the perfect one. Same applies to sushi, banh mi, etc.
kobetobiko at 10:17PM on 02/07/09
Just to add, I don't really go to Flushing, so I can't attest to the quality of xiao long bao served at the restaurants there.
kobetobiko at 10:19PM on 02/07/09
Fussbudget.
f650gsd at 10:37PM on 02/09/09
So you're saying you don't really know of a better place?
simon at 6:03PM on 02/10/09
the better soup bun place is across the street, it's right next to sunway restaurant. They have a bright yellow sign, the address should be 16 39th ave.
Remember to order pan fried bun,it's reali good.
frozencoke at 6:31PM on 02/10/09