Known for snaking queues & sheng jian bao, Shanghai Fried Xiao Long Bao closes in Chinatown
If you’ve been to Chinatown Complex Market recently, you might have noticed something missing. This treasure trove of cult-favourite hawker stalls has sadly lost one of its most eye-catching queues with the closure of Shanghai Fried Xiao Long Bao.
For the uninitiated, Shanghai Fried Xiao Long Bao was a wildly popular stall that served up a variety of la mian and Chinese dumplings. Although it wasn’t the only one with this speciality, it stood out for several reasons. One, the unique offering of pan-fried sheng jian bao, and two, perpetual queues that seemed to never stop growing even at off-peak hours.
Despite their immense popularity, the establishment does not run a social media page of its own. As such, the announcement of their closure came rather quietly in the form of a notice pasted at its storefront. They then formally pulled down the shutters to their stall on 31 May 2024.
In the aforementioned flyer, they attributed the closure to unforeseen circumstances and expressed much regret and even reluctance. At the same time, they thanked customers for their undying support over their short-lived 2 years of operations.
Moreover, the stall could very well make a return soon. They concluded the notice with the possibility of meeting customers again at a new location. Below the letter were 2 QR codes linked to their contact details, which they encouraged customers to scan and save to redeem a free set of sheng jian bao at their future outlet.
Saddened as you may be by the closure, don’t lose heart! Shanghai Fried Xiao Long Bao has another outlet at a coffeeshop in Holland Drive. There, you’ll be able to find what you could at Chinatown Complex.
Some hearty mains you can get include the Zha Jiang Mian (S$4.50), Beef Noodle (S$5.50) and Fresh Shrimp Wanton Noodle (S$6.80). With the owner’s 25 years of experience as a dim sum chef with notable stints in Crystal Jade and Paradise Group, you can expect a restaurant-esque flair to these slurp-worthy la mian dishes.
Needless to say, you can get their famed sheng jian bao, or Fried Buns (from S$4/3 pieces), too. With juicy meat and flavourful pork broth encased in a crispy skin that goes down with an audible crunch, these aren’t to be missed.
That aside, you can opt for various other dumplings such as the Xiao Long Bao (S$4.80/6 pieces), Leek Steamed Dumpling (S$6.80/10 pieces) and Wanton in Chilli Oil (S$5.80/8 pieces).
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