Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao (Bugis Junction)

Full review and photos: http://foodiefc.blogspot.com/2011/09/drop-by-crystal-jade-la-mian-xiao-long.html

Dropped by Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao  located at Bugis Junction for dinner.

The menu cover page has changed. Looks so colourful and seems to be targeting the younger generation too. Moreover, with a tagline of 'King of Noodles & Tim Sum'.

We ordered the Steamed Pork Dumpling or you can call it Xiao Long Bao (XLB). The XLB is one of Crystal Jade's signature dish. It is served in bamboo basket.  The xiao long baos must be eaten hot when they are served. The skin is thin yet does not puncture easily. Inside, it is filled with tasty pork broth and tender pork fillings. Matched with vinegar and ginger which enhances the taste of the tender pork, it is heavenly.

Here's how the Spicy & Sour Soup Noodle with Shredded Pork & Beancurd looks like after stirring it. Crystal Jade's la mian (handmade noodles) is one of my favourite. The spiciness and sourness of the Spicy & Sour Soup Noodle with Shredded Pork & Beancurd was perfect for me. Not too sour yet spicy. Shiok! Moreover, each strand of la mian was cooked to perfection, it was soft, springy, thin and flavourful. The whole combination was perfect and delicious!!

Well, I am glad they served it separately so that the wings will not be soggy. Other parts of the chicken wings was missing. Moreover, the wings were quite oily. Inside, the meat was slightly dry. Not as delicious as I expected.

La Mian was perfect, similar to the ones served in the spicy & sour noodles. However, the La Mian Soup base was salty. The prawns in it was not fresh. Stuck to the shells and meat was not firm. The dumplings were average. To be frank, I felt that this dish was terrible compared to the other dishes in the noodles/la mian menu.

You might have read in earlier post that I am a crazy fan of Crystal Jade's chilli. I can literally eat the chilli alone without anything to accompany it while waiting for the food to come. Right amount of spiciness, somewhat crispy to me. How do they make it?

Overall, the dishes such as Sour and Spicy Noodle and Xiao Long Bao are delicious! (and not forgetting the chilli!). But I certainty will not be ordering the Mega Bowl Soup La Mian. Price wise, it is quite affordable and value for money. Where else can you get such price at restaurants and with such good food! As for service, the staff are prompt and efficient.

Full review and photos: http://foodiefc.blogspot.com/2011/09/drop-by-crystal-jade-la-mian-xiao-long.html

As a cheaper range of the Crystal Jade group, the food items can be considered quite value for money. However, the curious thing I find is that though it is called La Mian Xiao Long Bao, neither the La Mian nor the Xiao Long Bao is nice. In contrast, I would prefer the fried rice and the chicken soup.

The ambience/setting for the bugis junction outlet is more private and classy as compared to other outlets like Suntec City etc so that it a plus point. Service is adequate but seems to me not all staff can understand English well, hence it will be easier to communicate to them in Mandarin.

Overall, the food and price and service are acceptable but with so many La Mian and Xiao Long Bao restaurants around, I feel a little jaded with such selections already.

Good for quick lunch. Had Beef brisket noodles + chicken feet (dim sum). A lot of variety to choose from, hence will be good if lunching with a group of friends/ colleagues so as to share the dishes. 

1st visit to this outlet.

Ordered the usual items as i would at other outlets- Xiao Long Bao, Siew Mai and Chili opil Xiao Long Bao.

I do not know is my change in taste buds but i do not find the chili oil xiao long bao had no punch, no kick! haha . Tasted quite bland, mainly like vinegar and a bit of a very medicro amount of chili

Overall staff was courteous, and filled drinks and replenish plates quickly.

I frequent this place for only one thing : the ramen. The favorite is the 牛腩 beef or the plain 鸡汤 chicken soup ramen. However, I did not like the 炸酱面 perhaps due to the sauce, though nothing wrong with the noodles. The noodles are the kind that are "q". I have not tried the rest for fear for being deceived by the soup base.

I cannot say the same for other Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao joints, whether the ramen is the same quality. But this ramen definitely beats other japanese or chinese joints, IMO.

The other dish we always order is the deep-fried radish. The pastry is crispy and delicious and the radish still retains its sweetness. Good value for money.

It was once hard to get la mian in singapore but it is now everywhere with lots of places jumping on the bandwagon. CJ is one of the earlier ones to start and from the experience today they are still one of the better ones around.

We just wanted a light meal so 2 of us ordered 1 XLB, 1 Pork dumpling (Shen Jian Rou Bao) and 1 Cha Jiang La Mian.

The XLB (5 for 4.50) seemed a bit smaller than before but it was still nice - tasty, skin just enough not to break but not too thick, not too salty, not too porky. Gets my vote

The Bao - this one is definitely smaller than before. Can't really complain since is is 4 for 3.50. This was OK, but because of its small size (Din Dai Fungs is much bigger but you only get 2 for about the same $) my impression was - hmm not much meat.

The La Mian - YES, this hit the spot. Firstly, unlike a couple of other places I tried lately, there was a decent quantity of noodles, enough to fill 3 rice bowls. Secondly, the noodles were even in thickness and very Q.

The ambience is pretty nice, if a bit dimly lit for a CJ LMXLB joint - most of the others are brighter, but the ambience also feels more relaxing and quieter.

Service was excellent and very attentive. We made the mistake of asking the noodles not to be cut, and whilst struggling with the noodles, they brought out the scissors and asked if we want it cut. So we did. OK, great, but we had already used our chopsticks for other things so the noodles would not have been "untouched". So, have the scissors been used to cut other people in the same situation? Gosh, communal scissors? Perhaps it is something that did not cross their mind.... because they were all eager with good attitudes....

FYI

$0.30 for water (bottomless)

$2.00 for nuts (very small serving)

$0.30 per pax for towels.

I went there to satisfy my craving for xiao long bao.

I like the setting over there, the way they arrange their tables and chairs. It is very comfortable, not like the jurong point outlet.

The service, is good, tables and used plates are quickly and politely cleaned and kept away. Waiters and waitresses there are very polite and soft. Some restaurant, their waiters and waitresses can be really loud and unpleasant although they mean no harm.

As usual, even though all the outlets have the same price, crystal jade food are just slightly over-priced. Therefore the value I gave it a 6 out of 10.

As for the food, I ordered only the xiao long bao. I was not really impressed by it.

First, the xiao long bao, though the whole long is giving out steam, the bao itself is not. It is only warm and not hot. This shows that the xiao long bao, is not as freshly done as I wanted.

Second, the skin of the xiao long bao is suppose to be thin but not so thin that the chopstick will break when I tired to take it up. There goes many of my "juice" You might say that it is because my chopstick skills not good, but for a person who has been using chopstick for at least 18years, I dare to say it is not the fault of my chopsticks.

Though the rating I give might not be too high, I will still definitely come back to this place if I have craving for xiao long bao and I'm in bugis. =]