The Search for the Best Xiao Long Bao Pt2: Freshly Rolled at Shi Lin

Searching for some freshly rolled Xiao Long Bao? 

You can watch them rolled right before you at Shi Lin! 

After my first xiao long bao trip, my friend, Kat, recommended the quite newly opened, Shi Lin in Podium. So last December, my college friends and I decided to have our Christmas reunion there. 

A minimalist Chinese restaurant, aglow with modern lanterns, Shi Lin is one of Kat's favorite date places. Indeed, the restaurant's tall glass windows paint a romantic view of the city lights. 

Since I wasn't with RJ during my visit, I was more enamored by their culinary entertainment. Like watching a live MasterChef show, watching their cooks roll out dimsum can be quite an engaging show. After all, their cooks are trained in Taiwan so expect authentic Taiwanese cuisine whipped up before your eyes. 

Green Peppermint Tea (Php135)

We prepared our palates for a Chinese feast with their steaming hot pot of Green Peppermint Tea. It's your tea of choice for an awakening effect. We loved it so much that we kept asking for refills throughout the evening. 

Noodles with Spicy Sesame and Peanut Sauce (Php130)

To pacify our hunger, we ordered individual meals. The menu was pretty straightforward with a limited selection of their best dishes. I was more than ready for a gastronomic adventure so I ordered their Noodles with Spicy Sesame and Peanut Sauce. 


Blazing in fiery orange peanut sauce, these noodles were overwhelmingly spicy at first bite. It will trigger a tear or two before the hint of peanut wonderfully reveals itself. I must warn you, this dish is mighty flavorful! Great thing the leaf of bokchoy allows room to temper the spiciness. The noodles too, a bit on the chewy side, play a vital role in balancing out the flavors of this dish. The serving's small though so we were hungry for more food!

Shrimp and Pork Shaomai (Php135/6 pcs)

With their open kitchen, Shi Lin evidently takes pride in their freshly rolled dimsum so we ordered their Shrimp and Pork Shaomai. Each piece was artistically shaped like a flower with a crown of small shrimp. They're not as packed as the dimsums in Suzhou but the thickness of the skin was spot on. 

Xiao Long Bao (Php108/6 pcs)

And of course, every Shi Lin visit will not be complete without a steaming basket of Xiao Long Bao or soupy dumplings. Though a smaller xiao long bao as opposed to Suzhou's, Shi Lin's soup and thickness of skin won me over. Their xiao long bao's soup has more flavor depth into it, needing very little black vinegar to complete the taste. And with thinner skin, the soup easily breaks inside my mouth. Shi Lin's xiao long bao's eating instructions recommend poking the xiao long bao though before eating it but I'd rather have it my way. :)

The group was split on our Shi Lin visit because of the small servings and the taste of some of their individual dishes. One wasn't particularly happy with their Vegetable & Pork Dumplings for the lack of pork. 

As for me, I'm just so happy that I found a better xiao long bao. It's a step closer to the description of xiao long bao that hasn't left my mind ever since. I'm still on the lookout for the best xiao long bao though and hopefully, I get to try even more to celebrate Chinese New Year. :)

More Info on Shi Lin:
Address: 3rd Floor, Podium, 18 ADB Avenue, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City
Map: Click Here
Contact: (02) 477-4108
Operating Hours: 11AM-10AM Sun-Sat
Budget: Php150-200/head
Payment: Cash, Mastercard, Visa
Outfit: Casual
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~It's the little sweet notes everyday that matter~