Shanghai Xiao Long Bao (Soup Dumplings) Face-Off | Richmond, BC

Richmond, BC offers some of the most authentic Shanghai cuisines in Canada. So, every time I visit, I have to have my Shanghai dim sum fix.

Now, for those not in the know, “Dim sum” is the Cantonese pronunciation for snacks while “Dian Xin” is the Mandarin pronunciation. Many regions in China boast their own style of dim sum and specialty items.

Forget your Cantonese classics, Shanghai’s got its own game going. We’re talking Nanxiang Xiao Long Bao (soup dumplings, 南翔小笼)，Pan-fried buns (生煎)，Pan-fried dumplings (锅贴)，Shanghai spring rolls (上海春卷), Shanghai Shaomai (上海烧麦), Shanghai scallion pancakes (上海葱油饼), just to name a few.

Usually, I’d hit up my go-to spots like Shanghai River (沪江) and Bai Yu Lan (白玉兰) in Richmond. But this time, I was on a mission to try something new. I’d heard Long’s Noodle House in Vancouver was a great place to have Shanghai dim sum. Unfortunately, the restaurant was destroyed in a fire. The good news is it reopened in Richmond in 2023. So, I decided to try it.

It’s a cash-only joint. We ordered:

Xiao Long Bao (小笼包) – 5 pcs – CDN$8.50
Pan-fried buns (生煎) – 4 pcs – CDN$8.50
Pan-fried dumplings (锅贴) – 5 pcs – CDN$8.50
Mini Wonton soup (鲜肉小馄饨) – 12 pcs – CDN$8.50

Thin-skinned Xiao Long Bao that don’t burst on pick-up? Check. Pan-fried buns and dumplings oozing with soup? Double check. And the wonton soup was yummy. Long’s knows their stuff.

But the plot thickens! On the other side of the food court, a hidden gem awaited: Hao Chi Lai, literally translating to “taste so good” or “delicious” in Shanghai dialect. I couldn’t resist.

The staff recommended Combo A – Xiao Long Bao (6 pcs) + shrimp wonton in chicken soup (CDN$14.95) which would be more expensive if you ordered them separately. Hao Chi Lai has a card machine so I assume they take debit and/or credit cards.

Their Xiao Long Bao was on par with the big boys. But alas, the shrimp wonton lacked a bit of filling and the broth needed a boost. Still, if Long’s got a line, you’ll find me at Hao Chi Lai without a second thought.

Here is a Youtube video of our dining experience: