Jing Hua Xiao Chi Review: Homegrown Chinese Restaurant With Outlets In Japan And Italy

Jing Hua Xiao Chi - Homegrown Chinese Restaurant With Outlets in Japan And Italy Food at Jing Hua Xiao Chi At first glance, you can tell in an instant that this isn’t your typical guotie . Unlike the usual crescent-shaped pan-fried dumplings, Jing Hua Xiao Chi’s Pan-fried Mixed Minced Meat and Seafood Dumplings ($9++ for 10 pieces) look more like little cylinders.

The bite-sized dumplings are folded such that they are left open at both ends, allowing you to get a peek of the meat filling inside. Packed full of moist minced pork that has been spiked with umami from the minced seafood, each juicy little parcel disappears from the plate before you know it. The dumplings are also intentionally made with a slightly thicker crust, which enhances the crunchy mouthfeel you get the moment you chomp down on one.

The enigmatically dubbed “Chinese Pizza” ($11++) is a bit of a misnomer as it is worlds apart from the open-faced cheese-loaded Italian flatbreads we know so well. Inside, the meat filling was lightly seasoned and moist, pairing nicely with the crunchy crust. For a meat-free option, get a basket of Steamed Vegetarian Dumplings ($8++ for seven pieces) .

While the skin and the filling remained super soft even after the steam from the basket dissipated, the crimp of dough at the top was too thick for my liking. Aside from their special guotie , Jing Hua Xiao Chi’s Xiao Long Bao ($8++ for seven pieces) is another signature to try.

Made in-house by hand, the dumplings are served fresh from the steamer. Each dumpling is filled to the brim with a clear bright broth, which was more delicate and refreshing in nature compared to its counterparts from other places.

The filling is kept basic; a simple mix of vegetables and pork that retained its freshness, with no oily aftertaste. My only gripe is that similar to the vegetarian dumplings, the tops of the soup dumplings were slightly too doughy.

This Crispy Red Bean Pancake ($11++) was prepared a la minute, and served around 30 minutes after the savoury dishes arrived. The filling was just the right amount of sweet, with no trace of the sourness or bitterness that tends to linger in inferior red bean desserts.

Ambience at Jing Hua Xiao Chi Found just off the main streets of Chinatown, Jing Hua Xiao Chi is comfortably air-conditioned, with tables spaciously arranged. Their menu is kept short and simple, with no more than 15 dishes to select from.

The verdict Having been to Jing Hua Xiao Chi on several occasions, it has become a solid go-to for dumplings and Chinese comfort food. If Jing Hua Xiao Chi is out of your budget, check out Zhong Guo La Mian Xiao Long Bao , which serves XLB at $0.60 each! Address: 21 Neil Road, Singapore 088814 Opening hours: Thur-Tue 11:30am to 3pm, 5:30pm to 9:30pm Tel: 6221 3060 Website Full list of outlets Jing Hua Xiao Chi is not a halal restaurant.