Last night a friend of mine asked if I wanted to try a new Shanghai cuisine restaurant and I had no idea that Jin Jiang Shanghai even existed! The restaurant is located on Kingsway Street in Burnaby, next to the Best Western Hotel.
Jin Jiang Shanghai has two sections in the restaurant, one for parties of less than four and the other for larger tables of more than six. The restaurant is fairly clean, has a relaxing atmosphere, comfortable seating arrangements, and I like the bricked wall.BRAISED BEAN CURD WITH CHINESE MUSHROOM ($5.98).
Rating: 3/5.
The braised bean curd with Chinese mushroom is a dish that is served cold. The bean curd is medium firm pressed tofu which soaks up the delicious and slightly sweet tasting sauce, as do the Chinese mushroom. Also, the dish has a bit of fungus and a couple of raw peanuts. My friend would have preferred pan fried peanuts over raw, but I think raw is more suitable.
The spiced chicken is another dish that is served cold, which is also known as the "mouth watering chicken". The chicken tastes somewhat tender, not mushy and exhibits a nice settled mild spiciness. Further, the sauce does not taste like generic hot sauce or chilli oil, and tastes housemade. The sauce is fairly tasty and the peanuts are a nice touch because of that extra crunch and flavour. If I wanted to nitpick though, there could have been a strong Sichuan peppercorn taste.
The soup has a good amount of ingredients; pork, salted pork, mustard green vegetables and bamboo shoot. As for the broth, there is a clear and flavourful salted pork taste. Moreover, the salted pork does not taste too salty but the meat could have tasted more tender and less chewy. This is fine however since it is not a slow cooked soup. By the way, Jin Jiang Shanghai offers a massive its of 18 kinds of soup!
The xiao long bao looks fluffy, has a thin layer of skin and tastes juicy as well as flavourful. There are juicier XLBs though and despite that the meat tastes soft, tender and delicious, there could have been a bit more fatty pork since the texture is not smooth (but neither gritty).
If anything, the menu does not mention that the duck is smoked and I do think it is a bit heavy on the salt. But despite tasting too salty, the duck is properly made and is probably the best one in B.C. Seriously. For those who like Shanghai style smoked duck, you have to come here! In addition, mantou (Chinese steamed bun) is provided on the side and tastes soft, spongy as well as pillowy.
As for the sauce, there is a nice consistency and it is not too thick. The sauce tastes lighter than most typical sweet and sour sauces too, exhibiting only a hint of tang. But the fish has a nice crisp exterior and the meat tastes flavourful, despite tasting a bit stiff. Although I would only come back for this when rock cod is in season since the fish would definitely taste better fresh.
The dish has a good amount of Chinese mushroom, shredded cabbage and a decent amount of sliced pork. The pork belly is sliced very thin and has a pleasant chewiness along with a nice snap. If anything, the only complaint is that the sauce does not taste spicy and tastes more sweet than spicy.
Despite the golden coloured appearance, the buns could have been pan fried longer and does not have a nice crisp bottom. As for the taste, the buns are not greasy and the skin is quite tasty. On top of that, the pork meat tastes pretty good; juicy and flavourful.
For dessert, I was expecting a small bowl but the portion is huge! The soup tastes very light and slightly sweet, with a subtle wine flavour. Also, the sesame rice balls regardless if housemade or store bought, tastes delicious, not overly sweet and has a yummy black sesame filling. I will definitely come back for this and am usually not a big fan of ordering dessert at Shanghai cuisine restaurants.
The braised bean curd with Chinese mushroom is a dish that is served cold. The bean curd is medium firm pressed tofu which soaks up the delicious and slightly sweet tasting sauce, as do the Chinese mushroom. Also, the dish has a bit of fungus and a couple of raw peanuts. My friend would have preferred pan fried peanuts over raw, but I think raw is more suitable.
SPICED CHICKEN "SZECHWAN" STYLE ($7.98).
Rating: 3/5.
The spiced chicken is another dish that is served cold, which is also known as the "mouth watering chicken". The chicken tastes somewhat tender, not mushy and exhibits a nice settled mild spiciness. Further, the sauce does not taste like generic hot sauce or chilli oil, and tastes housemade. The sauce is fairly tasty and the peanuts are a nice touch because of that extra crunch and flavour. If I wanted to nitpick though, there could have been a strong Sichuan peppercorn taste.
SALTED PORK AND PORK WITH BAMBOO SHOOT SOUP ($12.98).
Rating: 3/5.
The soup has a good amount of ingredients; pork, salted pork, mustard green vegetables and bamboo shoot. As for the broth, there is a clear and flavourful salted pork taste. Moreover, the salted pork does not taste too salty but the meat could have tasted more tender and less chewy. This is fine however since it is not a slow cooked soup. By the way, Jin Jiang Shanghai offers a massive its of 18 kinds of soup!
STEAMED SHANGHAI DUMPLINGS, XIAO LONG BAO ($4.98).
Rating: 3/5.
The xiao long bao looks fluffy, has a thin layer of skin and tastes juicy as well as flavourful. There are juicier XLBs though and despite that the meat tastes soft, tender and delicious, there could have been a bit more fatty pork since the texture is not smooth (but neither gritty).
DEEP FRIED MARINATED DUCK ($13.98).
Rating: 4/5.
The duck is smoked prior to deep frying and the meat tastes very tender; practically melting in the mouth. Furthermore, the skin has a nice crispiness and every piece of meat tastes extremely fatty and delicious!
If anything, the menu does not mention that the duck is smoked and I do think it is a bit heavy on the salt. But despite tasting too salty, the duck is properly made and is probably the best one in B.C. Seriously. For those who like Shanghai style smoked duck, you have to come here! In addition, mantou (Chinese steamed bun) is provided on the side and tastes soft, spongy as well as pillowy.
SWEET AND SOUR SAUCE ROCK COD ($16.98).
Rating: 2.5/5.
The previously frozen rock cod has been deboned prior to freezing which makes it a lot easier to eat compared to fresh fish (for lazy people like me). I love rock cod too because of the meaty taste, but frozen fish always tastes a bit more stiff.
As for the sauce, there is a nice consistency and it is not too thick. The sauce tastes lighter than most typical sweet and sour sauces too, exhibiting only a hint of tang. But the fish has a nice crisp exterior and the meat tastes flavourful, despite tasting a bit stiff. Although I would only come back for this when rock cod is in season since the fish would definitely taste better fresh.
SAUTEED PORK AND VEGETABLES WITH SPICY SAUCE ($13.98).
Rating: 3/5.
The dish has a good amount of Chinese mushroom, shredded cabbage and a decent amount of sliced pork. The pork belly is sliced very thin and has a pleasant chewiness along with a nice snap. If anything, the only complaint is that the sauce does not taste spicy and tastes more sweet than spicy.
PAN FRIED PORK BUNS ($4.98).
Rating: 3/5.
Despite the golden coloured appearance, the buns could have been pan fried longer and does not have a nice crisp bottom. As for the taste, the buns are not greasy and the skin is quite tasty. On top of that, the pork meat tastes pretty good; juicy and flavourful.
SESAME RICE BALLS ($6.98).
Rating: 4/5.
For dessert, I was expecting a small bowl but the portion is huge! The soup tastes very light and slightly sweet, with a subtle wine flavour. Also, the sesame rice balls regardless if housemade or store bought, tastes delicious, not overly sweet and has a yummy black sesame filling. I will definitely come back for this and am usually not a big fan of ordering dessert at Shanghai cuisine restaurants.
POSITIVES
- Above average food
- Large menu selection
- Spacious restaurant with comfortable seating
- Probably the most perfect Smoked Deep Fried Duck
- Attentive, friendly and genuine staff (a big reason to why I will revisit)
NEGATIVES
- Food is good, but not great
- Spicy pork dish was sweet instead of spicy
LITTLE THINGS
- I will be back for the sesame rice balls!
- The Peking Duck looked really good on the menu, I would come back to try that
Food: 3/5
Service: 4/5
I want to try this one. There was only one Shanghai restaurant, Elan, existing in Burnaby before.
ReplyDeleteI'm a little curious how two of you can eat so much foods. You must be starving :)
I prefer here over Shanghai Elan, let me know if you like it! I want to revisit soon.
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