I’d always thought of xiao long bao as a treat reserved for special occasions. Juicy minced pork and tantalising soup enveloped in thin dumpling skin, this irresistible dumpling was a treat I could only afford once in a blue moon. That was until I discovered the many eateries selling xiao long bao at an affordable price! We all know “good things must share”, so without further ado, here are seven places to get your much-needed fix of xiao long bao without burning a hole in your pocket.
I can’t recommend Ju Hao La Mian Xiao Long Bao enough. Located at the marketplace near Eatbook’s office, I patronised this hawker stall three days in a row when I first found out about it. Eight xiao long bao here cost $6, which means it’s only $0.75 per piece. The pork filling and broth are extremely rich and mouthwatering, which is the reason why I keep coming back for more. The only downside is that the skin of the xiao long bao is quite prone to tearing, so making sure none of the delicious soup spill out is a challenge.
Address: 27 Bendemeer Road, #01-646, City Food Court , Singapore 330027
Opening hours: Daily 9am to 9pm
Image credit: @sgyuminmytum
At Shanghai Xiao Long Bao, five pieces of xiao long bao are sold at $3.50. The skin of each XLB is firm enough to hold a good amount of soup and tender meat filling. The Pan Fried Pork Dumplings ($3.50 for five pieces) are quite raved about too. The owner Mr Wang moved to Singapore from China years ago, and was previously a chef at Crystal Jade, so you won’t be let down by his fine culinary skills.
Address: 51 Old Airport Road, #01-109, Old Airport Road Food Centre, Singapore 390051
Opening hours: Daily 12pm to 10pm
Tel: 8246 3160
The xiao long bao ($7.50 for 10 pieces) at You Peng Noodle Dumpling House is served steaming hot. The dumpling skins are so translucent, you can almost see the hot broth inside as you lift it off the bamboo basket. Despite its thin skin, picking up a piece of the soup dumplings without tearing it proves to be an easy task to accomplish. Be sure to also order their Special Sauce Noodle ($4.50), or zha jiang mian, when you’re there, as it is said to be the stall’s most popular dish.
Check out our full review of You Peng Fresh Mian Jiao Zi Guan to find out more!
Address: 144 Upper Bukit Timah Road, #04-23, Beauty World Centre, Singapore 588177
Opening hours: Daily 10:30am to 9pm
Tel: 6463 5608
At Zhong Guo La Mian Xiao Long Bao, a basket of 10 xiao long bao will only set you back $6. Breaking it down, that’s $0.60 per piece. What I love about this stall is that the chef is known to be extremely generous with his meat filling, making the XLB here a definite steal. Apart from the soup dumplings, the hawker stall is also famous for their Sze Chuan Spicy Wantons ($4.50) and La Mian with Black Bean Sauce ($3.50).
For more details, check out our full review of Zhong Guo La Mian Xiao Long Bao!
Address: 335 Smith Street, #02-135, Chinatown Complex Market & Food Centre, Singapore 089152
Opening hours: Wed-Sun 11:30am to 9pm
Tel: 9743 5287
Xiao long bao is a must-try at Hao Wei Lai. At $4 for six pieces, each dumpling delivers a tiny explosion of scrummy flavour in your mouth. This hidden gem also sells dishes such as Pan Fried Dumplings ($5 for 10 pieces) and Stir-Fried Rice with Pork Ribs ($5.80) at a quality that’s comparable to the likes of Din Tai Fung! If you’re feeling for some tasty, pocket-friendly Chinese grub, I’d point you in the direction of this restaurant for sure.
Check out our full review of Hao Wei Lai!
Address: 165 Bukit Merah Central, #01-3687, Bukit Merah Central, Singapore 150165
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 9pm
Tel: 9673 5517
Website
A hawker stall run by an ex-Crystal Jade cook and his wife, Supreme La Mian Xiao Long Bao sells xiao long bao at $4.50 for six pieces. The xiao long bao was wobbling unsteadily as we picked it up, but the skin thankfully did not tear. The Dry Pork Dumpling Noodles ($4) and Pork Dumplings with Chilli Sauce ($4 for eight pieces) are other tasty dishes to consider ordering. Everything here is prepared by hand, even the strips of ginger, which they use a knife to shred.
Check out our full review of Supreme La Mian Xiao Long Bao to find out more.
Address: Blk 46 Holland Drive, #01-359, Singapore 270046
Opening hours: Daily 8:30am to 8:30pm
Tel: 9798 2211
Website
Image credit: @yukibabe
You’ll find long queues here at Shanghai La Mian Xiao Long Bao. The dumplings are priced at $4 for seven pieces – approximately $0.57 per piece – and the standard here can easily beat many Chinese restaurants in Singapore. Another signature dish to get is their Wantons in Spicy Chilli Oil ($4 for 10 pieces) that packs a punch. Run by a friendly couple from China, the food here is known to consistently taste delicious.
Address: 120 Bukit Merah Lane 1, #01-56, Alexander Village Food Centre, Singapore 150006
Opening hours: Daily 11:30am to 8:30pm
Tel: 9737 9936
With this nifty list, you can now afford baskets and baskets of xiao long bao without breaking the bank. All you need is one or two red notes, and you can be feasting on xiao long bao dipped in black vinegar and topped with thinly-sliced ginger .
Check out our review of Guo Fu Steamboat  for free-flow xiao long bao, or this list of cheap and good dim sum eateries!
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