Mai Wei Fang's Fried Xiao Long Bao in Robinsons Manila
Fried "Xiao Long Bao"? Curious? Well, you can satisfy that curiosity in Mai Wei Fang, a restaurant from Shanghai, China.
I actually got to try this months ago, but I wasn't able to get decent photos for me to post, so when I had the chance to dine here again, I made sure to bring my camera.
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A simple outlet in the mall
This outlet in Robinsons Place Manila is "humble". It has limited seats yet cozy enough to enjoy the baos and chicken chops.
For this night, we ordered the two popular dishes here - Sheng Jian Bao (or what I call "fried" Xiao Long Bao) and Chinese Fried Chicken. Can you believe that we only paid P330 for P660 worth of order? Yeah, it's the touch of Gold.
The Fried Xiao Long Bao (P165 for 6 pieces) was freshly served, and I even felt the heat coming from the bite-sized treats. I took careful bites because it was really hot, so what I did was to poke a hole first, and gently sip from there. The broth inside was intense! It was well-seasoned, with sharp saltiness (which surprisingly complimentary to the entire experience).
Despite the enjoyable experience, I would still prefer the steamed baos. Perhaps, I want its healthier feel.
The Chicken Chop (P165 - good for 2 but no rice) was a downer. The saltiness was too distracting, and it was 90% of the taste. I felt like I just had a bad serving, but if this is what's served regularly, they may want to ask for the "salt" preference of the customers.
Thankfully, the CFC Rice Bowl (P165) had drizzles of savory-sweet sauce. It cushioned the saltiness, and made it pleasurable to munch. Maybe, you can request more of the sauce?
Mai Wei Fang - Overall Ratings and Summary
Note: Unshaded stars are equivalents of half-stars. The ratings reflect my personal experiences on the times I dine here.
Place ★★★
Taste ★★★
Service ★★★
Value for Money ★★★★
Budget: at least P165 each for a personal meal or to enjoy the Sheng Jian Bao (fried "xiao long bao)
No. of visits for this particular restaurant/branch - 2 || Date of latest visit - January 2019
Mai Wei Fang stirs curiosity, but it may not sustain it afterwards. The bao certainly was refreshing for my palate, but I don't think my palate will be craving for it any time soon. Also, the chicken chop may still have further improvements to fit the Filipino buds. Overall, it was an "okay" experience.
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Mai Wei Fang
Location: G/F, Pedro Gil Wing, Robinsons Place Manila, Malate, Manila
Service Charge: NONE
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