Man Long Chun is a playful, eclectic concept specializing in Shanghai xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) that earned its esteemed reputation from its first venue on Yongkang Road. Foodies from all over the city travel far and wide to dine at this lovely, two-level eatery. Its local specialties and pleasant environment is a comfort compared to those crowded holes-in-the-wall that are supposed to offer authentic soup dumplings. Owner Lu Xiaoxun recently opened another Man Long Chun in a new mall, attracting new customers from the Jing’an District. The location inside the mall lacks the charm compared to the unique concept at its first venue but it does, however, attract more traffic from nearby offices and residential communities. Soup dumplings are must-orders. Owner Lu took a long time to perfect the local xiaolongbao recipes, using high-quality ingredients and a special stock for the pork mixture. The key is the skin that manages to hold the masses of soup and pork without breaking. I enjoyed their creative version based on traditional pork soup dumplings. The Sichuan pepper xiaolongbao has a fragrant green pepper flavor leaving a tingly numbness linger on the tongue. It gives a nice twist on the traditional flavors. Besides xiaolongbao, there are other local snacks to choose from, such as the shrimp wonton, steamed dumplings, spring rolls and fried rice and noodles. Lu is keen on making local flavors authentic. If you go with friends, it is recommended you try out several dishes, such as cold boiled local chicken in yellow wine, fried east sea hairtail, and red braised pork belly. All typical Shanghainese-style dishes commonly seen on a local family’s dining table can be found here, as Lu tries to recreate original recipes from previous generations to ensure an authentic dining experience. To accompany the wide range of dishes and snacks, selected boutique beer, sweet rice wine and soft drinks are on offer. Info Opening hours: 11am-9pm Tel: 6245-6588 Address: B1, Bohua Plaza, 388 Shanhaiguan Rd Average price: 60 yuan