ZhuHai travels 2- XLB Food Hunt + Pigeon Soup + Souvenirs (BLOG SERIES 2014)

On our second last day we embarked on a Xiao Long Bao hunt.

Before our trip, we received this sms from a friend(fan):

"Hey Shoestringtravels, I heard ZhuHai is famous for their Xiao Long Baos, could you help me source for the different types of Xiao Long Baos and which is the best and most affordable one?"

For everyone's information, Xiao Long Baos (XLB) is a special delicacy of China; each XLB is a tasty dumpling that holds soup and pork inside. There are different ways to produce XLBS, fried steamed etc. Refer to this manual on the special way of eating this chinese delicacy (Eating a Xiao Long Bao) 

And so here are what we have found:

1) Big Soup XLB

BIG SOUP XLB

YO MAMA'S XLB

These XLBS are sold individually, they are the size of a palm and come with ginger. Inside it is filled with soup that over spills into the bowl once the skin is broken. *comes with a straw*

Verdict: 2/5. This XLB is too big for our liking.

2) Normal steamed XLB (prawn and pork)

XLB pork and prawn

These XLB are sold in 7 per tray. They are the average XLB, we bought 14 pork and 7 prawn. These XLB are steamed, but the shop also sells the fried version of the XLB.

Verdict: 3/5. This XLB is typical, which can also be found in Singapore, but it is sold really cheap over at Zhu Hai. This store can be found in the Zhu Hai underground shopping center.

3) Fried XLB (prawn and pork)

Over at this small dingy store, which looks like a normal chinese takeaway store, most tourist wont bat an eyelid not to enter. However inside stores one kick of a XLB.

Small chinese eatery 

XLB with a Kick

The moment we saw these XLB we were asking ourselves "are you serious? frying an egg together with XLB?". But the looks are deceiving and these XLB pack a kick, crispy on the outside and juicy and flavorful inside the soup explodes in your mouth when you bite in them. The egg is also not bad.

Verdict: 4/5. The XLB that is served packs a kick and it deserves the 4/5. Also hand made and crispy on the outside. Gives us the cravings even when writing this.

The food that we ordered

Pigeon soup

For the shoestringer that is more adventurous, you might want to try a pigeon soup. The taste is really exotic and this is the first time we are eating pigeon too. Worth a try.

Hence we wrote back to our friend(Fan):

"Hi, we have found the exact XLB that will leave you coming back for seconds. The XLB packs a kick, and explodes in your mouth the moment you bite into it. The address is opposite the Zhu Hai Charming Hotel and L hotel.

credits :kktravel.com.tw

The amazing XLB is around the area at the right blue pointed sign.

yours sincerely,

the nice people from shoestringstravel"

And after the eating, its time for us to do some souvenir shopping. As Shoestringstravellers, the souvenirs that we buy consist of tidbits and local delicacies and all these can be found in a SUPERMARKET.

Zhu Hai Supermarket>

Supermarket

The supermarket is a short walk from the store selling pigeon soup.

At night, we went to the Gongbei underground shopping center to get our dinner. On our last day, we tried some of the sze chuan food there.

Chilli fish

Stir Fried Beef

Stir fried chicken

Late night supper> 

The walking street becomes busy at night. We went to the walking street around 9.30pm and the entire atmosphere was different than that in the day. At night there were many hawkers selling their food, as well as many pimps trying to solicit business. But overall the food there was cheap and good. 

BBQ Mussels (WE LOVE IT!!)

Each of us ate 1 plate of this

Shoetrings Travel Tips

• The walking street has alot of pimps trying to solicit business, try to steer away from them as some of them are quite persistent.
• Eat the roadside mussels, WE LOVE IT!!

Shoestring Travelers Budget List (RMB)

211 bal b/d

(9) dim suum

(42) dim sum

400 cash

(36) dimsum

(5) instant noodles

(146) dinner

(3) water

(12) octopus ball

(50) oyster

(40) oyster

(3) water

(50) differential adjustment

215 bal b/d

* take note that above costs are based on 4 pax