The first time I bit into a soup dumpling, I knew I found my match made in culinary heaven, and ever since I’ve been searching for a delicious dumpling near me. I finally found it at Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. This is their newest location between Philadelphia and South Jersey, and there are two more located in Flushing and in NYC’s Koreatown. This Shanghainese restaurant has been Michelin-recommended for nine consecutive years, and after my visit, I know why.
The star of the show: Lucky Six Soup Dumplings, featuring six flavors with various colors. Each dumpling had a soft, bouncy dough with a savory soup and seasoned stuffings served in a small bamboo steaming basket. The Lucky Six consist of: Pork Soup Dumpling, Crab Meat & Pork Soup Dumpling, Chicken Soup Dumpling, Scallop & Pork Soup Dumpling, Black Truffle & Pork Soup Dumpling, Gourd Luffa, Shrimp & Pork Soup Dumpling. My personal favorites were the Black Truffle and Pork ones, with a strong truffle flavor broth and tender pork pieces in the center. Eating each one was like biting into a cloud and being transported to paradise. Absolutely delicious.
One unique perk of Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao: a robot! The robot delivered my Scallion Pancakes with a smiling face and old-timey jingle. Everyone ooh-ed and aww-ed as the robot passed by, from old folks to young tots. It was such an interesting touch that made dining all the more fun.
Speaking of Scallion Pancakes… they were scrumptious. Flaky, crispy, and piping hot with a soft center that melted in my mouth. I dipped it into the sweet-savory sauce for an extra oomph. The green scallions added a brightness to the pancake and left my tummy feeling satisfied.
I love soup, and thankfully Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao offers an assortment of soups to warm both the belly and heart. I tried the Shrimp,Pork & Vegetable Wontons Soup first, a clear salty broth with seaweed and mini shrimps floating on top. The wontons were shrimp, pork, and vegetables with a thin dumpling wrapper that held the filling inside, like a mini tasty present. I felt my sinuses clear up after a few sips and enjoyed each bite of the wontons. This soup would be enjoyed by all, thanks to its simple-yet-well-executed flavors.
For a little more jazzed up soup experience, I recommend the Seafood Noodle Soup. It has a thicker consistency with mushrooms, shrimps, bucchoi, scallops, and carrots. It shares a similar salty flavor with the wonton soup but with a more seafood-y edge. I added chili oil for some spice, and enjoyed it thoroughly. The Seafood Noodle Soup is a must-have.
Dine at:
Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao
901 Haddonfield Road
Cherry Hill, NJ 08002
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