Bai Nian Tang Bao serves authentic Xiao Long Bao from the original recipe that has been around since 1786. The name is a combination of Bai Nian, that means hundred years and Tang Bao that translates to soup dumpling. Its first branch in Shanghai has become a sort of a tourist spot, as visitors from all around the world queue up just to get a taste of their famous Xiao Long Bao.
The restaurant currently has over 300 branches in China and several branches in US and Korea. Now, owners Robert Lim and Paul and Christine Li aspire to bring Bai Nian Tang Bao’s authentic Xiao Long Bao to the Philippines. What is the secret to Bai Nian Tang Bao’s Xiao Long Bao? Paul Li reveals, “Bai Nian Tang Bao’s secret is in the soup — it takes around 12 hours to cook it. It also takes about 20 steps to make an original Xiao Long Bao, and all this is made fresh in our kitchen!”
This legendary dish had royal origins – history tells that during the Qing Dynasty, Emperor Qian Long had a tour on the South. He passed by Long Pao Town in Jiangsu, where the people specially prepared Crab Roe Xiao Long Bao for him. After he tasted it, the emperor was very satisfied and he kept saying “taste so good, taste so good”. That’s how it started when the people named it “Xie Huang Tang Bao”, and it became one of the specialties in the Emperor’s menu. Now, we can try this dish that has graced the royal menu of China!
Their Giant Tang Bao, aka Giant Xiao Long Bao, is a must-try. It comes with a straw that is to be used to poke the bao and to sip the delicious soup. Having the Giant Tang Bao is an enjoyable experience you shouldn’t miss at this restaurant.
Bai Nian Tang Bao also serves other equally glorious varieties of Xiao Long Bao such as Chicken Soup Pork Xiao Long Bao, Scallops and Pork Xiao Long Bao, and Golden Corn Pork Xiao Long Bao. They even have a pan-fried version called the Shanghai Golden Sheng Jian Bao, a traditional Shanghai snack that’s crispy on the outside with juicy soup on the inside!
Noodle fans should also give Bai Nian Tang Bao’s noodle series a try, like the Three Seafood Treasure Fried Noodles or the Shanghai Scallion Oil Noodles. For a different take on dimsum, don’t pass up the Sticky Rice Dimsum.
Delectable rice dishes are also on the menu like the Beef Fried Rice and Special Sausage Fried Rice. I got to try the latter and it’s really good. Others said the same with the former. And for meat lovers, don’t leave without trying Bai Nian Tang Bao’s Braised Pork! This is a winner for me.
Bai Nian Tang Bao has received various awards for their remarkable food such as the 4th China Food Festival Golden Award in 2002. It was also named Famous Snack Brand by China Cuisine Association in the same year. In 2005, it was recognized as Shanghai’s ATP Master Reporters and Athletes Designated Food.
The restaurant became an official member of Shanghai’s Xiao Long Bao Association in 2006 and won food competitions like the one in Germany in 2014 and in Shanghai XingShang Channel in 2015. Bai Nian Tang Bao has also been recognized and invited to the Shanghai Tao Zui Food and “Eat the World with Emeril Lagasse”. It was also the representative of Shanghai Xiao Long Bao in Japan’s New Year Festival in 2017.
Owner Paul Li invites everyone to visit the restaurant, “We are glad to bring authentic Xiao Long Bao to the Philippines and we’d like to invite everyone to visit us here at Uptown BGC to try the Xiao Long Bao that even royalty loved! It’s a Xiao Long Bao experience you surely won’t forget.”
