A new addition to Taipei’s Michelin Guide, Chung Chia Sheng Jian Bao or “Zhong Former Shanghai Pan-Fried Bun” is a Bib Gourmand stall sells Shanghainese pan-fried stuffed buns aka sheng jian bao 生煎包.
Head off to Shilin Night Market 士林夜市 via the Taipei MRT Jiantian Station (NOT Shilin Station), or take the Taipei Double Decker Bus to the MRT Jiantian Station Stop.
Other stalls you can check out at Shilin include Hai You Pork Ribs 海友十全排骨, Zhong Cheng Hao Fried Oyster Omelette 忠誠號蚵仔煎, Hot-Star 豪大大鸡排, A Liang Noodles 阿亮面線, and Bin Small Sausage In Large Sausage 斌大肠包小肠正宗士林创始店.
This small, mighty stall has a legendary reputation. Chung Chia offers this local favourite baozi filled with either chopped cabbage or classic, juicy ground pork.
Although Sheng Jian Bao is a popular Chinese snack throughout China and Taiwan, the Shanghai style is the most famous version.
The name of the bun comes from its method of cooking, as the buns are lined in an oiled, shallow and flat pan. Water is sprayed or poured on the buns during cooking to ensure the top is properly cooked.
Therefore they are ‘steamed’ and have a soft texture at the top; while the bottom of the bun becomes crunchy due the frying. There is typically gelatin which melts into soup within the bun (so be careful while eating).
Famous for their toasty hot and crispy bottoms, these buns’ enticing aroma will lure you when you’re in Shilin Night Market. Find them snuggled side-by-side on a large hot pan ready for the picking.
I wasn’t really intending have dumplings on my food itinerary, but spotted a long queue (say about 20 pax) and was enticed with that ‘look of happiness’ after they ate their coveted bite.
While the wait was about 10 to 15 minutes, it didn’t feel that long as you could watch the people in action of preparing the buns fresh from scratch.
The pork pan-fried dumplings (NT$14 for one piece, SGD0.65, USD0.47) in which the bottom layer would be crispy, bursting with juices within.
The vegetable version uses Korean cabbage which adds a fresh-crunchiness within, but sometimes you may find dumplings with skin already broken. Overall, still worth to have if you happen to be at Shilin Night Market 士林夜市.
Chung Chia Sheng Jian Bao 鍾家原上海生煎包
Shilin Night Market, 38 Xiaodong Street, Shilin, Taipei, 110, Taiwan
111台北市士林區小東街38號
Tel: +886 2 8861 2713
Opening Hours: 3pm – 9pm (Mon – Tues, Thurs – Sun), Closed Wed
Google Maps – Chung Chia Sheng Jian Bao
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