Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao, Hong Kong

Reviewer: Foodnut.com Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao Chek Lap Kok International Airport, Arrivals Meeters and Greeters Hall, Level 5 Hong Kong, China SAR 2261-0553 Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao Website

Better soup dumplings than Din Tai Fung?

Worthy respite after a 14 hour flight! Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao is an casual dining sit down Chinese restaurant located near the arrivals area at the Hong Kong International Airport.

In 2020 we ate at their location in Times Square Shopping center, Causeway Bay and also at Ocean Terminal.  Quality was very similar to the Airport.

Established in 1991, they have several styles of restaurants and many locations throughout China, Singapore, and other Asian countries. 9 of these informal restaurants in Hong Kong alone.  There used to be a high end Crystal Jade in San Francisco, but it closed.

Crystal Jade was touting their Michelin Bib Gourmand rating.

Other Hong Kong Reviews:

• Hong Kong Mini Restaurant Reviews
• Lung King Heen
• Lei Garden, Yung Kee, Chuen Kee Seafood
• Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao
• Conrad Nicolini’s Sunday Brunch Buffet
• Harbourside Buffet

Decor, Vibe – Crystal Jade has clean modern Asian decor even in this small location. The place was obviously filled with fellow travelers.

Crystal Jade Menu

Crystal Jade Menu has a wide variety of items, from dim sum to noodles to large plates. Peking, Sichuan and Shanghai cuisine makes it ripe for being the master of none.

Signature Dishes – Shanghai steamed dumplings or Xiao Long Bao

Crystal Jade Full image set

Crystal Jade Food Picks:

Shanghai steamed pork dumplings or Xiao Long Bao (HK$42 for 4) thin, smooth skin, larger in size, enormous meatball, and very robust flavored soup broth. Surprisingly similar to popular Din Tai Fung’s, although the wrapper was thicker and the soup much more flavorful.

In 2018 we dined at Maxims Chinese Restaurant at the Hong Kong airport, and found that their Shanghai steamed dumplings were even better!

Chilled Cucumbers tossed with minced garlic ($50) hit the spot. Nice and crunchy.

Pan Fried Shanghai pork buns aka Sheng Jian Bao (HK $42 for 3) had a nice crisp crust, good wrapper, but minimal soup inside.

Milk Tea Cold (HK$24) hit the mark, with deep flavor and a side of simple syrup to sweeten it.

Glutinous dumpling in ginger soup (HK$24) had sesame paste filled dumplings in a super spicy – gingery soup. The dumplings were of good size and quality, and not too sweet.

Glutinous Rice wine dumplings (HK $34) possessed the heavy Rice wine flavor along with lots of little Rice dumplings.

Sweet red bean buns (HK$22) had three small buns with tasty filling that were very good.

Making of Hand pulled noodles

Sichuan Dan Dan noodles (HK$48) were surprisingly excellent. We could watch the cook actually making these authentic ‘Lanzhou’ noodles by swinging them around. The peanut, sesame broth was very spicy, and the egg noodles were spaghetti thin. They use pork tailbone, chicken, Jinhua ham and dried tangerine peel in their broth.

Sautéed thick noodle with shredded pork & cabbage Shanghai style ($88) hit the spot.  Thick udon like noodles with lots of pork and veggies stir fried in.

La Mian with Minced Pork and vegetable wontons (HK$48) had excellent silky smooth noodles cooked al dente, which is not typical of restaurants here.

Chinese Gai lan ($62) were done well and had ample quantity.

OK:

Sweet and Sour Cucumber roll ($56) tasted a bit odd with lots of ginger flavor.

Pans:

Poached Chinese White cabbage ($62) was very watery and should be avoided.

Service – Crystal Jade understands that everybody is in a rush, so ordering, food delivery, and such, occurred fast. We did have to hail the waitress to order and get things done.

Value – Prices are very reasonable, making this a great value.

Alternatives – Nearby restaurants include the marginal Chao Inn and many other fast food restaurants. Maxim may be one of the better options at the airport.

Verdict – Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao surprised us with some solid food at rock-bottom prices. Hungry after a

• 14 hour transpacific flight? Come on in and get a taste of why you flew this far. If you see one of their restaurants you then need a decent and inexpensive meal, give them a try. 10% service charge.

Also at:

时代分店 – 铜锣湾市到广场地库B221A 店 (Shop B221A, Times Square, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong)

Tel: (852) 2506 0080

海港城分店 – 尖沙咀海港城港威商场3328店 (Shop 3328, Level Three, Gateway Arcade, Harbour City, Kowloon)

Tel: (852) 2622 2699

沙田分店 – 沙田新城市广场一期一楼129店 (Shop 129-130, Level 1, New Town Plaza Phase I, Shatin, New Territories)

Tel: (852) 2699 9811

德福分店 – 九龙湾德福德福广场二期520店 (Shop 520-523, Telford Plaza II, Kowloon Bay, Kowloon)

Tel: (852) 2305 9990

国金分店 – 中环国际金融中心一期2018 店 (Shop 2018-2020, Level 2, IFC Mall, 1 Harbour View Street, Central, Hong Kong)

Tel: (852) 2295 3811

世贸分店 – 铜锣湾世贸中心二楼P209B-210店 (P209B-210, Level 2, World Trade Centre, No.280 Gloucester Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong)

Tel: (852) 2915 6988

大有分店 – 湾仔大有广场310店 (Shop 310, Tai Yau Plaza, 181 Johnston Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong)

Tel: (852) 2573 8844

屯门分店 – 屯门市广场一期二楼2131店 (Shop 2131, Level 1, Tuen Mun Town Plaza, Phase I, Tuen Mun, New Territories)

Tel: (852) 2430 1909

青島 Qingdao 翡翠拉面小籠包 Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao

青岛市香港中路72号佳世客二楼T232

Tel: (86) 532 6688 6661

Indonesia:

Grand Indonesia, West Mall

Unit WM-LG-01 Jalan M.H.Thamrin No 1

Tel : (62)21 2358 0748

Crystal Jade Meal3* Ewquisite

Grand Indonesia, Entertainment District

Unit ED-2-12A Jalan M H Thamrin No 1

Tel : (62) 21 2358 0783

A Presto by Crystal Jade

Pacific Place

Unit 1-45/46 Jalan Jendral

Sudirman Kav 52-53

Tel : (62) 21 5140 0438

Singapore:

Ngee Ann City #04-27 Tel: 6238 1661 Fax: 6238 0555

Jurong Point #03-18 Tel: 6790 2212 Fax: 6790 2202

Great World City #02-43 Tel: 6738 5595 Fax: 6738 5565

Suntec City Mall #B1-028 Tel: 6337 6678 Fax: 6337 3550

241/241A Holland Avenue Tel: 6463 0968 Fax: 6469 3982

470 Toa Payoh Lorong 6 #01-70 Tel: 6397 2383 Fax: 6397 2381

Bugis Junction #B1-04A Tel: 6339 6902 Fax: 6339 6903

Malaysia:

Lot 10 Outlet – R2 Annexe Block

Tel: (603) 2148 2338

Mid Valley City Outlet – The Gardens, Lot T209, Third Floor

Tel: (603) 2282 9115

Thailand:

Erawan Outlet – Lower Ground Floor Urban Kitchen Erawan Bangkok

Tel: (662) 250 7988

Emporium Outlet – Park Food Hall The Emporium Bangkok

Tel: (662) 654 8339

Restaurant Map: