🇺🇸 Philadelphia | That First Bite of Amazing Nanxiang Soup Dumplings

I'd been wanting to try this place because of the "Shanghai" in its name, but its location in South Jersey always made me a bit biased. 🗺️ Finally made the trip, and it does have some dishes that can satisfy a craving for authentic Chinese food! However, the service was super fast 🚀 and the menu was extremely extensive, which made me wonder if they might be using pre-made dishes. Does anyone know more about this? 🌟🌟🌟 Nanxiang Soup Dumplings A must-order!! 🥟 Even though the wrappers were a bit thicker and the dumplings were twice the usual size, the broth and flavor were spot-on, instantly transporting me back to Shanghai. Honestly, I think these might even be more authentic and tastier than some I've had elsewhere. This dish took a bit longer to arrive, probably because they're steamed fresh. ⏳ 🌟 Marinated Wheat Gluten (Si Xi Kao Fu) One of the Shanghai dishes I miss the most! The sweet sauce combined with tofu, lily flowers, black fungus, and peanuts created a rich texture. A bit oily, but otherwise no complaints. That said, I still think the version at Nanxiang Soup Dumplings is better. 😋 🌟 Stir-fried Rice Cakes with Shepherd's Purse & Shredded Pork The shepherd's purse tasted quite fresh, and I loved the addition of bamboo shoots! The rice cakes were soft and chewy—delicious overall. 👍 ✅ Braised Pork Meatballs (Hong Shao Shi Zi Tou) - $15 Four huge meatballs—great value for money! The texture was tender, though I suspect it might be due to a higher fat content. The flavor was a bit too salty for me and not the sweet profile typical of Shanghai cuisine. Personally, I prefer the ones at Nanxiang Soup Dumplings. 🍖 😐 Shanghai Braised Duck Hmm... this didn’t taste very "Shanghai" to me. It wasn’t sweet but rather salty. The duck meat was firm, though. 🦆 😐 Stir-fried String Beans The beans were a bit tough and overly oily, even though I asked for less oil. Not my favorite. 🫘 I’ve heard their Braised Pork Rice (Lu Rou Fan) is also amazing—definitely trying that next time! 🍚 Hope you all enjoy your meal! Feel free to follow me! My main mission is grinding away on Wall Street, but I occasionally explore food and fun in and around NYC! 🗽🍴 #WorthTheTripForFood #HiddenGemEatery #Philly #PhillyFood #PhillyChinese #PhillyArea #PhillyExploration #PhillyLife #GlobalFoodies #ChineseFood #CravingChineseCuisine