A cup of clear tea with xiaolongbao, half a cup of worldly warmth｜Lai Lai Xiaolong

📍Restaurant｜Lai Lai Xiaolong. Qiao Ai 📮Address｜504 Tianjin Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai, China (near Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street) 🕰Business Hours｜08:00 - 20:00 Lai Lai Xiaolong is a breath of everyday life tucked away in Shanghai’s daily scenery. Following the popular "Must-Eat List" on Dianping, we discovered this hidden gem on the street. No fancy decor, no extravagant lighting, just quietly steaming under the shade of the plane trees. Even though the dine-in crowd is continuous, the table turnover is fast. The auntie at the door will proactively hand out menus. Remember to order all your food and drinks at once before paying and sitting according to the shop’s arrangement. If you want to add more later, you have to queue again! 🥢 Crab Roe Fresh Meat Xiaolongbao (8 pcs｜46) 【4.5/5.0 🌟🌟🌟🌟✨】 When the xiaolongbao arrives, it’s like a steaming love letter. The thin skin wraps the soup and handmade filling. Just picking it up gently requires care, like handling something fragile. The first bite, the crab roe mixed with the soup slides down the throat, that fresh aroma is the taste of old Shanghai and a sense of grounded life. It’s not a stunning flavor that leaves you speechless, but one you remember, miss, and want to come back for again—a warm everyday comfort. 🥣 Mushroom and Vegetable Pork Wontons (8 pcs｜$32) 【5.0/5.0 🌟🌟🌟🌟✨】 The wonton skin is thin and smooth, the filling well-mixed and not loose. The mushroom enhances the flavor perfectly, and the vegetable-to-meat ratio is just right without overpowering. The broth is light with a slight sweetness, warming the stomach without being salty. Perfect as a main dish or paired with dim sum. 🍤 Fried Pork Cutlet ($25) 【4.0/5.0 🌟🌟🌟🌟】 Freshly fried, crispy outside but not dry, though a bit thin. The breading is light and not heavy, not overpowering the pork’s original flavor. Great as a side dish or a palate cleanser in the middle of the meal. 🍢 Fried Chicken Skewers ($12/skewer, 2 skewers total) 【5.0/5.0 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟】 Crispy outside, tender inside, the chicken is springy and juicy with just the right amount of mild spiciness. The wet batter is thin but locks in the juice perfectly, with no greasiness. The portion is just right, highly recommended whether ordered alone or with rice. If you haven’t tried it, it’s like you haven’t really been here. After eating, you’ll only regret not ordering more. 🧋 Lai Lai Perfume Lemon Tea ($16/cup, 2 cups total) 【4.0/5.0 🌟🌟🌟🌟】 Possibly a collaboration with the uncle next door’s Ao Milk Tea, this Lai Lai Perfume Lemon Tea is a great win-win sales strategy. It has a mixed aroma of lemon and green tangerine, with moderate acidity and no bitterness. It’s a low-sugar version, excellent for cutting through oiliness and greasiness, perfect to pair with oily or meat dishes. It also goes well with hot foods like xiaolongbao and fried chicken. In this always busy city, Lai Lai Xiaolong is a small reward for those who know how to slow down. It’s not loud or intrusive, quietly guarding the old flavors like an old friend. The taste of Shanghai is sometimes hidden in these unassuming corners. It doesn’t need much promotion, like a piece of old time, silent but always remembered...... Food