The Place Word has it that there is a nondescript Shanghainese eatery in Jalan Besar which is popular amongst the Shanghai expats in Singapore, and hence we decided to kill the curiosity ourselves and head down. Located near to the Punggol Nasi Lemak along Jalan Besar Road is Xiang Yuan Ji Shanghai Pan Fried Dumpling (祥源记上海生煎), a two years old casual Shanghainese restaurant which is so easy to overlook in this food haven enclave. The setting of Xiang Yuan Ji is modest, with not much of a dining ambience to speak of, but that is not the reason we are here. We were keen to try the food, of course. Despite the location in Jalan Besar, we were surprised that the restaurant was relatively empty on a weekend evening. You can either park at the carpark behind the shop houses, or take a walk from the nearby Boon Keng MRT Station. Either way, be prepared to walk past some sleazy parlours. The Food The one pager menu is simple and straightforward. You won’t find Xiao Long Bao here, but you will still spot the usual Shanghainese noodles and my favourite Sheng Jian Bao. Prices are very reasonable, ranging mainly between S$4 [...]![]()
