More than just Xiao Long Bao!
For the longest time, Paradise Dynasty only had one branch in Manila - at S Maison in Pasay. And as much as I love their food, I don't think I can travel three hours just to dine there. So imagine my excitement when they announced they'll be opening a branch in Podium!! Sure, it's still an hour and a half away, but it's so much closer to home now!
A few weeks ago, the gang met up after work to get our xiao long bao fix. There, we ordered their Specialty Dynasty Xiao Long Bao Basket (P388) which includes all eight XLB flavors namely Original, Ginseng, Foie Gras, Black Truffle, Cheese, Crab Roe, Garlic, and Szechuan.
They suggest eating the soupy dumplings in the order I mentioned above (lightest to strongest flavor), though of course, it's still up to you. I like saving the best for last, and for me, the best ones are the Black Truffle, Cheese, and of course, the Original.
In the last six months, Tim and I have probably dined at Paradise Dynasty twice. And on those two occasions, we made sure to get two baskets of their Specialty Xiao Long Bao. Yes, that's one for him and one for me! That's how much we love their XLB!
A new item we found on their menu is the Charcoal Custard Lava Bun (P188).
It's classified under dimsum, but it wouldn't be so bad to have this as dessert as well. I absolutely loved these lava buns! I suggest eating this immediately - just be careful as the custard can be really hot!
I didn't expect much from their Radish Pastry (P138), but wow, this one's pretty amazing. I think a lot of people tend to skip this.. I'm telling you now, you HAVE TO TRY IT! The pastry has a different texture to it, lighter and more buttery. It goes so well with the radish too, a perfect combination.
Another one of my Paradise Dynasty staples is the Pork Dumplings in Hot Chilli Vinaigrette (P168).
I love gyoza and wontons, and this one reminds me so much of both. The hot chilli vinaigrette brings about a spicy and sour flavor to the dumplings, but it's too overwhelming so you can still eat it on its own.
Veggies aren't my favorite things in the world, but I'm glad I didn't skip this one. To be honest, the Lettuce Roll with Homemade Sesame Sauce (P288) didn't look very appealing at first; I mean, it's pretty much all lettuce. That sesame sauce is a different story. It reminded me a lot of Yabu's sesame dressing, so if you like that, you'll definitely enjoy this one too.
Now that I think about it, a lot of the dishes we had at Paradise Dynasty aren't meaty dishes, but we still really enjoyed the meal. Take for example, the Chilled Jellyfish and Seafood in Vinaigrette (P328) and Chilled Tofu with Century Egg (P188).
Both dishes were really good and quite healthy, too. They are also appetizers that I would suggest ordering - get both if you're dining as a big group! The more you try, the better, since Paradise Dynasty really has a wide range of items to choose from. Here are more dishes you should try:
Steamed Glutinous Rice Stuffed in Dates (P238)
Chilled Baby Spinach with Vermicelli (P288)
Scrambled Egg White with Fish and Conpoy (P328)
Kung Pao Chicken (P298)
Stir-Fried Beef with Scallion (P388)
Stir-Fried Shredded Pork in Black Bean Sauce served with Chinese Crepes (P388)
Stir-Fried French Beans with Minced Pork (P238)
La Mian with Scallion
Poached Sliced Fish in Szechuan Chilli Oil (P788)
Spicy Szechuan Crispy Chicken
A huge favorite of mine are these Crispy-Fried Crystal Prawns tossed with Salted Egg Yolk (P588).
You can really taste the salted egg in there... pair that with juicy prawns.. ugh. H E A V E N.
For dessert, go for either the Pan-fried Pumpkin Pastry (P138) or Pan-Fried Pancake with Red Bean Paste (P168). These aren't things you usually find on a menu, but they're definitely worth a try. ;)
A lot of the dishes they have here may look very simple, but let's face it, not all restaurants can execute them perfectly. The people at Paradise Dynasty definitely know what they're doing and show mastery of the dishes that they serve. So for that, they are really worth every visit.
And that, folks, is why you should visit them too. ;)
Visit Paradise Dynasty at its new branch located at the second floor of The Podium!
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