Of Dumplings and Meatbuns

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Today’s gastronomic highlight focuses on food items seen at Yokohama Chinatown (横浜中華街, Yokohama Chūkagai). Of course, this place is well known for Chinese food. We have tried out some of the recommended food items and experimented with whatever looks interesting along the way.

  • Right Side of the Entrance
  • Entrance to Chūkagai
  • Left Side of the Entrance

Xiao Long Bao and Anman

As it was about lunch time and I was getting hungry, I decided to proceed to Chinatown after my trip to the Cup Noodle Museum. Here, I tried these food items:

  • Store Front 1
  • Store Front 2
  • Anman price at 300 yen
  • Cute Panda Anman
  • What’s Inside the Sad Panda
  • Xiao Long Bao

In terms of presentation, the Anman gets that appeal of the panda image being inscribed on its bun. This steamed hot bun with Anko filling is definitely a must try, considering how subtle the taste is. It is not too sweet yet it is a nice, hot item to dig in during these cold season. One piece will cost you 300 yen.

The Anman gets a rating of 4 out of 5 stars.

The Xiao Long Bao is another treat. I have tasted Xiao Long Baos from Authentic Chinese Restaurant and it just feels weird that this Xiao Long Bao is a bit “dry” in the inside. I was hoping it would have more soup inside each one of the Xiao Long Baos. Five pieces will cost you 600 yen.

The Xiao Long Bao gets a rating of 2 out of 5 stars.

Age-UFO

This food items is something I saw through a blog page that got recommended, and it looks something like this:

  • Store Signage
  • UFO shaped deep fried breading
  • How It Looks Inside
  • Age-ufo Food Item Display

One piece costs 300 yen and I did try it out. Turns out that the filling is made of cabbage, chive, shrimp and pork. I was expecting it to be crunchy on the outside, but this did not what I got. It was soggy and oily. This overpowers the taste of the entire food.

The Age-ufo gets a rating of 2 out of 5 stars.

The Home of the World Champion Steamed Meat Bun

As I was going around this place, I saw this shop and it got my interest:

World Champion Steamed Meat Bun

And interestingly, this world champion has roast buns for 100 yen a piece! This is now quite interesting for the Chinese Food World Champion. I saw quite a couple of people trying out the food these, so I thought I might check the food out and got these items off the menu:

  • Steamed Meat Bun
  • Roast Pork Buns

I first tried out the Roast Pork Buns, and they sure taste really good for 100 yen a piece. This is an interestingly fulfilling food despite its size and cost.

For this, I give the Roast Pork Buns 5 out of 5 stars!

The Steamed Meat Bun, on the other hand, it also a nice food item to try from their menu. One piece will cost you 350 yen. It did taste as a decent Steamed Meat Bun, but nothing too superb as I would say.

I give the Steamed Meat Bun 3 out of 5 stars.

This was the last food item I tried in Yokohama Chūkagai. Up next will be the food review of the Ramen Museum at Shin Yokohama!