Navigating through Sri Petaling’s commercial area to search for food is like manouvering through a maze as eateries abound in this thriving community. The area is bustling with kopitiams, bakeries, steamboat joints and restaurants, big and small.
Grand Shanghai Banquet stands out from the rest of the nondescript shops with its slate grey walls and pillars with a bright yellow Shanghainese traditional wooden door by the side. The interior is well-appointed to reflect to some extent, the grandeur of a Shanghainese mansion. The walls are clad with wallpaper reflecting a rich oriental floral theme, tables dressed in opulent brocade cloths and the ceiling of a private dining space decked in gold. So, yes, Grand Shanghai Banquet does exude a certain classy charm.
Diners can opt for dim sum or a la carte dishes here. Dim sum items are priced from RM6.50 per plate onwards. I love steamed dim sum so we did not hesitate to try their Xiao Loong Bao (RM9), Siew Mai (RM8.50), Steamed Chicken Feet (RM6.50) and Steamed Fish Balls (RM6.50), all of which were very decent. Ingredients used were fresh and that’s paramount in terms of quality.
We were encouraged to try their 2 signature items: Grand Shanghai Special Baked Buns with BBQ Pork (RM12.80) and Fried Custard “Quicksand” Buns Shanghai-style (RM8.50). The baked BBQ bun had that crunchy crust top which gave way to baking-hot sweet diced char-siu inside. The buns are always baked upon order so diners can be assured of their freshness.
The fried custard bun was another winner. Most restaurants steam these but here, the fluffy buns were deep-fried so again you get that crispy texture on the outside while the thick creamy custard oozed out in the most tantalising manner and if you are not careful, your tongue might be scalded!
We then moved on to some of their a la carte dishes. Top on the list of must-try is their Fish Head Hot Pot which is currently on promotion till year-end at RM48 (small) and RM88 (big). It’s a piping pot of comfort: thick white broth from long hours of boiling with fish and meat with vegetables like tomatoes, sweet corn, mushrooms, “kiam chai” (pickled veg) and celery adding their goodness. Sliced garoupa fillet and soft silky tofu were added in at table side. Every spoonful was totally mouth-watering, more so for a soup lover like me!
Another signature dish here was the Braised Pork Belly with Mantou (RM28). The wobbly block of pork belly would have porcine lovers go weak in the knees. Braised for hours in a lovely brown sauce redolent with spices and chinese wine, this “tong por yook” went well with the soft steamed mantou and it went just as well with plain rice.
If you are ordering dishes to go with rice, be sure to have the Claypot Assam Prawns (RM38), Grand Shanghai Special Spicy Chicken (RM14.80) and Stir-fried Kai Lan with Chinese Wine (RM15.80). The flavours were vibrant and tasty. Another bonus is that when your food order is RM28 and above, you get a pot of Grandma’s Traditional Braised Pork and that would complete your rice meal. Or, if you are having dim sum and do not fancy a “heavy” dish, you can opt for the complimentary set of Pork Ribs and Century Eggs Porridge & Siew Mai.
If you are a fan of fried rice, check out their Fried Rice with Salted Egg & Seafood (RM19.80). It’s one of the best I’ve had, each grain of rice coated with golden crumbs of salted egg yolk and infused with the sweetness of scallops and prawns.
For dessert, we had the refreshing “Chen Chu Kang”, a delightful mixture of sea coconut, grass jelly, aloe vera and yoghurt pearls. The pearls were really nice – bursting with sweet tangy flavours in the mouth.
GRAND SHANGHAI BANQUET
No. 45 Jalan Radin Tengah
Sri Petaling
57000 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-8934 3852
Open: 10am-10pm (Monday to Friday)
9am-10pm (Weekends & Public Holidays)