Xia Mian Guan @ Sunway Pyramid - Our 19 Course Chinese Lunch

I figured I don't have Shanghainese cuisine enough.

Chinese restaurants have never been big on my to eat list for daily dine-in's. I've always enjoyed my big American eats, Australian café brunches and proud Malaysian nibbles.

So, when I was first told about one of the newest Chinese restaurant to hit Sunway Pyramid, I went, "Oh, what is it call?"."Xia Mian Guan", my friend replied. I raised my brows and went, "What?".

Xia Mian Guan 夏麵館

The food street of Oasis boulevard continues to grow ever more delicious.

Opened about 5 months ago, Xia Mian Guan which typically means Shanghai noodle house, is the first in Malaysia serving authentic Shanghainese and Guangdong cuisine.



Location wise - the place is probably not the most strategic. It's not accessible from inside the mall but a short stroll along the row of restaurants outside, next to the main entrance and just few steps away from Brozeit and Wong Kok.

Interior wise - I am pleased to be impressed. The décor provided a cosy, elegant setting with sleek and modern designs featuring oriental print wallpapers with finishing touches of ancient China.

Like all Chinese restaurants, the menu is extensive and could probably be customized as well. For the indecisive gluttons, there's always a fix menu, showcasing a standard 6 to 8 course dining experience.



I was clad in red (okay, half in red) to complement the Chinese theme. Pumped up and on ever ready mode to eat, even before leaving the home.



Now, are you ready for my 19 course Shanghainese sensation? =)

Let us start with the appetizers shall we?

Caesars Salad with Soft Shell Crab. Rm48.

The Caesars salad came with 2 servings of delicious soft shell crab and 2 types of dressings - black pepper mayo and sesame. A pretty unconventional dish for a Chinese meal isn't it? I chomped my way through the interesting textures of greens, that has light subtle flavours and was a perfect dish to start of a hefty meal.

Crunchy Pork. Rm16.

There were mixed feedback on this dish - some thought it was a little dry but others felt that it was just right. I thought - and agreed, that it was on the verge of being a little dry and the condiments that came with it, did not do the dish any justice at all.

Crispy Bean Curt Skin. Rm12 (8 pieces).

Glorious cushions of golden brown bean curd stuffed with 3 juicy variations of mushrooms - made crispy and savoury. I found this dish an absolute delish, simple yet appetizing.

Winter Melon with Chilli Flakes. Rm8.

Not typically Chinese, I found this combination really interesting. The sweetness of winter melon neutralizes the richness of chilli flakes - it was sweet and spicy at the same time and it's texture adds crunch to the overall dish. I kinda enjoyed this.

Homemade Smoked Duck Egg. Rm5 (2 pieces).

I love duck eggs - I mean, who doesn't? Especially liquid yolks and beautifully plated ones - lovely.

We are not done yet!

Let's move on to Xia Mian Guan's Signature, Chef recommended dishes.

Spare Ribs with Red Wine Sauce. Rm16 (per rib). Picture shows 2 ribs.

Raise your hands if you don't love pork ribs! I will be happy to gobble it all up for you!

Apologies as the picture angle does not do the ribs any justice. Xia Mian Guan's version was a mouth watering temptation - glistening ribs made tender with rich red wine sauce. I felt that it could have been more flavorful though, with a little more oomph.

Braised Pork Cube. Rm28.

Marinated overnight and braised for a good 20 minutes only when ordered - these fatty chunks of pork cubes are ridiculously sinful, there were more fat than lean meat! Watch out for that liver!

 Braised Imperial Bean curd with Shemeiji Mushroom. Rm20 (4 pieces).

The delicacy of this dish was evident in its intricate preparation of its homemade tofu using fine soya milk and topped with a layer of Chinese cabbage, then braised. One mouthful and I was sold - the tofu was fluffy and smooth; the sizzling and savoury gravy together with chewy shemeiji mushrooms complemented the dish well also.

 Braised Imperial Bean curd with Crabmeat. Rm20 (4 pieces).

The crab meat version was a great alternative for those wanting something less rich. The sauce was filled with shreds of crab meat and I was tempted to lift the entire plate up and drink it like soup! I did watch my table manners nonetheless.

Meatball (shi zhi tou). Rm20.

This is one strange, scrunched-up creature but I tell you - it's delicious. Minced pork belly with chunky bits of salted fish inside, made to standalone.

Fried Rice with Cheese and Roasted Pork. Rm20.

For those who love Cheese-si-Fan (Cheese baked rice), this is for you. Nothing spectacular though.

"Yin Yang" Kailan with Chicken Floss. Rm20.

Vivid greens of leave and stalk. My favourite element of the dish was the seaweed - it was a little too salty but I enjoyed my weeds - seaweed.

Star Garoupa in Two Varieties. Rm188

Firstly, the dish can be ordered separately. Star garoupa with either the XO sauce (top) or pomelo sauce (bottom).

This is another one of those dishes that I look-then-like, hence, judging a book by its cover stands true. The pieces of plump juicy fish cuts with XO sauce was fresh and had a firm texture.

The pomelo dipping sauce at the side, was sweet and sour but - I couldn't taste the pomelo; where's the pamelo? I thought the fish was a stream of let down as well - the light batter was too thick.

Claypot Curry Prawns with Fried Mantou. Rm6 (6 pieces).

A dose of sweet and juicy fresh prawns cooked in a pot of rich curry to tantalise your taste buds, not the type that you can drink like soup though.

Smoked Farm Chicken. Rm72.

Cooked in Pu-erh tea leaves, this lightly smoked and meaty goodness left me wanting for more.

Wait! We are still not done yet!

Xia Mian Guan serves up a string of 18 types of noodles and I had a taste of their best sellers.

Noodles with Shredded Pork and Shrimp with Spring Onions. Rm16.

Made-to-order Shanghainese-style, hand-pulled noodles. Being an all time noodle fan, how can I resist? The noodles were great - springy and perhaps a little chewy. The minced meat and shrimp toppings tasted a little spicy but I devoured every single bit up still.

Signature Pork Broth Noodle Soup. Rm6 (per noodle). Pic shows 2 portion of noodles.

Xia Mian Guan's signature pork broth was used in creating this wholesome and healthy bowl of noodles. It was clear, healthy and tasty - perfect for those opting for a slightly more subtle alternative.

Stewed Noodles with Minced Pork and Eggplant with "Teo Chew" Sauce. Rm16.

This marvellous bowl of noodles looks unbelievably good at hindsight. One mouthful and I went - oh, this is sweet! I love sweet noodles and it's probably from the teochew sauce, topped with tasty shreds of pork, this gorgeous bowl Shanghainese noodles has got to be my favourite amongst the 3.

My recollection of 19 dishes took me awhile - I had a tough time reminiscing on it's flavors! Had a great time writing nonetheless. =)

 

Overall Rating: 7.5/10. Now that there's Xia Mian Guan, I don't need to scuffle-and-ruffle on the lookout for a decent Chinese restaurant to dine at during special occasions. What I did not noticed and missed - was the infamous basket of steamed Shanghainese dumplings. My recommended dishes are: Crispy Bean Curt Skin,  Winter Melon with Chilli Flakes, Spare Ribs with Red Wine Sauce, Braised Imperial Bean curd with Shemeiji Mushroom, Smoked Farm Chicken and Stewed Noodles with Minced Pork and Eggplant with "Teo Chew" Sauce.

Xia Mian Guan is located at:

(OB.K7), [Oasis Zone], Oasis Boulevard, Sunway Pyramid Shopping Mall, No.3 Jalan PJS 11/15, Bandar Sunway, 46150 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan

603-5611-7949

Located at the row of restaurants, next to the main entrance and a few steps away from Brozeit and Wong Kok.