Shanghai Stories 1938「上海年華」

Shanghai Stories 1938 is a great place to have tea which is located in Chatswood. I mostly go with my mum when i feel like eating good dumplings for tea.

The atmosphere has a fusion of old world style in a modern elegant restaurant.  

They have a few different menu which include the shanghai stories 1983 menu, shanghai dimsim menu and yumcha order list. 

Shanghai Stories 1983 ,上海年華, Ratings:

Location: ★★★★☆

In my opinion i think it has started off in a good location, but i think they should have a franchise in the city for more customers. But other than that i'm pretty happy with the location since it's closer to me.

Cost: ★★★★☆

Everything is quite reasonable priced and they have different menus at different times!

So here are a few things i have tried out from Shanghai Stories 1983. The most famous and popular dish to eat in a Shanghai restuarant (or in Shanghai itself) is of course their dumplings!!!

Steamed pork & broth dumplings (xiao long bao- 小龍包）
Off their dimsim menu

top:  小龍包
bottom: Drunken Chicken
Off their yum cha menu (11-3pm)

Xiao Long Bao Ratings:

Taste: ★★★★☆

So far the best dumplings i have eaten in Sydney! I reckon it beats Din Tai Fung's dumpling (and they are famous for their dumplings!!). Reason being is that when it comes to eating steamed pork dumplings i am a very picky eater about the skin(the outer pastry) and the meat. Din Tai Fung's dumplings have very thick skin and so the twist at the top sometimes will not be cooked properly and taste powdery and their meat is just plain average. In contrast, Shanghai stories 1983 dumplings are simply amazing!! Their skin is thin enough and cook perfectly!! (Of course you can't compare them to e.g. Hong Kong's Din Tai Fung) 

Cost: ★★★☆☆

I've eaten their dumplings from both their dimsim menu and yumcha menu. On the dimsim menu it is AUD$6.80 for 6 pieces and on their yumcha menu it is AUD$3.80 for 4 pieces so it's slightly cheaper during the yumcha period. In general i think it's reasonably priced!

Overall: ★★★★☆

Definitely recommend this dish to all you dumpling lovers out there!!! I love to eat mine dipped in vinegar accompanied by the ginger shreds. My dumplings must come with these two items if not it's just incomplete!!

Drunken Chicken Ratings:   Marinated Chicken in Rice Win

Taste: ★★★★☆
I think this is one of the best drunken chicken i have eaten in Sydney! They broth is really nice and the chicken is really smooth to eat.

Cost: ★★★☆☆
This dish is on their yumcha menu and cost AUD$9.80. Use to be AUD$6.80 when it just opened!!

Overall: ★★★★☆

Left: some tofu??
Right" Pan fried pork buns

Tofu Ratings:

Taste: ★☆☆☆☆
The tofu were actually quite tasteless. The only flavor you could taste were the fried onion shreds on top.

Cost: n/a
I'm sorry i couldn't find this on their menu anymore so i can't remember the exact amount.

Overall: ★☆☆☆☆

Pan fried pork bun Ratings:


Taste: ★★☆☆☆
The bread was not as crispy at the bottom like it's meant to be so it didn't really live up to my expectations.

Cost: ★★★☆☆
They have this on both their dimsim and yumcha menu which is AUD$7.80 for 6 pieces.

Overall: ★★★☆☆
I don't think i would really recommend this dish since I think New Shanghai has better pan fried pork buns.

Beef with dan dan noodle soup

Beef with dan dan noodle soup Ratings:

Taste: ★★★☆☆
The soup is not very chilli but as you keep eating you will start to get that numb tingly feeling on your tongue so it's quite unique. There wasn't much beef in it though which was quite disappointing.

Cost: ★★★☆☆
This dish cost AUD$9.80 which i think is quite cheap since it quite a big bowl!!

Overall: ★★★☆☆
This dish is not too bad and quite feeling so i would recommend to give this dish a try.

Comments are love ♥  

-Sennnaa/Rinnnaa