Crystal Jade Shanghai Delight: Weekday Dimsum Dinner Buffet

As much as I love me some Peking duck, steamed lapu-lapu, and sweet and sour pork, when it comes to Chinese cuisine, I can easily pick dimsum as my top favorite. And you know why? Because of the variety. While I'll need reinforcement when eating Chinese main dishes, with dimsum, I can manage an order of a few variants on my own. And on top of getting to try more, one of the best parts is dimsum's fairly affordable!

But for those who want to indulge not just in variety, but also in quantity, here's a good news! One casual-dining Chinese restaurant in Greenhills that goes by the name of Crystal Jade Shanghai Delight is currently offering a Weekday Dimsum Dinner Buffet in celebration of Singapore (its country of origin) National Day. Yup, no need to wait until late in the evening to enjoy eat-all-you-can dimsum! Available from 6PM to 9:30PM, you can now feast on dimsum delights for just P488+ until the end of August.

Crystal Jade Shanghai Delight at V-Mall, Greenhills Shopping Center

Of course, as a dimsum lover myself, I just can't let this great deal pass me by. So a few days ago, with my good friend in tow, we braved the heavy traffic going to Greenhills to sample the dimsum treats at Crystal Jade Shanghai Delight, located just beside the ground floor entrance of V-Mall inside the Greenhills complex in San Juan City.

Weekday Dimsum Dinner Buffet Items;
Click the photo to enlarge menu.

There are a total of 15 items (plus hot and iced tea) you can order again and again at will. And while Crystal Jade Shanghai Delight may not carry a very extensive variety for their dimsum buffet, compared to hotel restaurants offering the same promo, the former is definitely more affordable. Just make sure to finish everything you'll be ordering, else you'll have to pay for surcharge (the original amount of the item you didn't finish).

Insider Tip: You can order by piece. Just tell your server. *wink*

Weekday Dimsum Dinner Buffet

Like other dimsum buffets I've been to, we were given a menu-slash-checklist with all the items available for the eat-all-you-can promo. And here are the items we got to try...

✓ Cold Cucumber with Minced Garlic in Sesame Oil

While this dish is simple, it's also a great appetizer to start the dimsum fest with. Cucumbers sliced in small but chopstick-friendly pieces, then tossed in sesame oil with minced garlic. Light but slightly savory. Perfect as a starter or even as a palate refresher.

✓ "Xiao Long Bao" or Steamed Soupy Pork Dumpling

When I heard about Crystal Jade's Weekday Dimsum Dinner Buffet, one thing that came to mind was, "this is a perfect time to hoard xiao long bao!" And true enough, I wasn't the only one thinking this, as the Xiao Long Bao is the most ordered item from the dimsum buffet. And why the hell not? This small bundle of meat and soup proves to be one of the best in town. It may not have skin as delicate as I would've wanted, but it's definitely one of, if not the soupiest xiao long bao I've ever had to date! Yum!

Foodie Tip: To best enjoy the xiao long bao, bite off the excess skin on top to let the steam out. You can then add the ginger and black vinegar, and indulge.

✓ Pan-Fried Carrot Cake with Dried Shrimp & Preserved Meat
Plus a bonus up-close photo of the Xiao Long Bao

Now, I don't know how this item got its name, but it's clearly a radish cake. And while I don't really care about the why's and the how's surrounding its name, one thing I do care about is how it tasted. And it tasted really good! Every piece had a nice crisp surface, while the inside was soft and chewy. You can also pick up the hint of savor from the dried shrimps and preserved meat amidst the refreshing notes of the grated radish.

Pork Dumpling with Hot Chili Sauce

For spicy pork dumpling lovers, here's the answer should you want to keep a whole order for yourself. You need not mix a spicy concoction of soy sauce and hot chili 'cause the dumplings have already been soaking in hot chili oil. But if you still want to amp up the heat, then feel free to dump more chili to the serving dish. Or if you're like me who can't forgo the hint of saltiness, then dip them in soy sauce with some calamansi juice.

✓ "Siew Mai" or Steamed Pork and Shrimp Dumpling with Crab Roe

Ah, Siew Mai. The poster child of dimsum! Also lovingly known as siomai, this steamed pork and shrimp dumpling topped with crab roe is not only a delight to the sight, but more so for the palate. Like any good siomai, each piece of this dimsum favorite packs a burst of real meaty goodness. Juicy, tender and flavorful, this is another winner in my book.

Minced Pork Dumpling with String Bean

While I've been eating more vegetables lately (check my Instagram), when it comes to dimsum, I usually find myself gravitating more towards meat. So somehow, it was quite a surprise to find a pork dumpling that also has string beans in it. And while the taste is more pork than string bean, the inclusion of the vegetable is a nice and healthy addition. And the skin... Soft, chewy and elastic -- the perfect casing to any filling.

Deep-Fried Spring Rolls

Boo me for not getting a shot of these spring rolls' filling. So let me just share with you through words how juicy and meaty it was, as every bite was an explosion of familiar succulence! But while the filling is very enjoyable, what I appreciated more was the deep-fried wrapper. It was thinner and more delicate than the usual. And whether you eat a piece or two, or even three, I doubt you'll easily get taste fatigued.

✓ Pan-Fried Shanghai Pork Buns

Truth be told, I'm not a fan of siopao or anything similar. But I guess my lack of access to really good ones is the reason to blame for my shaky relationship with 'em. Good thing I came across these pan-fried Shanghai goodness! Similar to fried siopao, their bottoms are crisp while the inside remains soft and moist. The filling on the other hand, which had the perfect ratio to bun, was comparable to bola-bola but minced and loads better!

Steamed Chicken Feet with Black Beans Sauce

While chicken feet might not be a good sight to see for many, when it comes to dimsum, this is definitely a classic! Drenched in rich and savory black beans sauce, these chicken feet were super soft with an almost gelatin-like texture. And while eating a piece takes effort (with sifting through the small bones), it's definitely a chore I'd gladly accept.

Steamed Spare Ribs with Black Beans Sauce

Back when I was younger, I'd already be super happy and content with a bowl of plain white rice and an order of this dimsum item. And while it's been years since I last did that, I surely wanted to ask for rice upon tasting this rendition of steamed pork spare ribs with taro. Every piece was super tender, moist and succulent. And while the black beans sauce added more savory flavors, it wasn't anything overbearing, but harmonious.

Congee with Salted Pork and Preserved Egg

Apart from the dimsum items, when you avail of the dimsum buffet, you can also order this Congee with Salted Pork and Preserved Egg which is a truly comforting savory porridge. Add a drizzle or two of black vinegar or hot chili oil, mix it, and this simple bowl becomes an even more interesting item perfect for the rainy season.

Avocado Milk Shake with Sago (P125) and ✓ Noodle with Spring Onion Oil

The Noodle with Spring Onion Oil is probably the dullest-looking bowl of noodle I've ever seen. But ironically, it's also one of the best I've ever tasted. Seriously! Served with a separate bowl of rich superior broth, the soft yet firm and chewy (al dente) egg noodles in this dish is drenched with hot spring onion oil which is a famous technique in Chinese cooking. And while you may think the spring onion oil wouldn't make a big difference, I have to say, it really does! Even with just a little broth (or even none), the noodles tasted so savory! So if you ever visit Crystal Jade Shanghai Delight, do try this!

Priced at P488+ per person, this Weekday Dimsum Dinner Buffet is available from 6PM to 9:30PM, Mondays to Fridays (including holidays) for the whole month of August. So if you'd love to indulge in eat-all-you-can dimsum plus select appetizer, congee and noodle, with free-flowing hot or iced tea, then hurry before this promo ends!

THE VERDICT

As a dimsum lover, this visit to Crystal Jade Shanghai Delight has really left me craving and wanting for more. Even if variety is quite limited, they've really made it up through offering good quality and value. Every dimsum item included in the Weekday Dimsum Dinner Buffet we got to try was enjoyable. There were even a good number of standouts! And I couldn't even be happier with the appetizer, congee and noodle they chose to be part of the promo. So for P488+, I'd say this is good value. You get to eat dimsum all you want in a nice restaurant ambiance, and with a prompt, friendly and courteous service.

Taste - 4/5
Ambiance - 4/5
Service - 4/5
Price - 4/5
Overall Value - 4/5

Crystal Jade Shanghai Delight, Greenhills Shopping Center
Unit 117-121 V-Mall, Missouri St., Greenhills,
San Juan City, Metro Manila, Philippines
(02) 570-5233