Most people are familiar with Paradise Dynasty for their legendary xiao long baos, not to mention the signature 8 flavor variant that became the talk of the town, but there's actually more to this restaurant, and that's what my sister and I went for on our visit.
Chilled Jellyfish and Seafood in Vinaigrette P328
The chilled jellyfish and seafood in vinaigrette is a light appetizer I would compare to a salad. It's refreshing, and has both soft and crunchy components in one plate.
Special Dynasty Xiao Long Bao (8 flavors) P388
Now I know the focus of this review is supposed to be all things other than their XLB, but since it's my sister's first time to eat here, I got her an order of the 8 flavor xiao long bao for her to try. For those who don't know, there's a correct order to eat these xiao long baos for you to better enjoy it, which for me makes it even more interesting.
Signature Original Xiao Long Bao P298/10pcs
Of course, I also made sure I had my xiao long bao fix, because what's a visit to Paradise Dynasty without it? Now, I've tried the 8 flavor xiao long bao when Paradise Dynasty first opened in S Maison, and although most of their flavors are really unique, I learned that I still enjoyed the plain ones best.
Charcoal Custard Lava Bun P188/3pcs
Perhaps we can consider the charcoal custard lava bun as one of the most popular dishes from Paradise Dynasty, as I always see photos of it on my instagram feed, most of them showing its contents flowing out like lava. Every time I see photos of it, I always imagined what it tastes like and how much I wanted one. Well, it did not disappoint with its subtle salted egg flavor.
Pork Dumplings in Hot Chilli Vinaigrette P168/6 pcs
It was not hard to appreciate the pork dumplings in hot chilli vinaigrette. I really loved its mild spice level and all the flavors of the sauce just goes so well with the soft and meaty dumplings.
Radish Pastry P138/ 3pcs
My sister and I love ordering radish cake in a Chinese restaurant, but the radish pastry tfrom Paradise Dynasty is was a lot different and honestly incomparable. It's got these strips of crunchy pastry as coating on the outside, and shredded, sweetened radish on the inside.
Stir-Fried Shredded Pork in Black Bean Sauce served with Chinese Crepes P388
A serving of the stir-fried shredded pork in black bean sauce may not seem like a lot, but don't let it deceive you as it is one heavy dish to be devoured by 2 people. Anyways, I liked Chinese crepes with green onions, I just found the texture of the pork a bit weird as it is soft and not really firm. Nonetheless, it was good.
Crispy-fried Prawns tossed in Salted Egg Yolk P588
I've always wanted to try their crispy-fried prawns tossed in salted egg yolk. A serving may be small, but each plate has huge pieces of fresh prawns that are generously coated with thick, salted egg sauce that's a bit overwhelming to eat without rice.
Spicy Szechuan Crispy Chicken P298
You may have to really dig in in an order of spicy Szechuan crispy chicken, as it has chicken bits the size of their chilis. And because it is Szechuan, then you should expect that burning feeling on your tongues and lips after every bite, which to someone with a relatively low tolerance for spicy food, is WORTH IT.
La Mian with Spiced Beef in Signature Pork Bone Soup P380
The La Mian was one of the items I've tried when Paradise Dynasty first opened its doors in Manila, and it's still as good as I recall. I still see it as a hybrid between the Chinese La Mian and the Japanese ramen because of its rich broth, though it is not as rich as the latter.
Poached Beef in Szechuan Chilli Oil P788
You may get surprised once you see the bowl of poached beef in Szechuan oil as the server brings it to your table. It's absolutely good for sharing, and I recommend that you do, as it can feed around 4 people. Believe me, you won't be able to finish that whole bowl all by yourself, especially when the spice kicks in. And when it starts to linger, it would take some time before it wears off. It is extremely spicy (even the mild one we requested) but also contains all those aromatics and spices that gives not just the spice, but more importantly those mouthwatering flavors. I loved each bite of the beef with the white rice and some cilantro (which is in the soup).
My every visit to Paradise Dynnasty always keeps getting better and better. They always have something new and different to try that's perfect for my every mood. Needless to say, Paradise Dynasty is a favorite of mine not just when it comes to dim sum. It is also home to many other delicious dishes and desserts that are all worth exploring.
My Scores:
Pricing - 4/5
Service - 4/5
Ambiance - 4.5/5
Taste - 4/5
Taste - 4/5
Hungry for more,
Address: 2/F S Maison, Conrad, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City (check out their other branches here)
Operating Hours: 10am to 9pm (Sun-Thu) and 10am to 10pm (Fri-Sat)
Budget: from P300 per person
Parking: Mall Parking
Instagram: @paradisedynastyph
Facebook: @paradisedynastyph
(Date of Visit: July 15 and October 28, 2019)
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