Mar. 26, 2019 UPDATE
Taiwan Tangbao
- 台湾タンパオ -Traveler Friendly
They have Japanese, English, Chinese, Taiwanese, and Korean speaking staff, and they are all very friendly, so this is a great place to visit.
Menu
Japanese and English.
Languages spoken
Japanese, English, Chinese, Taiwanese, and Korean.
Story & Recommendation
Taiwan Tangbao is a restaurant specializing in xiaolongbao dumplings near Nishiki Market
Xialongbao dumplings are one of the most famous delicacies tourists have to try in Taiwan. But now you have a chance to try these famous Taiwanese dumplings in Kyoto, a new Taiwanese restaurant run by a Taiwanese team opened on Shinkyogoku Shopping Street on June 13, 2017!
All of the ingredients used for the dumplings are from Japan, and the dumplings themselves are made in Miyazaki prefecture, from where they are directly sent to this restaurant. These quality xiaolongbao, with a thick skin and a lot of filling, only cost 380 yen for six dumplings! The taste of these juicy, delicious dumplings far surpasses the price. Beside normal xiaolongbao they also have crab xiaolongbao, chive dumplings, night market-style pork buns, and shumai (shaomai), so while the menu is not large, all of the menu items are made with loving care and taste absolutely delicious.
Many of the customers at this restaurant come from America, Europe, and Asia, and it can be seen that even in this ancient Japanese city of Kyoto, people still want to have Taiwanese delicacies. No matter whether you are in Kyoto on a holiday, studying here, or working here, this restaurant is a place where you can relax, chat with your friends, and have some great dumplings for a really reasonable price.
1Recommended
Xiaolongbao (6 dumplings)
/ ￥380
These just steamed xiaolongbao dumplings you get piping hot to your table, look just as juicy as they are. Put the dumpling on your spoon, and break the skin with your chopsticks; this way you get some of the excellent soup on your spoon, after which you of course drink it, and enjoy the best part: the sweet umami of it. The amount of fat and meat in the filling is just perfect, and the taste is not too fatty but leaves a nice taste to your mouth. These xiaolongbao dumplings taste so good that most people end up ordering more than two portions!
2Recommended
Chive dumplings (5)
/ ￥380
The skin of these dumplings is so translucent that you can see the green garlic chives inside them. The juicy dumplings just burst in your mouth when you bite into them, and because you have vegetables inside them, they are refreshing, and are especially great for women.
3Let's Try!
Crab xiaolongbao
/ ￥380
Here you have crab inside the juicy xiaolongbao dumplings, and the seafood makes for a nice change in the taste. The thin skin of the crab dumplings is also yellow because it sucks up the color from the crab, and the soup and the filling inside the dumpling both have a strong taste of crab, making you almost feel like you were eating crab hot pot. I would recommend eating them as is, without adding anything and just enjoying the taste of crab.
4Let's Try!
Night market style pork buns
/ ￥380
These soft pork buns have a pork filling that is quite coarse, not like the fine one the Japanese pork buns normally have. After steaming, the bun sucks up the juices that come out of the meat, and make the buns taste even better. A taste you cannot normally have in Kyoto, and one that is also popular with kids.
How to Order
First you should pick up a xiaolongbao with your chopsticks and place it on your spoon. Then, carefully make a small opening in the skin so that some of the soup comes out, and then have a sip. After you have the taste in your mouth, it is time to eat the dumpling. There are also condiments at the table, which you can use as you like to change the taste. I recommend adding some vinegar, as this not only makes the dumplings taste better, but also makes the taste more refreshing.
- Order Tips -
The dumplings are served freshly steamed, so you should eat them while they are hot.
