Yuelaiji (Sun Moonlight Store)

Time: June. Per capita consumption: 300 yuan. With whom: Friends. Activities: Gourmet food, photogra[...]

Time: June.
Per capita consumption: 300 yuan.
With whom: Friends.
Activities: Gourmet food, photography, petty bourgeoisie.
Published on June 9, 2021, 06:57.

Among Chinese dim sum, Cantonese dim sum is the most abundant with a wide variety, enough to dazzle people. Made to order, it excels in exquisiteness and never tires people.

[Shop Name] Yuelaiji (Sun Moonlight Store).
[Address] Room 1-CG-14, Xujiahui District, Sun Moonlight Center, 618 Xujiahui Road.
[Transportation] It is 100 meters’ walk from Exit 2 of Dapuqiao Station on Metro Line 9 to reach the destination.
[Business hours] 10:30 – 21:30.
[Per capita consumption] 300 yuan (ordering a variety of dishes).
[Characteristic] Hong Kong-style dim sum.
[Environment] In the evening, the sky is densely dotted with stars. On the bustling street, the lights are like twinkling stars. A brightly lit Yuelaiji “stands” among all this. Push open the glass door and walk into the restaurant. You are greeted by a western minimalist style. Warm lights, apricot-colored chairs, white marble tables, winding fences. The fresh decoration style is full of exquisite Cantonese cuisine. Even if you know that they serve Chinese dim sum, you will still sigh at its pleasantness and exquisiteness.
[Service] At meal times, this place is fully occupied. After getting a number at the door, there are many diners sitting and waiting in line. The business is really good. When entering the restaurant, a waiter greets you and leads you to your seat. After sitting down, the waiter asks us what kind of tea we need.

—

Later, the waiter is very diligent in making tea and refilling water. After placing an order, the dishes come out quickly.

**Gourmet Food:**

– **Original Flavor Bear Milk Tea (28 yuan):** The lovely little bear lies at the bottom of the cup so attentively, completely undisturbed by the outside noise. Like a romantic girl’s sentiment, it shimmers with ever-changing magic. It has an absolutely attractive mellow and sweet taste. It warms and slowly blooms in loneliness, calm and leisurely. So sweet but not greasy, it always makes me take a sip.

– **Bamboo Shoot and Shrimp Dumplings (32 yuan):** Through the crystal-clear skin, you can see the orange-yellow filling inside. The smooth and springy shrimp mixed with the sweetness of bamboo shoots is satisfying.

– **Lily Sauce Steamed Chicken Feet (32 yuan):** Fragrant, delicious, and melts in the mouth. With a few soft peanuts, it is indeed an excellent match for drinking tea.

– **Red Rice Crispy Sausage (36 yuan):** Red rice and shrimp, one red and one white, adorn each other with harmonious colors. The fine and glutinous rice rolls wrapped with springy shrimp and crispy fried dough sticks are full of fragrance, moistness, crispness, and a mixture of umami. It is also extremely extraordinary.

– **Black Truffle Mushroom Dumplings (28 yuan):** The deliciousness is indescribable. The crystal-clear crystal skin has a fresh feeling of wrapping spring in the mouth. That unique breath lingers in the mouth. Only by tasting it can you experience the delicacy of the top-quality mountain delicacies in the filling.

—#Pan-Fried Handmade Shrimp Cakes 58 yuan# Similar to moon cakes in shape, the outer skin is fried until slightly charred. The surface is wrapped with shrimp and is soft and delicious. The ingenious fusion of shrimp and pancakes allows you to savor the freshness and smoothness of shrimp along with the crispiness of pancakes in a single bite, along with the rich seafood flavor wrapped within.

The #Double Roast Combination for 88 yuan#, consisting of deep-well roasted goose and secret recipe char siu, holds an unshakable position on the dining tables of those who love Cantonese cuisine. It boasts a golden-red skin, shiny and bright, with an aroma that fills the air. The skin is crispy and the meat is tender, full of juices, and not greasy, perfectly suited to modern palates. A bite of it awakens the taste buds and deep memories.

The #Emperor’s Royal Preserved Meat Claypot for 48 yuan# is the star dish of the restaurant, with a high click rate, almost a must-order for every table. The preserved meat rice, once served, presents a mix of salty and sweet flavors, oily and fresh fragrance. The rice grains are imbued with the aroma of the preserved meat, fully absorbing the rich and fragrant oil, plump and glossy. For us food enthusiasts, besides enjoying the preserved meat rice, we also scrape the golden and crispy crust from the bottom of the pot clean, and the taste of that crust is full of happiness.

Once at the entrance of a Chaozhou beef hotpot restaurant, I witnessed the scene of hand-pounded beef balls.The #Signature Beef Ball Soup#, priced at 42 yuan, embodies transformation through relentless pounding. The fresh beef muscles, still pulsating with a touch of temperature, exhibit a slight stickiness on their surface—qualities that are essential for crafting excellent beef balls. The stubborn, irregular round shape is a testament to the hand-pounding process, and a bite into these beef balls reveals a dense, crispy texture with a smooth finish, awakening the true aroma of beef.

For a sweet and lovely dessert that melts like dew, the #Mango Pomelo Sago#, at 28 yuan, offers a symphony of flavors that unfold on the tongue. The coconut milk’s fragrance, mango’s sweetness, grapefruit’s refreshing bitterness, and the Q-elastic coolness of sago combine to create a summer melody.

The #Red Bean Paste# is not only blood-enriching and dampness-removing but also a delightful treat. The sweet and soft red beans are finely ground, creating a glutinous texture that warms the heart and invites you to savor every spoonful.

Lastly, the #Shunde Double Skin Milk#, at 26 yuan, presents a thick double layer of milk skin resting calmly in the bowl, adorned with raisins, melon seeds, peanut crumbs, and blueberries. Upon gentle scooping, it reveals a smoothness akin to a baby’s skin and a gentleness reminiscent of a mother’s touch. The taste is fragrant and smooth, with each sip delivering a rich milk aroma that is sweet without being greasy.