Dish of the Week: Xiao Long Bao at Dumplings Legend
Dumplings Legend has been a Soho late-night staple for years, but its Xiao Long Bao still surprise. Clean flavours, perfect skins and remarkable consistency make it one of London’s most reliable Chinatown classics.
2 min read
“It will be worth the wait.”
Famous last words from my sister before we stepped out to visit Joe’s Shanghai in New York City on a cold winter night and waited an hour in a queue that stretched across the block.
The funny thing is, I still think about those Xiao Long Bao, and that was back in 2014.
It takes a lot to compete with the world’s most famous soup dumplings, but I genuinely believe that Dumplings Legend matches, if not beats, those same dumplings.
Located in the heart of Chinatown, Dumplings Legend is certainly not the new kid on the block. In fact, you would be hard pressed to find anyone who works in the Soho area who hasn’t ended up here after a few drinks on a Friday night.
The space itself leans into traditional Chinese restaurant decor. Nothing fancy, nothing reinvented, but it does the job. The table turnover is quick, which means that even with a line outside, you are usually seated faster than expected.
I came here for one thing and one thing only: Dumplings Legend’s famous Xiao Long Bao. In a world where every dish seems to be branded as famous, these actually deserve it.
We ordered the Fresh Crab Roe Xiao Long Bao and the Pork Xiao Long Bao. Both come as eight pieces, priced at £9.50 and £7.50 respectively.
The Fresh Crab Roe Xiao Long Bao were the main event, and they justified the hype. The skins were thin without tearing, the broth clean and full of flavour, and the crab roe added just enough richness to elevate each bite without overpowering it. No theatrics, no gimmicks, just a well-made dumpling that proves exactly why people talk about them.
The Pork Xiao Long Bao were equally reliable. Juicy, savoury and nicely balanced, they arrived piping hot with the kind of consistency that tells you the kitchen knows exactly what it is doing. They may not shout for attention, but they deliver everything you want from XLB, and that reliability is part of what makes Dumplings Legend worth the trip.
At this price point, you are not going to find anywhere that does it better.
