[Shanghai] Ming Court 明閣 at The Langham Xintiandi

Ming Court 明閣 at The Langham Xintiandi

Address: Langham Xintiandi, 5/F, 99 Madang Lu, near Taicang Lu 马当路99号5楼, 近太仓路
Tel: 2330 2428
Hours: [lunch] 11:30am-2:30pm [dinner] 5:30-10:30pm
Website: intiandi.langhamhotels.com/restaurants/ming_court.htm
Price: [weekend brunch] 128 RMB/person [lunch] 250~300 RMB/person, [dinner] 300~500 RMB/person
Visited:  Jan 2012

With its 2 Michelin star standing in Hong Kong, Ming Court at The Langham Xintiandi raises expectations. To test it out, I gathered a group of 5 hungry dim sum lovers to try their 128 RMB/person all-you-can-eat dim sum brunch.  The verdict? It’s not 2 Michelin stars, but it’s an excellent deal.

We were seated in one of the nine private dining rooms, a pleasant space complemented with smooth and considerate service.

The 128 RMB price tag covers everything on the menu except drinks, and tea comes at 25~35 RMB per person. Among everything we ordered (all are of satisfying quality), my favorites were 鮮蝦炸腸粉 (deep-fried rice rolls with shrimps), 明閣四喜餃 (steamed dumplings with shrimps, fish roe, crab meat, and dried scallops), and 鮮蝦雲呑湯 (shrimp and vegetable wonton soup).

蟹粉小籠包 Steamed Shanghainese pork dumplings with crab meat

牛肉腸粉 Steamed rice rolls with beef

X.O.醬炒蘿蔔糕 Wok-fried turnip cakes in X.O. Sauce

鮮蝦炸腸粉 Deep-fried rice rolls with shrimps

明閣四喜餃 Steamed dumplings with shrimps, fish roe, crab meat, and dried scallops

冬筍鮮蝦餃 Traditional shrimp dumplings with bamboo

蜂巢炸芋餃 Deep-fried taro pastry

香煎鮮蝦腐皮卷 Pan-fried bean curd rolls with shrimps

瑤柱蛋黃糯米雞 Lotus leaf glutinous rice, chicken, conpoy, and preserved egg yolk

鮮蝦雲呑湯 Shrimp and vegetable wonton soup

香滑流沙包 Steamed buns stuffed with red bean cream

清炒豆苗 Stir-fried pea shoots

I tried all 5 desserts offered on the menu, but most were mediocre. The 涼瓜炸湯圓 (deep-fried dumplings with bitter melon), which wasn’t bitter in the least bit, was probably the tastiest out of all, and would especially suit those who like black sesame paste.

Double-boiled milk jelly with ginger juice, baked egg tarts, red bean cake with coconut juice, taro soup with black sticky rice

涼瓜炸湯圓 Deep-fried dumplings with bitter melon

The meal ended with a fruit platter, and we walked out stuffed and happy. If you like the idea of an all-you-can-eat dim sum brunch, Ming Court would be a great choice. If you want even better (and more expensive) food, go to Lei Garden. If you don’t care about ambiance, try Tang Gong, which is cheaper (50~80 RMB/person) but also requires a long waiting time.