Zhonghua Mingxiaochi at Funan in Singapore

This new dumpling shop is a bit of a head-scratcher (107 North Bridge Road #B1-24). The staff told me that it's a big franchise from China, but I'm not sure what the name is. Zhonghua Mingxiaochi were the Chinese characters (and that was correctly written into English as "Famous Chinese Dishes" on some of the signage), but that sounds like a generic descriptor than a brand. Then there were other signs featuring the same Chinese characters, but the secondary text read Jie Huan Xi instead, which was the former malatang shop at that location. And then the plastic plating said Gucheng Baozi, which actually does seem like a large franchise in China, but that name didn't appear on the signage nor menu.

Anyway, the more important thing is the food. They are a bit like Du Du Dumplings combined iwth Yuen Kee, as they offer their dumplings in boiled, steamed, and grilled form, all while offering an interesting variety of fillings. That included a black-skinned one filled with white cuttlefish inside, as well as the yellow-skinned ones above featuring a pork and oyster filling inside (yep, the savory depth from the oyster was kinda fun). They also do things like shengjianbao and even suancaiyu here. The workmanship was much sloppier than both Du Du Dumplings and Yuen Kee though. And I won't bother with the lunch sets since the plate of sides that it came with was unremarkable.