01 / ABOUT THE PLACE
About this place
One diner who tried the xiao long bao with black vinegar and ginger said they would like to come back for a set meal. At Taiwan-shorompo Tennoji MIO, dim sum can be ordered by the plate, or enjoyed as part of a meal built around xiao long bao or an all-you-can-eat course.
The weekday-lunch-only special xiao long bao set comes with xiao long bao 5, half a serving of your choice of stone-grilled fried rice, soup, salad and dessert. The stone-grilled options are fried rice with Kamakura bacon and Hokkaido Raclette cheese, seared Sangen pork char siu fried rice, and Taiwanese mixed fried rice. It is a chance to choose a combination that suits you, with xiao long bao at the heart of lunch and a fried-rice dish on the side. Diners have also described the xiao long bao as generously filled with meat juices, enjoyed with ginger and vinegar soy sauce. Along with the review mentioning black vinegar and ginger, these accounts suggest a dish to savour one bite at a time, choosing a dipping sauce to suit.
For more variety, there is also a mixed dim sum set, with 2 each of house-made xiao long bao, shiso xiao long bao, shumai and chewy seafood dumplings. The Hana set offers different xiao long bao flavours: 4 varieties, including prawn and cheese, with 2 of each. The à la carte list includes special xiao long bao 4, as well as versions filled with shiso, prawn, snow crab, sea urchin or truffle.
Groups who want to try a wider range of dishes can opt for an all-you-can-eat dim sum course. The listed courses offer 27 or 39 items, including xiao long bao and shumai, alongside dishes such as mapo tofu, Taiwanese mixed fried rice, hot-and-sour soup noodles and fried chicken. The 39-item course also includes xiao long bao with sea urchin or prawn, and braised pork rice. The choice of courses makes it possible to consider the group size and what everyone would like to eat.
For a main dish beyond xiao long bao, options include mild tantan noodles with black pepper and mellow black vinegar, and the restaurant’s “Ultimate” hot-and-sour soup noodles. Add Taiwanese-style steamed egg custard with savoury sauce for a table of smaller dishes. Hot jasmine tea, served in a pot, is another option with or after a meal. Children’s choices include corn fried rice or corn ramen with orange juice, as well as an aeroplane plate with fried chicken, chips and jelly. The menu also notes that baby chairs are available, and offers several dishes suited to a family meal.
