Gyoza • Dumpling • Xiao Long Bao 爱面 锅贴 (Kopitiam @ Ang Mo Kio Hub)

AMK Hub had certainly been seeing a revamp in its F&B offerings and this had pretty much extended to the food court as well — previously a Foodfare food court, the food court has now been branded into a Kopitiam food court and boasts of quite a variety of new dining options that were previously unavailable in the now-defunct Foodfare food court prior to the renovation works being carried out. Notable additions to the Kopitiam food court after its revamp and rebranding includes that of Egg Thai — a stall that is serves up Thai cuisine, Cuo Cuo You Yu 脞脞有鱼 that serves up Minced Meat Noodles, and a few others. One particular stall that we had yet to see being around in other food courts / coffeeshops seem to be 爱面 锅贴 Gyoza • Dumpling • Xiao Long Bao — a stall that seemingly serves up mainland Chinese fare with a slight twist. The menu seems to have an emphasis on their gyoza and dumpling offerings, with the gyoza and dumplings coming in various flavours to choose from; other items which 爱面 锅贴 Gyoza • Dumpling • Xiao Long Bao serves up include Chinese-style ramen such as Yang Chun Noodle with Pork Ribs, Noodle with Minced Meat Sauce, as well as You Tiao and Red Dates Soya Milk for those looking for something on the lighter side.

What really intrigued us enough to give 爱面 锅贴 Gyoza • Dumpling • Xiao Long Bao a try was how we noticed that they were serving up a Laksa Gyoza — they do seem to have quite a number of Laksa-based items on the menu, which includes items such as a Laksa Dumpling Soup and Laksa Steamed Dumplings; other Gyoza flavours which 爱面 锅贴 Gyoza • Dumpling • Xiao Long Bao offers include the Curry Gyoza and Chicken Gyoza. It is worth noting that 爱面 锅贴 Gyoza • Dumpling • Xiao Long Bao serves up their Gyoza in six pieces per portion — while the illustrations does not show it, their Gyoza does come with “wings” (i.e. the crispy batter around the Gyoza” ; something which we weren’t quite expecting and was also pretty impressed with considering how most places would serve their Gyoza without. Picking up one piece of the Laksa Gyoza, the gyoza can be described as well-sized — quite decently filled. Giving it a go, the skin does carry a crisp texture on the underside, while it is delicate enough yet able to encase the fillings within pretty well. As it goes, the Laksa filling did come with a burst of flavours considering how there is some broth being encased in the gyoza as well; that being said, the filling seem to resemble that of Otak-Otak more closely with a very fine meat paste hidden within the gyoza itself. Also, we did find that the flavours were a little “lemongrass”-like; tasted similar to the Muar-style of Otak-Otak that are being sold commercially. At $5.80, the Laksa Gyoza isn’t the most economical item to order — this is especially considering how the Laksa Gyoza is a side and one could easily have something more substantial at the price at a hawker centre. That being said, considering the execution all other aspects, it does seem like an interesting item that is good to give a try if at AMK Hub!