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Mi Xiang Yuan: Fast Healthy Lunches at Gopher Center

2017-12-12 Cristina Ng ShanghaiWOWeng

I’ll never forget my first meal at the original Mi Xiang Yuan more than six years ago, because the combination of authenticity and freshness blew me away. It was also one of the cheapest lunch sets I had ever had. Originally opened in Xintiandi, the new Mi Xiang Yuan (aka The Rice Garden) will continue a focus on convenient, affordable and delicious lunch sets at their new Gopher Plaza location.


The new Mi Xiang Yuan location on Mengzi Lu


This new location sees a full technological upgrade to include German Rational programmable ovens to ensure consistently juicy and crispy meats, along with Panasonic rice cookers and mobile phone ordering via QR code at your table. The coolest thing about this new upgrade is that it takes their organic Wuchang rice, widely regarded as the best in China, and gives it the royal treatment. The rice cookers utilize 360 degree heat, which results in zero condensation, to ensure even cooking of every single grain of rice. 


The interior of Mi Xiang Yuan features a real rice installation featuring their star ingredient


Primarily a lunch restaurant, Mi Xiang Yuan is very busy in the middle of the day. You can go a bit later to avoid the rush, but be prepared that some of their most popular dishes will be sold out. The focus is mainly on lunch sets that include soup, veggies and a cold dish, although we hear breakfast is coming soon. 


My two favorite dishes on this visit were the peppercorn bullfrog (RMB 42) and the teriyaki chicken (RMB 42) with onsen egg. Both make sense on a menu where rice is the main draw. The ma la spices of the frog are addictive and I could not stop spooning the juices on to my bowl of rice. The teriyaki chicken is among the best I’ve ever had and the soft egg melts into the sauces and melds the chicken to the rice in the most satisfying manner. If you are really hungry, add one more egg (RMB 5). 


Spicy and numbing peppercorn bull frog 


Teriyaki chicken with a perfectly cooked onsen egg


Another available option is a very tasty lu rou fan (RMB 42), which is a braised pork dish flavored with soy sauce and Chinese five spice. The meat breaks down creating a rich meaty sauce perfect for scooping on top of their premium rice. Beef tendon curry (RMB 42) and gong bao chicken with peanuts (RMB 32) are also really good. Honestly, the whole menu is great. 


Lu rou fan as part of a lunch set


Beef tendon curry is gently spiced and melts in your mouth 


Gong bao chicken with peanuts 


In addition to these tasty dishes, gongbao shrimp is being added, which we can’t wait to try. Chef Zhao’s famous hong shao rou will also make appearances as the menu rotates.


Lightly sweetened niangao with osmanthus syrup (RMB 8) if you need dessert


While Mi Xiang Yuan might be slightly outside the city center, it is not far for those in the Xintiandi or Madang Lu metro station vicinity. If I lived or worked in those areas I would be there daily and my pocketbook would love me for it. As a destination, get out of your comfort zone and travel for authentic yet inexpensive Chinese lunch sets with high-end polish as both Anthony Zhao and his partner and restaurant manager, Walter Wang (who met as colleagues at the Portman Ritz-Carlton) have extensive five star F&B and hospitality experience under their belts. You won’t regret it. And if you are really lazy, there’s always Meituan for delivery. 


Address: 757 Mengzi Lu, Gopher Plaza, B2, B013 (near Zhongshan Nan Yi Lu)

Tel: 021 5629 7769

Hours: Daily, 11am-8pm


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