(2023.06.03) A Shanghai cuisine restaurant called "The Bund 1930" has opened, inspired by the historic buildings of the Bund district in Shanghai, known as the "Paris of the East" in the 1930s. Located on the first floor of the Panorama Square Hakata building on Kokutai Road, the restaurant captures the exotic atmosphere of old Shanghai with its Neo-Renaissance, Neo-Baroque, and Art Deco architectural styles. Upon entering, guests are greeted with photos of East Zhongshan Road and a bar counter adorned with neon lights, creating a nostalgic ambiance. The lunch sets include a daily special set, five noodle dishes, and fried rice, all served with the signature xiaolongbao dumplings. The highlight of the menu is the "Shanghai-style Scallion Oil Noodles," a classic dish that combines scallion oil, soy sauce, and oyster sauce for a flavorful experience. The meal is complemented by a generous serving of xiaolongbao dumplings, filled with savory pork broth and tender meat. For dessert, guests can enjoy a refreshing chilled sweet soup made with white fungus and osmanthus flowers, a perfect ending to a satisfying meal.

This is a Shanghai cuisine restaurant run by a dim sum chef from Shanghai and a manager from Shanghai. They offer 4 courses ranging from 5,800 yen to 12,800 yen. I made a reservation for the second from the bottom course, which costs 8,800 yen. The appetizer platter included char siu chicken, jellyfish, boiled beef, soy sauce simmered mackerel, and soy sauce simmered wheat gluten. The flavors were slightly sweet with a Shanghai-style soy sauce taste, making it a great accompaniment for drinks. The xiaolongbao, crab meat xiaolongbao, and shumai were excellent, with exceptional dough quality. The stir-fried water spinach was crunchy and flavorful. The steamed spare ribs had a slightly Shanghai-style seasoning with potatoes. The minced fish stir-fry was savory and refreshing. The custard-filled steamed buns and char siu pie had amazing dough. The scallion noodles were rich in flavor with a great oil coating. The winter melon soup was comforting and the cold mung bean soup was refreshing. Overall, the dim sum was well-executed, but the other dishes in the 8,800 yen course may feel a bit lacking. The restaurant has a stylish atmosphere perfect for enjoying dim sum, but the pricing for champagne and wine is high, making it a bit difficult to order. They also offer lunch starting from around 1,200 yen.

Panorama Square Hakata is located in Haruyoshi, near Nakasu area. On the first floor of this building, you will find "Gaitan 1930". The head chef used to work at a renowned Shanghai cuisine restaurant, so you can enjoy authentic Shanghai dishes here. The restaurant has a glamorous atmosphere, and they also operate as a bar at night. There are both table and counter seats available. The concept is based on the Bund area in the 1930s, which is reflected in the restaurant's name. I made a reservation for the Spring and Bamboo Course (5800 yen) this time. We enjoyed dim sum, meat dishes, and soup dishes. The soup and dessert had a unique flavor, but the dim sum and meat dishes were consistently delicious. Although not shown in the photos, the Shanghai-style mixed noodles were also very good. The crab miso-filled xiaolongbao seems to be a popular menu item, so I would like to visit for lunch next time.

On July 20, 2023, I had the Shanghai scallion oil noodles with a side of 3 xiao long bao for 1,680 yen. The set was delicious and satisfying.

It was delicious but the flavor was a bit strong.