The Place
Second Sister Yunnan Restaurant is a new venue by the Azul Group, taking up residence in the old Xouk spot in 1000 Trees Mall.
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The team kicked off their opening mid-September, with dishes like Lemongrass Grilled Seabass, Pu’er Braised Fish, Beef Rolls with Mint, Small Pot Rice Noodles, Xishuangbanna Bamboo Rice, and much more.
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Situated on the mall’s 5th floor, the space is split evenly between outdoor and indoor seating, with expansive, sun-soaked views over Suzhou Creek all day long.
The Food
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The menu – created by Lijiang native and Dai minority Chef Li – centers around approachable Yunnan dishes, pulling from regional specialties and minority traditional flavors, with an emphasis on local products.
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The Tamarillo Salad (RMB58) sees Yunnan-imported marinated tree tomatoes soaked in osmanthus honey and topped with soft, starchy lily bulb – the texture similar to roasted chestnuts.
A final sprinkling of fried osmanthus flowers add a subtly floral aroma to this treacly starter.
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A Yunnanese staple, Small Pot Rice Noodles (RMB38) – or mixian (米线) – boast a complex mix of sour and savory, a secret family recipe from Chef Li.
Slippery rice noodles encircle spiced ground pork, juxtaposed against crunchy pickled vegetables plus scallions mint and other herbs.
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A top seller – and for good reason – the Sauteed Minced Pork (RMB68) sees green and red peppers, Yunnan pickles, and black kohlrabi stir-fried with sweet pounded pork.
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A classic Yunnan dish usually eaten with rice, Second Sister takes their own ‘low carb’ spin on the plate, serving it alongside lettuce so diners can make their own wraps to their liking.
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Packing some major heat, the Beef Rolls with Mint (RMB68) are sprinkled in a garlicky chili and vinegar sauce, a pleasurable balance of fresh spice and herbs.
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South American Stir-Fried Prawns with Lemongrass (RMB88) turn the flavor dial up to a 10, swaddled in fried chilis and xiangliu (香柳) – nicknamed Vietnamese coriander, and prized for its pungently herbaceous leaves that grow best in tropical climates.
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Sitting in the middle ground between Guizhou’s sour fish soup and Sichuan’s fish with pickled vegetables, the Pu’er Braised Fish (RMB108) is pleasantly sour from pickled carrots and cabbage, with tender chunks of snakehead fish and a mujiangzi spice finish.
Also known as mountain demon berries, mujiangzi is a citrusy, numbing spice-flavored berry that grows in the mountains of Wulong and adds a distinct sour zing – a hallmark of Yunnan, Sichuan and Guizhou cuisine.
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Using tofu from Jianshui in southern Yunnan – a town famous for its grilled tofu production – the Fried Tofu with Garlic Sauce (RMB28) allows this regional delicacy to shine, amplified by garlic, chilis and soy sauce.
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Showcasing zhanshui (蘸水), a cumin and chili spice blend found across Yunnan, the Fried Potato with Cumin-Chili Spice (RMB38) sees a round fried shredded potato cake sliced intro triangles – a satisfyingly crispy bite popular with those of all ages.
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Second Sister is also currently offering a discounted two-person set menu for just RMB198 – available all day, every day – that includes Shrimp Chips, Tamarillo Salad, Sauteed Minced Pork, Stir-fried Prawns with Lemongrass, Braised Chicken, Small Pot Rice Noodles, and two Scoops of Ice Cream.
Compliment your meal with Yunnan flavor-inspired beverages – like Kumquat Lime Juice (RMB28), Pandan and Lemongrass Iced Tea (RMB28) and Tamarind Beverage (RMB28) – or with a Shangri-la or Dali craft beer.
The Vibe
Aligning with the same ethos as other Azul Group venues, Second Sister is pocket-friendly and convenient, perfect for satisfying that Yunnan food craving when it strikes.
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The welcoming space is brightly lit and colorfully eye-catching, boasting a large outdoor terrace, ideal for friendly catchups or working afternoons on these final sunny afternoons of autumn.
Price: RMB60-120
Who’s Going: The 1000 Trees shopping mall crowd, Yunnan food lovers of all ages, Azul group fans
Good For: Casual dates, sunny working lunches, satisfying Yunnan food cravings
Second Sister Yunnan Restaurant, 开业酬宾 狂欢派对, 5/F, 1000 Trees, 600 Moganshan Lu, by Changhua Lu 大洋晶典5楼, 莫干山路600号, 近昌化路.
Read more Shanghai Restaurant Reviews.
[Cover image by Sophie Steiner/That’s]
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