As the hot and muggy summer unfolds, Wuxi's beloved summer delight, cold wontons, steps into the spotlight. Here is a compilation of some of the city's most popular wonton shops.
Iced wontons at Qianlaolao Wontons. [Photo/WeChat account: news-wuxixinwen]
Qianlaolao Wontons
Every morning, the owner personally prepares the wonton filling. After cooking, the wontons are plunged into ice water, which gives the skins a delightfully firm and springy texture — more refreshing than ice cream. The filling made with fish roe and shrimp is so fresh it makes your taste buds tingle, while the combination of acacia flower and green soybean offers a subtle milky flavor. The cilantro and century egg variety remains the most popular choice among customers.
Address: 118-119 Houxixi, Liangxi district, Wuxi (无锡市梁溪区后西溪118-119号)
517 Wontons
Every year around this time, the cold wontons make their eagerly awaited return. The wonton skins, soaked in ice water, are delightfully chewy and smooth. The rapid cooling process makes the meat filling firmer and the vegetables crisper. When you add a spoonful of their special sesame sauce, the cold wontons become extraordinarily delicious.
Address: 38-7 Jiankang Road, Liangxi district, Wuxi (无锡市梁溪区健康路38-7)
Cold mushroom wontons at Hundun Jiusi. [Photo/WeChat account: news-wuxixinwen]
Hundun Jiusi (Wonton & Wine House)
This unique shop sells wontons by day and alcohol by night. During the plum rain season, their cold mushroom wontons are a must-try. Fresh black termitomyces mushrooms and black boletus burst with a wild, earthy aroma. Seasonal cattail shoots, a rare delicacy, are mixed with dried shrimp to create a crisp filling.
Address: 85-13 Yongfeng Road, Liangxi district, Wuxi (无锡市梁溪区永丰路85-13号)
Freshly-cooked wontons at Junjun Wontons. [Photo/WeChat account: news-wuxixinwen]
Junjun Wontons
The only place in Wuxi that uses pumpkin vine as a filling, available only for two months each summer. The pumpkin vine is crisp and tender with a unique fragrance. Homemade egg skin and shredded tofu, fresh pork from the front leg, and a secret baijiu (a colorless Chinese liquor) seasoning complement the pumpkin vine's fresh, clean taste, making it a refreshing delight.
Address: 51-11 Kongque Yayuan Residential Community, Liangxi district, Wuxi (无锡市梁溪区孔雀雅园51-11室)
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