Jiaozi Chinese Ravioli in Bologna, review: freshly made Chinese ravioli under the porticoes
This tiny restaurant is located under the arcades of Via San Felice, in an area of Bologna that isn't conducive to gastronomic exploration. Jiaozi Ravioleria Cinese is literally a five-minute walk from the center.
Its menu is based almost exclusively on ravioli, which it offers in four versions, each accompanied by a different sauce, all handmade and freshly made, in the finest tradition. Designed primarily for takeout, it doesn't have any real seating, just a couple of stools and a small bench to rest your plate on for a quick (and somewhat uncomfortable) meal. Its central location, however, encourages you to stop in, so in the summer, you can sit at the tables of the pub next door, which offer hospitality in exchange for a beer. It's a kind of symbiotic relationship where everyone benefits from the neighboring business, much appreciated by both types of customers. After all, ravioli and beer are a winning combination, so it's worth taking advantage of this shared space.
Like the migrant ravioli shop Ling's, we're faced with a story of cultural melting pot: he's from Vicenza and moved to Bologna (I know Vicenza isn't exotic, but it's still east of Bologna), and she's from Bologna, born to Chinese parents who ran a Chinese deli in Casalecchio di Reno. Jokingly during a family dinner, they said that a ravioli shop would be a good place to open in Bologna, and here they are.
The options are fairly classic, with a typically Chinese flavor: "zhu" with pork belly, cabbage, and spring onion; "niu" with beef, leek, and shitake mushrooms; "xia" the typical open-faced shrimp dumplings; and finally, the vegetarian option of "shu" with cabbage, carrots, two types of mushrooms, and spring onions. The dumplings are steamed exclusively, according to Chinese tradition, and are convincing with their full flavor, enhanced by the excellent homemade sauces, particularly the spicy-sweet one and the garlic-soy one, perfect for accompanying the pork dumplings. My preference goes to the beef ones, which are very convincing in every way, but that's more of a personal preference because the others are also excellent.
A small portion of the menu features a few extras, such as homemade egg noodles with a choice of classic pork ragu, shitake mushrooms, and seasonal vegetables, or a vegetarian option with peanuts, sesame, and vegetables. A fresh cucumber salad and signature sweet sticky rice balls for dessert round out the selection.
The price is quite reasonable and, speaking of ravioli alone, quite in line with the rest of the Bolognese market, with a portion of 5 generously proportioned ravioli costing 4.50/5.00 euros per dish.
My only comment, which is more of a suggestion, is that I would have liked to try dumplings with different fillings, perhaps revisited and with new flavors, without having to give up the classics already offered. I'm sure there's room for expanding the menu, allowing for creativity without limiting it to the offerings of traditional Chinese restaurants.
Opinion
A classic Chinese dumpling shop offering traditional oriental flavors and a few extras. Excellent for takeout and delivery, you can also enjoy a quick dinner at the tables in the pub next door.
PRO
- Good quality ravioli at more than fair prices.
AGAINST
- No variations on the theme, the ravioli are strictly adherent to Chinese tradition.
