Spring Rolls in Halifax: A Crispy Lumpiang Shanghai You’ll Love
Enjoy Spring Rolls in Halifax at Barrios. Lumpiang Shanghai made with seasoned ground pork and vegetables, fried crispy and served with sweet chilli sauce.
Barrios Restaurant & Bar
6/1/20264 min read
Lumpia in Halifax: Filipino Spring Rolls (Lumpiang Shanghai) at Barrios
Lumpiang shanghai is the Filipino spring roll you find at almost every Filipino party: a thin wrapper rolled tight around seasoned ground pork and vegetables, then fried until it cracks when you bite it. At Barrios on Barrington Street it is on the menu as Spring Rolls, four pieces for $9, with sweet chili sauce for dipping. It is the only lumpia we serve in the dining room.
This guide covers what lumpiang shanghai is, how it differs from other spring rolls you can get in Halifax, how to order ours, and how to get enough for a party.
What is lumpiang shanghai?
Lumpia is the Filipino word for a filled roll. Most food historians trace the word to lunpia, a Hokkien spring roll brought to the Philippines by Chinese traders and settlers. The "shanghai" in the name is usually read as a nod to the dish's Chinese origins in general, not to the cooking of the city itself. Over generations, Filipino cooks made it their own: slimmer, filled with ground pork, and fried hard so the wrapper shatters.
It is the lumpia that turns up at birthdays, fiestas, Christmas and potlucks, often rolled the night before by half the family around the kitchen table. At a Filipino party the tray empties early, and whoever arrives late usually misses it.
Other kinds of lumpia
Lumpiang shanghai is one of several. Knowing the others helps when you see the word on a menu.
Lumpiang shanghai: thin, fried, ground pork and vegetables. These are our Spring Rolls.
Lumpiang sariwa: fresh lumpia, not fried. A soft, crepe-like wrapper around vegetables, usually served with a sweet, garlicky sauce. At Barrios it is a party tray only.
Lumpiang gulay or lumpiang togue: a fried vegetable roll, often with bean sprouts. Not on our menu.
Turon: saba banana and brown sugar rolled in a wrapper and fried until the sugar caramelises. A snack or dessert, not on our menu.
Lumpiang shanghai vs other spring rolls
You can get spring rolls all over Halifax. Here is how the Filipino version compares with the ones you are most likely to know.
Chinese egg roll: usually bigger and thicker, with a bubbly wrapper that stays a little chewy. Lumpiang shanghai is slimmer, and the wrapper breaks cleanly when you bite it.
Vietnamese fried roll (cha gio): the closest cousin. Also slim and fried, but usually rolled in rice paper, so it bubbles and crunches differently, and the filling often includes glass noodles.
Vietnamese fresh roll: rice paper, not fried, with vermicelli, herbs and shrimp or pork. A cool, soft roll and a different dish altogether.
Our Spring Rolls at Barrios
Four pieces for $9: seasoned ground pork and vegetables in a thin wrapper, fried crisp, with sweet chili sauce on the side.
Not spicy. There is no chili in the roll.
Contains pork.
Not gluten free. Spring rolls are not on our gluten-free list.
They go through our deep fryer, which is shared with seafood and everything else we fry. If you have an allergy, tell your server when you order.
How to eat them
Eat them hot. The wrapper softens as it sits.
Order them as a starter while the table decides on mains. With four to a plate, a table of four gets one each; a bigger table may want two plates.
Pair them with a rice plate such as pork sisig ($20) or chicken inasal ($22), or with pancit bihon ($17). For a first Filipino meal, spring rolls, a pancit and one main to share is a good start.
Watch for the Sisig Rice Bowl, a common promotion that comes with two spring rolls.
Prices shown are from our current menu and may change.
Lumpia for takeout and parties
For takeout or delivery, our Spring Rolls are on Uber Eats and DoorDash, Tuesday to Saturday, 12 PM to 8 PM.
For a party, the Spring Roll tray is CA$20 for the family size: 15 pieces, which serves about 5 (4 to 6 people). The party size has 30 pieces and serves about 10. We also make lumpiang sariwa, the fresh lumpia, as a tray at CA$45. Give us 24 to 48 hours notice; some trays can be done the same day if you call 902-444-2515 or message us on Facebook or Instagram.
Trays are pickup only, at 1571 Barrington Street, Tuesday to Saturday 11:30 AM to 8 PM and Sunday 11:30 AM to 4 PM. We do not deliver trays, but you can book a courier in the Uber app to collect them. If the rolls lose their crunch on the way, a few minutes in an oven or air fryer brings it back; a microwave makes them soft.
Spring rolls are also the set appetizer in our catering buffet: $37 per person for 50 guests or more, plus 14 per cent HST and a 15 per cent service fee. Catering needs at least 1 to 2 weeks notice.
Prices shown are from our current party tray menu and may change.
Visit Barrios
Barrios is at 1571 Barrington Street, just south of Sackville Street, about a 5-minute walk from Neptune Theatre and 7 minutes from the Scotiabank Centre. We are open Tuesday to Saturday from 11:30 AM, until 9 PM Tuesday to Thursday and 11 PM Friday and Saturday. Sunday is our Filipino brunch, 10:30 AM to 4 PM, $29 per adult. We are closed Mondays. For groups of 7 or more, please call ahead.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I get lumpia in Halifax?
At Barrios, 1571 Barrington Street, downtown. Order the Spring Rolls: that is our lumpiang shanghai, four pieces for $9, at lunch and dinner Tuesday to Saturday, or through Uber Eats and DoorDash.
What is lumpiang shanghai made of?
Seasoned ground pork and vegetables rolled in a thin wrapper and fried until crisp. Ours come with sweet chili sauce.
Why is it called lumpiang shanghai?
Lumpia is the Filipino word for a filled roll, and the word is usually traced to the Hokkien lunpia. The "shanghai" is generally read as a nod to the dish's Chinese origins. In the Philippines it means the thin, fried, pork-filled kind.
Is lumpia spicy?
No. There is no chili in our spring rolls.
Do you have fresh lumpia?
Yes, as a party tray only: lumpiang sariwa, CA$45. It is not on the dining room menu.
Can I order lumpia for a party?
Yes. The Spring Roll tray is CA$20 for the family size, 15 pieces, which serves about 5. The party size has 30 pieces for about 10. Order 24 to 48 hours ahead and pick it up at the restaurant.
Come try them
If you are new to Filipino food, start here. Order a plate of Spring Rolls at 1571 Barrington Street, or pick up a tray for your next party.