Dim Sum in Chinatown
Anyone have any favorites? Looking for cart dim sum rather than take out or checklist dim sum.
I've tried Peony Restaurant in the parking garage complex on the second floor. They have a greater variety of dim sum besides the usual har gow and sui mai. I had a great shrimp ball made out of sticky rice, and chicken and mushroom dumplings were great. Service was so so, and you had to ask for the soy sauce which they poured then took away. Prices were a little about $15-20 a person.
Joy Luck and Yo Ho, both next to each other on 8th?, are similar, where Joy Luck is slightly cheaper than Yo Ho, but Yo Ho is worth the extra few dollars in taste. These places are cheap dim sum places that are fine the price you pay which is about $7-10 a person.
crimson
Mar 30, 2004 02:08PM
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I've had good, solid dim sum at Legendary Palace (7th and Franklin) and Tin's Tea House (7th and Webster). Try 'em out and tell us what you think.
Peony is very good, but you're right, not cheap.
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Just had dimsum at Joy Luck a few days ago. Still pretty good. We ordered many many dishes and ended up with about $7-8 per person. We also checked Tin's but balked when compared to Joy Luck's rock bottom prices. I had Peony in the past and I thought was not worth the extra price and long wait compared to Joy Luck.
The Yo Ho next door does seem to have more varieties. I will have to try it soon.
The shu mai did not have whole shrimp at Joy luck which I think is a sign of more attention to quality, right ? How about at the other places in Oakland Chinatown ?
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Here's my report on Yo Ho. Are they still running their $1.50 special (which would make them cheaper than Joy Luck)?
Link: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/show/...
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Sorry I forgot to specify Oakland Chinatown.
I've been to both dependant on who is with me, and the price difference has been minimal (about $1-2 a person).
However, I haven't been to Joy Luck since their grand opening specials. Given the prices and the new opening it was very busy and took over an hour to get seated.
Yo Ho takes about 15-30 minutes, though I have a few times gotten seated right away.
Peony always takes over 30 minutes to get seated.
BTW this is all Sunday mornings, varying times between 9am to noon.
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Was in Oakland last week and in the small print in Chinese Joy Luck lower there prices to match Yo Ho. I for one love price wars. Hope the Gas company join in.
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Did you notice whether the same prices are in effect on the weekends for either place?
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There was no day restrictions that I saw. I guess someone will have to make a phone call can check on that. I for one like to have dim sum on weekday because it is less crowded but the selection will be less.
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Yet another agreement about Peony. Last time I went there it was $18 per person. It was good, but not *twice* as good as other places. They're really selling atmosphere.
Been to Legendary Palace the last two times, and wasn't disappointed. That's starting to become my favorite (as I can't convince one person in my group to go to Tin's... he feels it's "grungy, and why don't we do Peony instead?".
Haven't been to Jade Villa in years. I don't recall it being worth it, even though it's highly rated in some circles. But who knows, it might be better now?
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Funny, but my bf and I just went to Jade Villa for dim sum on Sunday. Hadn't been there for about seven years and so wanted to give it a try.
The dim sum is very so-so. Many of the dumplings were over-steamed. Compared to Peony (which I tried once last year), it's not as good. Cost was $14/person and we were pretty full.
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The first time I ever tried dim sum...maybe 6 years ago...was a weekday lunch at Jade Villa. Everything was incredibly greasy and salty. Completely turned me off of the cuisine; I couldn't bring myself to try it again until about 4 years later. Sounds like things haven't changed much.
-Nick
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That's what's so weird. Most people I talk to tried dim sum for the first time (in Oakland) at Jade Villa. It was the first place I was taken as well.
Is it in guide books? Or just more accessible (being right on Broadway)? Seems odd that such a mediocre place would be so popular for "first timers".
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Went to dim sum today, and happily enough, the company was buying -- so we did Peony. I liked it much better this time, although much of that could be because we were right near the kitchen. Everything seemed just a bit fresher and warmer. $15 per (pre-tip).
Still more than I would pay if I had been paying, but for the price it was, an awesome deal. ;-)
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