Dim-Sum Pittsburgh or Cleveland

[katherine_w]

Hi - I am looking for dim-sum in Pittsburgh. No luck so far. Something like NYC China town or Philadelphia or San Francisco. I don't think I am going to find anything in Pittsburgh. I remember hearing that some people from Pittsburgh go to Cleveland for dim-sum. Can anyone recommend a place - worth the drive?
Thank you very much in advance.

[swami49]

While not the greatest, the dim sum at Dumpling House in Squirrel Hill is good, but only available on weekends.

[Panini Guy]

Hong Kong in Dormont (small strip mall about 2 mile south of Liberty Tubes, near Tom's Diner) does Dim Sum first Sunday each month.

[katherine_w]

Thank you so much for all of the suggestions. Pannini Guy - how is the food at Hong Kong in Dormont? thanks!

[Panini Guy]

We love Hong Kong in general. The way we found out about HK was from three other local (and good) restauranteurs talking about how much they enjoy it.

Just be prepared for a different treatment than elsewhere on things you're "used to". Best example of this I can think of is if you order a standard dish like Gen. Cho Chicken, you will not get the overly battered versions so common everywhere in Pgh. It'll be crispy with an amazingly thin batter and no cloying sauce - you'll taste the depth. With something like eggplant, the colors/presentation isn't as clean (or amazingly purple) like Mark Pi's for instance. But the flavors are richer and more nuanced. Generally our chef friends order off the menu, but they know precisely what they want and Dave will cook it. Definitely try the Shanghai noodles as an app - something we haven't found elsewhere around here.

That said, we admit we've yet to go to their dim sum. But, we've heard it's wonderful from those same restauranteurs.

[katherine_w]

Hey Pannini Guy - we tried take-out from Hong Kong last night - it was terrific! My husband is Chinese and is so happy to have "real" Chinese food in Pittsburgh - finally! We both thank you VERY much for the suggestion!

[penguinista]

In Cleveland, my in-laws took me to Li Wah's, which I liked very much (2999 Payne Ave). It's not Toronto or San Francisco dim sum, but it's still very good. It was the first time I had ever had Xiao Long Bao (Shanghainese soup dumplings), which I highly recommend - they were really good and had nice flavor. If you're driving all the way to Cleveland, you might as well try them!

[chucktowneater]

Tom's Seafood in Cleveland is not necessarily worth the trip from Pittsburgh, but they definitely have dim sum. If you're in Cleveland, it's worth checking out. It's certainly not equivalent to NYC or San Francisco, but it will satiate a dim sum craving.