Spending The Day At Ocean Star--Dim Sum Lunch and Dinner Too
Don't think I've ever had both lunch and dinner at the same restaurant on the same day, but due to unusual circumstances this happened this holiday weekend. The English name and the physical layout is the same, but Ocean Star in Monterey Park is a new restaurant. The Chinese name and the logo have changed (I've been told it's now called Miriwa), as have both the dim sum and dinner menus. This is the result of the sale of Ocean Star to the former owner of NBC, who apparently got his start in the restaurant business at the old Miriwa restaurant in Chinatown, hence the salute in the new Chinese name. The new definition of Ocean Star is value, and while this implies a cutback in quality, in the end I can't really complain. Dim sum is $1.69 per plate on weekedays, $1.99 on weekends. Not sure if absolutely everything is that price, but we had almost 30 plates, plus the lobster noodle (order of lobster on top of your choice of noodles for $12.99) and the bill was $85 including tax and tip. I do miss some of the dim sum items they used to have, but there's still a very wide variety of items. At dinnertime they have $8.88 and $9.88 dinner specials, 20 at each price. Diced filet mignon at $8.88 was as good as anybody's. The "white fish in spicy sauce" was a complete surprise, looking exactly like french fries (no heads) and quite delicious. On top of that, for every two dishes you order, you can get an order of lobster for $3.99. Bottom line--six dishes, including a double order of lobster (soft and not old like some lobster specials you get) for under $75 inclusive. What a deal, and the food was quite good.
Chandavkl
Sep 06, 2009 12:10PM
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Are you talking about Ocean Star at 145 Atlantic, Monterey Park? And it is now owed by the former owner of NBC? We loved Miriwa before it had the fire years ago but it doesn't sound like this new rendition is the same quality as either the old Miriwa or Ocean Star. I know there are some detractors of Ocean Star but it was our regular haunt for Sunday dim sum. Did you eat there before now? It sounds like you got a lot for the money but how was the dim sum? Was the selection as varied as before?
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Yes, that Ocean Star. Don't have my scorecard with me, but I believe the old owners of Ocean Star bought Seaworld late last year and re-opened it as East Gourmet Seafood, then sold Ocean Star to the old owner of NBC a couple of months ago. The old owner of NBC sold NBC to the employees earlier this year after being frustrated by lease negotiations arising from the remodeling of their shopping center. Dim sum at the new Ocean Star was pretty good, interesting varieities, just not the same ones they used to have.
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Thanks for the update Chandavkl. Haven't been to Ocean Star in quite a while but welcome your current review. The old Miriwa in Chinatown used to be #1 for at least a couple of decades ago or more. They had some exotic dishes not found in any of the local dim sum places that I've been to. I hope they bring back of what they formerly offered or close to it? Prices aren't too bad but am curious to find out their quality and service.
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Got to check out their chicken feet. shumai, beef ball. porridge, chow fun etc. and see how they compare to previous NBC quality.
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Has anyone else been before and since the changeover to compare? What do you think? I'm a little nervous about the prices but I can understand in this economy.
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Interestingly, but there has been no change of liquor licensing of the place since Peter Lee's group's ownership. Now if the new place has no alcoholic beverage service, well, then, I understand. But here is the current license for that address:
http://www.abc.ca.gov/datport/LQSData...
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Very Interesting, to say the least.
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Well Ocean Star's old owners bought Seaworld Seafood and rechristened it East Gourmet Seafood. Could they have taken the license with them?
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As far as I know, ANY change whatsoever implies a new license. Carter?
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Ric is correct regarding the licensing, yet the new location has had a beer & wine license since late last year - see here:
http://www.abc.ca.gov/datport/LQSData...
Note the differences in personnel, yet the common last name of Lee to both licenses.
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Well, we're going tomorrow so I'll report back.
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Well? Still good?
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It's still good. I have a soft spot for Ocean Star. I know the latest and greatest dim sum places are menu driven but I really like the chasing down of carts and anticipating what will come next-I guess I'm just not that high brow. I have always had a beef about waiting for the baked goodies to come out of the kitchen. We sat down at 11 and didn't leave until 1. Shiu mai, har gow, etc. circulated around for quite a while but everything was hot. The management was much more attentive than in the past and not brusk at all. It didn't take half of our meal to get ice water and extra chili sauce. I'm trying to think of what really stood out in my mind...The fried turnip cake was still good, and that is one of my favorites. I didn't realize that everyone else was going to like it as much so I walked over to the gal who was frying and asked for another order. She brought it back immediately. It didn't hurt that she knew us. We don't eat stewed organs, congee or shark fin so I'm sorry, I can't comment. Oh yes, my 10 year old son ordered tripe and had a few pieces but it was too rich for him to eat more. We did order 1/2 roasted duck and the skin was perfectly crisp. They now have little laminated menus on the table with pictures and names. When you walk in, the place is much lighter and brighter. None of the partitions were up, the whole restaurant was wide open. Another difference was that waitresses were circulating with smaller carts filled with items not on the big carts. I don't know if it was because they were condensing these items down or there were just smaller quantities put out by the kitchen. I think maybe it was just to get them out faster. For instance, they had a cart cooking broccoli but it was already plated and circulating on the small as well. The triangle pastry with bbq pork was delicious and not cold. I love all the desserts-the buns with the yellow filling, the taro and coconut jello, the egg tarts...they were all what they should be. Standard Jasmine tea is fine with me. They were quick to refill our pot. Have I missed anything? Yes, I will go back. $77 for 7 people and that included the $10 for the 1/2 duck. I saw lobster come to a table. I would have loved to have ordered it. Next time...
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Thanks Fru.
That is a great write up and a great relief.
I too have a deep love of Ocean Star after years of fond memories of good times and food. I know well that wait for water, chili, soy sauce, vineger you speak of.
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To summarize from my point of view, I do miss some of the varieties that they don't have anymore, and I'm sure they've cut some corners to meet their $1.68/$1.98 pricing model. But this is made up for by the value element and a still pretty good product.
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I'm curious to know what you've missed? I kept trying to think of what I didn't see but I never walk out hungry. They came out with the eggplant right before we left. I was bummed but it was probably a good thing because I'm the only eggplant fan.
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Offhand, the fish cheung fun, the vegetarian goose (the substitute equivalent isn't very good) and the hoisin sauce rice noodle logs. I'm sure there were others, but these were my top three favorite items.
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I think some of the portions are also smaller.
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Somebody also mentioned thinner/flimsier wrappers.
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