Dim sum off the cart in Chinatown/downtown LA

[SlpDocStu]

I'm looking for the best place to get dim sum without heading to Alhambra, Elysian Park, or elsewhere outside of LA. The reviews I've found for dim sum in Chinatown haven't been great though. Anyone have Chinatown dim sum recommendations - preferably at a place with a cart?

[monku]

Four places with carts take your pick.
My choice is CBS Seafood...decent dim sum, easy parking, good service but a little noisy.
Empress Pavillion
CBS Seafood
Ocean Seafood
Golden Dragon

[mc michael]

Go with CBS or Full House.

[wienermobile]

Ocean Seafood is my favorite. Good food. Good service, a very nice clean restaurant and easy to park. And with all their carts you will get to taste everything.

[monku]

Didn't know Elysian Park was a dim sum area.

[SlpDocStu]

Whoops - meant to say Monterey Park - not Elysian.

[monku]

OK...thought you may have discovered something I didn't know existed.

[Mr Taster]

You mean you've never been to LAPDimsum?

Mr Taster

[monku]

Haven't been to LAPDimSum, but LAPD Revolver and Athletic Club Café
1880 Academy Dr
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Used to be a good place to eat, but probably why you see LAPD eating at places like Dino's Chicken & Burgers on Main Street.

[ipsedixit]

Yum Cha Cafe.

[J.L.]

Second Yum Cha.

[Papuli]

But of course Yum Cha doesn't have carts! Just so the OP is clear.

Also, Empress Pavilion is fun.

[J.L.]

Yes. Carts are actually going out of vogue in Hong Kong and Vancouver (and even L.A., to an extent). The food on the carts tend to sit a bit longer, and can be cooled a bit by the time it is ordered.

I agree with places like Elite, where the dim sum is ordered straight from the kitchen, served at the right temp. The carts were a novelty and traditional back in the day, but the cartless approach helps ensure better (fresher) dishes, in my opinion.

[raytamsgv]

I wouldn't quite call them novelties. It's just an evolution in dim sum. Before carts in LA, they had male waiters carry around dim sum on big trays in one hand. In the other hand, they carried a folding stand. When you wanted something, they'd prop open the stand and placed the tray on the stand.

Carts were just easier to use, and they kept the food hotter. That's why they replaced the waiters.

My *guess* is that the concept of ordering from the menu was primarily done to increase the number of tables and seats, because you don't need as much space in between tables. Space is certainly at a premium in Hong Kong. Perhaps someone with a greater historical understanding of dim sum would know the answer.

I personally like ordering from the menu, but nothing beats chasing down a cart and fighting off other patrons for a dish you want.

[Chandavkl]

You're absolutely right on the table capacity issue. When Vancouver went almost exclusively to menu ordered dim sum I was told that was a major factor. Plus you get a fresher product, too.

[J.L.]

Thanks for the education.

You're right about that unique satisfaction of getting that last order of douhua from the cart lady.

[ipsedixit]

"Anyone have Chinatown dim sum recommendations - preferably at a place with a cart?"

___________________________________________________

The OP asked for a "place with a cart" (singular). Yum Cha does have a cart in the joint ... just not for dim sum.

[Chandavkl]

Besides, isn't Yum Cha the equivalent of a cart place in that the dim sum is pre-made and kept warm sitting in those round metal containers?

[Mr Taster]

Always exercising that attorney's part of your brain, ipse.

Mr Taster

[raytamsgv]

It is in ipsedixit's nature--resistance to it is futile.

[monku]

Technically it is "Dim sum off the cart"...most of the dim sum is trucked in to all the Yum Cha locations from a central location. I've seen themunload the truck and put it on a cart.

[dietgrace]

About a month ago, a co-worker wanted to go to dimsum for lunch, so I figured it was going to be CBS or Yum Cha, but he introduced me to Golden Dragon. Since it is located towards the end of Broadway, I never realized it was there. Wow, I was quite satisfied with the food, I especially enjoyed the Hargow (my personal favorite) and the chinese brocolli was delish, there seemed to be a lot of variety compared to other dimsum places. I even took my parents on the weekend and they have been back twice already and that means something, cause my mom is quite picky with dimsum.

And another one that I went for the first time last week was Empress Pavilion for lunch. I didn't really enjoy it, but my boss and co-workers liked it. The hargow was not good, so I think that was the main issue.