Diverse Dim Sum Flushing Mall

[AubWah]

Is this place open at dinnertime? Wanted to try the XLB and other delicacies before Mets game tomorrow. Mr Peter Cuce or anyone else know?

[Polecat]

Had two steamers full this evening and was not impressed. They had the taste and feel of something that's been sitting too long, and I don't think that was the case. The broth was okay, but not anything that I would consider to be better than the norm.

The fried rice cakes we had here were pretty good, though. Deep fried rectangular bricks of rice, not too greasy. We liked these better than the soup dumplings, to be honest.

P.

[Mike R.]

+1

[AubWah]

Polecat and Mike - where are your favorite xlb in nyc?

[Polecat]

No real favorites, actually. I've had the usual suspects several times - Nan Xiang, Shanghai Cafe, Taste of Shanghai, many more, etc., etc - decent but, to be honest, I return to those places for other dishes, not the xlb.

But the xlb I had at Diverse reminded me of what I would get at a non-XLB specialist that just has them on the menu because they're a popular item. They tasted like an afterthought, not a specialty.

P.

[AubWah]

agree to disagree. they are certainly no afterthought

[Mike R.]

I personally don't get them that often and my gold standard once upon a day was Joe's. I will say that the crab is crabbier at Diverse (right down to itty-bits of shell), overall didn't have the thrill factor some other posters get.

At $7.50 per 6, the price is quite reasonable.

[AubWah]

At the mets game now. We hit diverse dim sum pregame. Wow! Best soup dumplings
I have ever had. They make the very solid xlb at shanghai cafe
Look like amateur hour. Also had the beef pancake roll and crab roe Sui Mai. Outstanding! This place is serving some of the best Chinese food in NYC

[rschwim]

Did you prefer them to Nan Xiang around the corner?

[AubWah]

I have only had the pork at nan Xiang, never the crab, so I can't do a true comparison.
But the crab xlb at diverse were revelatory.

[diprey11]

The pork XLB still runs supreme at Nan Xiang, but the crab XLB seems to be better here (the taste is cleaner).

[rschwim]

Hmm... Well, I'm in a no-lose situation here. I liked Nan Xiang better (I had crab at both) the afternoon I visited both back to back... But I'm happy to have a reason to re-compare! Actually who needs a reason--They were both excellent

[AubWah]

Part of the fun for me is the additional aspect of getting tremendous soup dumplings at a food court. Reminds me of HK