traceimage
New member
Recommendations, please.
Great Dim Sum
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Couldn't agree with you more.. Miss the dimsum there and HK. Btw when you were in the by did you try a place called east ocean in emeryville? Very good dimsum
OMG, yes! I have been there...but a very long time ago (mid 1990s). Not for dim sum, though...it was at night. It was very good, as I recall. But I didn't care much about the food, because I was there for some event, and the actor Russell Wong was making an appearance. So I spent most of the evening obsessing about him. Hahaha.
My favorite places for dim sum were HK Flower Lounge (in Millbrae, I think) and Peony in Oakland. It's been almost 6 years since I lived up there, so I don't know if they are still as good, but they had so much more variety than places I've tried down here, and better quality.
When I lived in the city, I was still going to school so all I could afford were those hole in the wall Cantonese bakeries (Irving, Clement, etc.) that open early enough for me to grab a bao or some shiu mai on the way to school... not alot of tourists in those places.. the person grabbing your dim sum also handles your cash..nice
HK Flower Lounge built their own building back in the mid 90s. The success of the Cantonese Dim Sum other restaurants leveraged the El Camino Real corridor for their marketing window. There are several Cantonese restaurants near by there are above average. Good Dim Sum place are usually under PAR with their dinner cuisines. Fuk Yuen and Zen Peninsula are both good Dim Sum place on El Camino Real.
None of the aforementioned places could match Koi Palace in Daly City near Serramonte Blvd. It is by far the best south of Vancouver. Koi Garden is a sister restaurant in Dublin that service the rich Chinese living in the Irvine of the Bay area. Koi Garden is over rated and not worth the price. Dim Sum master Wong left the Koi Palace clan in 1993 and went to 888.
In the 1980's Harbor Village in the Embaccadero was the original Dim Sum place that popularized HK Dim Sum and shamed the archaic Chinatown's 1950's menus. HV and Yank Sing were caterred to the American patrons in the financial district and long since lost their lustre and closed their door several years ago.
I have known Russell back in the 80's when he left Yosemite but originally from NY. He was dating this black girl and both had lived in the valley. They had a girl together. He is French /Chinese and his handsome good look gave him a shot at Hollywood. Although his career was short but nonetheless opened doors for other Asian actors and actresses. Years later he married a well known actress from Hong Kong who also was a Cambridge scholar. Both reside in Hong Kong but they travel here often to see his French mom living near Yosemite where she is an inspired Hudson Valley school Plaineir painter. Russell's wife long quit her acting and became a fashion designer with her own line and retail store in the Valley and NY. Both BTW love Koi Palace and 888.
I feel like making a campfire and roasting some marshmallows whenever I hear your stories...you must have alot to hand down to your kids. Lucky kids.
I don't think I ever tried Fuk Yuen, but I have been to Zen and it was very good.
How funny that you know Russell Wong. What is he like? I'm asking because I had the opportunity to meet him that night, and I found him to be kind of distant. I had been a fan of his, but not so much after meeting him.
Well, I guess it didn't work on me, because I found his distance off-putting. I don't think famous people are obligated to hug their fans and share all the details of their private lives, but I think that they do owe us a smile and a simple "Hello, nice to meet you" or something like that (as long as the fan approaches them respectfully and at an appropriate time).
Yeah, this was around 1994-95, when I was in college.
How did you meet him, btw?
homer_simpson
Well-known member
Capital Seafood in Monterey Park, Capital Seafood in Irvine. 
irvinehomeshopper
Well-known member
http://www.ocreader.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=99&p=17074#p17074 This place is small so the varieties is limited. Waiting time is long due to its small size.
888 on Rosemead between San Gabriel and Walnut Grove is much bigger and offers more varieties. Due to its large size waiting time is short.
Capital Seafood at the Del Mar plaza 3rd floor is average. Waiting time is about an hour.
Capital Seafood in Rowland Heights in Diamond Plaza is marginal and not worth the 1-1/2 hr wait. Most dishes are too oily. There are only 3 other Dim sum places in Rowland Heights: Happy Harbor, Hong Kong Palace and Seafood Harbor.
RH's Seafood Harbor has the better dim sum but no cart action. It is really hard to gauge the right amount of food when ordering all dishes at once. Dim Sum is only good the first 5 minutes and its shelf life is really short. When all the dishes arrive at the same time and can't be consumed quickly some eventually get cold. I don't get to return dim sum if the buns are too wet or mushy either. If the waiters bring the sweets first then my appetite is ruined or the heavier dishes filled my tummy too quickly. I prefer the carts where I can pace my appetite and have a better control of quantity. I can also visually inspect the freshness of the food before accepting it.
Both Hong Kong Palace and Happy Harbor are cartless with limited varieties due to the smaller restaurant capacities. Both are average and not worth the price for the nicer decor.
Irvine's Sam Woo transports dim sum from Monterey Park's Sam Woo daily and are limited to dishes with a longer shelf life that could be re-steamed, re fried or reheat. Avoid Sticky Rice there. It is too BIG and heavy.
Irvine's Capital Seafood Dim Sum ranks the lowest on my book and I have not found any dishes exceptional. Dishes are cold and too many people lifted the lids where condensation dripped back down on the food.
China Garden on Jeffrey is better that Capital Seafood. Must avoid shrimp dumpling. The wrapping is too thick and stick to the basket. Limited varieties there too. This is the least of all evils if you have to eat in Irvine.
Crystal Jade in QH is a joke but Caucasians like the service. Chinese restaurant with good service always mean something.
Seafood Paradise and Seafood Cove in Westminster should be avoided. The chefs are Vietnamese and they can't get the texture right. Many Viet/Chinese claim to know Cantonese Cuisine.
King Lobster Palace on Tustin Ave in Orange has 2 good dishes but not enough to justify the 25 other bad dishes offered.
Ten Ten Restaurants on Euclid/Fwy 5 offers dimsum. I ate there once and will never return.
Taiwanese restaurants can't do good dim sum. Avoid Mandarin speaking owners such as Tapas, Tri Village and Hung. Restaurants like to market dim sum on their menu to elevate the restaurant status. Dim Sum is a Cantonese specialty. Pot Stickers and steam dumplings are hardly dim sum/ They may serve them is steam basket but they are not dim sum.
888 on Rosemead between San Gabriel and Walnut Grove is much bigger and offers more varieties. Due to its large size waiting time is short.
Capital Seafood at the Del Mar plaza 3rd floor is average. Waiting time is about an hour.
Capital Seafood in Rowland Heights in Diamond Plaza is marginal and not worth the 1-1/2 hr wait. Most dishes are too oily. There are only 3 other Dim sum places in Rowland Heights: Happy Harbor, Hong Kong Palace and Seafood Harbor.
RH's Seafood Harbor has the better dim sum but no cart action. It is really hard to gauge the right amount of food when ordering all dishes at once. Dim Sum is only good the first 5 minutes and its shelf life is really short. When all the dishes arrive at the same time and can't be consumed quickly some eventually get cold. I don't get to return dim sum if the buns are too wet or mushy either. If the waiters bring the sweets first then my appetite is ruined or the heavier dishes filled my tummy too quickly. I prefer the carts where I can pace my appetite and have a better control of quantity. I can also visually inspect the freshness of the food before accepting it.
Both Hong Kong Palace and Happy Harbor are cartless with limited varieties due to the smaller restaurant capacities. Both are average and not worth the price for the nicer decor.
Irvine's Sam Woo transports dim sum from Monterey Park's Sam Woo daily and are limited to dishes with a longer shelf life that could be re-steamed, re fried or reheat. Avoid Sticky Rice there. It is too BIG and heavy.
Irvine's Capital Seafood Dim Sum ranks the lowest on my book and I have not found any dishes exceptional. Dishes are cold and too many people lifted the lids where condensation dripped back down on the food.
China Garden on Jeffrey is better that Capital Seafood. Must avoid shrimp dumpling. The wrapping is too thick and stick to the basket. Limited varieties there too. This is the least of all evils if you have to eat in Irvine.
Crystal Jade in QH is a joke but Caucasians like the service. Chinese restaurant with good service always mean something.
Seafood Paradise and Seafood Cove in Westminster should be avoided. The chefs are Vietnamese and they can't get the texture right. Many Viet/Chinese claim to know Cantonese Cuisine.
King Lobster Palace on Tustin Ave in Orange has 2 good dishes but not enough to justify the 25 other bad dishes offered.
Ten Ten Restaurants on Euclid/Fwy 5 offers dimsum. I ate there once and will never return.
Taiwanese restaurants can't do good dim sum. Avoid Mandarin speaking owners such as Tapas, Tri Village and Hung. Restaurants like to market dim sum on their menu to elevate the restaurant status. Dim Sum is a Cantonese specialty. Pot Stickers and steam dumplings are hardly dim sum/ They may serve them is steam basket but they are not dim sum.
ps99472
New member
If we're talking about Irvine, I would second China Garden as my choice... we're all about the shiu mai's and they make it pretty good... service is decent for chinese, at least it's consistent... recently the turnip cake has gone bad, really BAD, it tastes way too "porky", can't really describe it, it's my favorite dim sum ever since I was little and no one in Irvine can make it right now... the ginger/scallion tripe is decent, make sure it's fresh or it gets goopy and nasty..
Capital Seafood at DJ was a miss for us, found a hair in the shiu mai once, that wasn't pleasant..
If you want to travel, Sea Harbour Seafood on Rosemead would be my rec... haven't been there in years but remember the cha siu bao (baked) is the best I ever had.. it's a tad on the expensive side... Here's the yelp:
http://www.yelp.com/biz/sea-harbour-seafood-restaurant-rosemead
Capital Seafood at DJ was a miss for us, found a hair in the shiu mai once, that wasn't pleasant..
If you want to travel, Sea Harbour Seafood on Rosemead would be my rec... haven't been there in years but remember the cha siu bao (baked) is the best I ever had.. it's a tad on the expensive side... Here's the yelp:
http://www.yelp.com/biz/sea-harbour-seafood-restaurant-rosemead
irvinehomeowner
Well-known member
So wait... which one in Irvine did ihshopr say was the best... China Garden or Sam Woo?
irvinehomeshopper
Well-known member
China Garden is better than Sam Woo.
Sea Harbour has been consistent for many years. It is very good. The waiting is long and varieties are limited. Its dining room capacity is small (less than 150) so the restaurant offer mostly the ordinary Dim Sum staples. By the time I got there most of my favorite dishes are gone. The meticulous items take several hours to make and once those ran out the chefs rarely make more. I don't remember this place having the cart operation.
This is why I like the larger restaurant with 1288 people capacity where all dishes are available at any 15 minute window. I must sit at close proximity to the kitchen where I always get my first pick while the food is hot before other customers breathe on them or lift the lids with their dirty hands. The proper technique to lift the lid is to keep the lid leveled and then drain the condensation away from the basket before putting the cover back. Soggy BBQ pork buns and mushy watery Shrimp dumplings are the result of condensation drips. Never get the bottom 2 baskets because the baskets are usually stacked 8 high and water is drained on to the bottom two baskets.
Sea Harbour has been consistent for many years. It is very good. The waiting is long and varieties are limited. Its dining room capacity is small (less than 150) so the restaurant offer mostly the ordinary Dim Sum staples. By the time I got there most of my favorite dishes are gone. The meticulous items take several hours to make and once those ran out the chefs rarely make more. I don't remember this place having the cart operation.
This is why I like the larger restaurant with 1288 people capacity where all dishes are available at any 15 minute window. I must sit at close proximity to the kitchen where I always get my first pick while the food is hot before other customers breathe on them or lift the lids with their dirty hands. The proper technique to lift the lid is to keep the lid leveled and then drain the condensation away from the basket before putting the cover back. Soggy BBQ pork buns and mushy watery Shrimp dumplings are the result of condensation drips. Never get the bottom 2 baskets because the baskets are usually stacked 8 high and water is drained on to the bottom two baskets.
traceimage
New member
Thanks for the replies. I'm surprised that China Garden got so many recs since I'm not much of a fan, but maybe I will give it another try.
I don't miss much about the Bay Area (i lived there for 14 years), but dim sum is one thing I definitely do miss. It was much better up there!
I don't miss much about the Bay Area (i lived there for 14 years), but dim sum is one thing I definitely do miss. It was much better up there!
homer_simpson
Well-known member
traceimage said:
Couldn't agree with you more.. Miss the dimsum there and HK. Btw when you were in the by did you try a place called east ocean in emeryville? Very good dimsum
traceimage
New member
homer_simpson said:traceimage said:
Couldn't agree with you more.. Miss the dimsum there and HK. Btw when you were in the by did you try a place called east ocean in emeryville? Very good dimsum
OMG, yes! I have been there...but a very long time ago (mid 1990s). Not for dim sum, though...it was at night. It was very good, as I recall. But I didn't care much about the food, because I was there for some event, and the actor Russell Wong was making an appearance. So I spent most of the evening obsessing about him. Hahaha.
My favorite places for dim sum were HK Flower Lounge (in Millbrae, I think) and Peony in Oakland. It's been almost 6 years since I lived up there, so I don't know if they are still as good, but they had so much more variety than places I've tried down here, and better quality.
ps99472
New member
traceimage said:homer_simpson said:traceimage said:
Couldn't agree with you more.. Miss the dimsum there and HK. Btw when you were in the by did you try a place called east ocean in emeryville? Very good dimsum
OMG, yes! I have been there...but a very long time ago (mid 1990s). Not for dim sum, though...it was at night. It was very good, as I recall. But I didn't care much about the food, because I was there for some event, and the actor Russell Wong was making an appearance. So I spent most of the evening obsessing about him. Hahaha.
My favorite places for dim sum were HK Flower Lounge (in Millbrae, I think) and Peony in Oakland. It's been almost 6 years since I lived up there, so I don't know if they are still as good, but they had so much more variety than places I've tried down here, and better quality.
When I lived in the city, I was still going to school so all I could afford were those hole in the wall Cantonese bakeries (Irving, Clement, etc.) that open early enough for me to grab a bao or some shiu mai on the way to school... not alot of tourists in those places.. the person grabbing your dim sum also handles your cash..nice
homer_simpson
Well-known member
Peony was good too.
Ps9- Bet they weren't wearing gloves right? Miss Chinatown up there 
Ps9- Bet they weren't wearing gloves right?
Miss Chinatown up there irvinehomeshopper
Well-known member
traceimage said:homer_simpson said:traceimage said:
Couldn't agree with you more.. Miss the dimsum there and HK. Btw when you were in the by did you try a place called east ocean in emeryville? Very good dimsum
OMG, yes! I have been there...but a very long time ago (mid 1990s). Not for dim sum, though...it was at night. It was very good, as I recall. But I didn't care much about the food, because I was there for some event, and the actor Russell Wong was making an appearance. So I spent most of the evening obsessing about him. Hahaha.
My favorite places for dim sum were HK Flower Lounge (in Millbrae, I think) and Peony in Oakland. It's been almost 6 years since I lived up there, so I don't know if they are still as good, but they had so much more variety than places I've tried down here, and better quality.
HK Flower Lounge built their own building back in the mid 90s. The success of the Cantonese Dim Sum other restaurants leveraged the El Camino Real corridor for their marketing window. There are several Cantonese restaurants near by there are above average. Good Dim Sum place are usually under PAR with their dinner cuisines. Fuk Yuen and Zen Peninsula are both good Dim Sum place on El Camino Real.
None of the aforementioned places could match Koi Palace in Daly City near Serramonte Blvd. It is by far the best south of Vancouver. Koi Garden is a sister restaurant in Dublin that service the rich Chinese living in the Irvine of the Bay area. Koi Garden is over rated and not worth the price. Dim Sum master Wong left the Koi Palace clan in 1993 and went to 888.
In the 1980's Harbor Village in the Embaccadero was the original Dim Sum place that popularized HK Dim Sum and shamed the archaic Chinatown's 1950's menus. HV and Yank Sing were caterred to the American patrons in the financial district and long since lost their lustre and closed their door several years ago.
I have known Russell back in the 80's when he left Yosemite but originally from NY. He was dating this black girl and both had lived in the valley. They had a girl together. He is French /Chinese and his handsome good look gave him a shot at Hollywood. Although his career was short but nonetheless opened doors for other Asian actors and actresses. Years later he married a well known actress from Hong Kong who also was a Cambridge scholar. Both reside in Hong Kong but they travel here often to see his French mom living near Yosemite where she is an inspired Hudson Valley school Plaineir painter. Russell's wife long quit her acting and became a fashion designer with her own line and retail store in the Valley and NY. Both BTW love Koi Palace and 888.
ps99472
New member
irvinehomeshopper said:traceimage said:homer_simpson said:traceimage said:
Couldn't agree with you more.. Miss the dimsum there and HK. Btw when you were in the by did you try a place called east ocean in emeryville? Very good dimsum
OMG, yes! I have been there...but a very long time ago (mid 1990s). Not for dim sum, though...it was at night. It was very good, as I recall. But I didn't care much about the food, because I was there for some event, and the actor Russell Wong was making an appearance. So I spent most of the evening obsessing about him. Hahaha.
My favorite places for dim sum were HK Flower Lounge (in Millbrae, I think) and Peony in Oakland. It's been almost 6 years since I lived up there, so I don't know if they are still as good, but they had so much more variety than places I've tried down here, and better quality.
HK Flower Lounge built their own building back in the mid 90s. The success of the Cantonese Dim Sum other restaurants leveraged the El Camino Real corridor for their marketing window. There are several Cantonese restaurants near by there are above average. Good Dim Sum place are usually under PAR with their dinner cuisines. Fuk Yuen and Zen Peninsula are both good Dim Sum place on El Camino Real.
None of the aforementioned places could match Koi Palace in Daly City near Serramonte Blvd. It is by far the best south of Vancouver. Koi Garden is a sister restaurant in Dublin that service the rich Chinese living in the Irvine of the Bay area. Koi Garden is over rated and not worth the price. Dim Sum master Wong left the Koi Palace clan in 1993 and went to 888.
In the 1980's Harbor Village in the Embaccadero was the original Dim Sum place that popularized HK Dim Sum and shamed the archaic Chinatown's 1950's menus. HV and Yank Sing were caterred to the American patrons in the financial district and long since lost their lustre and closed their door several years ago.
I have known Russell back in the 80's when he left Yosemite but originally from NY. He was dating this black girl and both had lived in the valley. They had a girl together. He is French /Chinese and his handsome good look gave him a shot at Hollywood. Although his career was short but nonetheless opened doors for other Asian actors and actresses. Years later he married a well known actress from Hong Kong who also was a Cambridge scholar. Both reside in Hong Kong but they travel here often to see his French mom living near Yosemite where she is an inspired Hudson Valley school Plaineir painter. Russell's wife long quit her acting and became a fashion designer with her own line and retail store in the Valley and NY. Both BTW love Koi Palace and 888.
I feel like making a campfire and roasting some marshmallows whenever I hear your stories...you must have alot to hand down to your kids. Lucky kids.
irvinehomeshopper
Well-known member
How about a campfire right over the Ancient Indian burial site a prelude to a future massive fire driven by Santa Ana wind that will likely jump the toll road. We can talk about Dim Sum trivias and positive Rental Parity servicing a niche market.
traceimage
New member
irvinehomeshopper said:traceimage said:homer_simpson said:traceimage said:
Couldn't agree with you more.. Miss the dimsum there and HK. Btw when you were in the by did you try a place called east ocean in emeryville? Very good dimsum
OMG, yes! I have been there...but a very long time ago (mid 1990s). Not for dim sum, though...it was at night. It was very good, as I recall. But I didn't care much about the food, because I was there for some event, and the actor Russell Wong was making an appearance. So I spent most of the evening obsessing about him. Hahaha.
My favorite places for dim sum were HK Flower Lounge (in Millbrae, I think) and Peony in Oakland. It's been almost 6 years since I lived up there, so I don't know if they are still as good, but they had so much more variety than places I've tried down here, and better quality.
HK Flower Lounge built their own building back in the mid 90s. The success of the Cantonese Dim Sum other restaurants leveraged the El Camino Real corridor for their marketing window. There are several Cantonese restaurants near by there are above average. Good Dim Sum place are usually under PAR with their dinner cuisines. Fuk Yuen and Zen Peninsula are both good Dim Sum place on El Camino Real.
None of the aforementioned places could match Koi Palace in Daly City near Serramonte Blvd. It is by far the best south of Vancouver. Koi Garden is a sister restaurant in Dublin that service the rich Chinese living in the Irvine of the Bay area. Koi Garden is over rated and not worth the price. Dim Sum master Wong left the Koi Palace clan in 1993 and went to 888.
In the 1980's Harbor Village in the Embaccadero was the original Dim Sum place that popularized HK Dim Sum and shamed the archaic Chinatown's 1950's menus. HV and Yank Sing were caterred to the American patrons in the financial district and long since lost their lustre and closed their door several years ago.
I have known Russell back in the 80's when he left Yosemite but originally from NY. He was dating this black girl and both had lived in the valley. They had a girl together. He is French /Chinese and his handsome good look gave him a shot at Hollywood. Although his career was short but nonetheless opened doors for other Asian actors and actresses. Years later he married a well known actress from Hong Kong who also was a Cambridge scholar. Both reside in Hong Kong but they travel here often to see his French mom living near Yosemite where she is an inspired Hudson Valley school Plaineir painter. Russell's wife long quit her acting and became a fashion designer with her own line and retail store in the Valley and NY. Both BTW love Koi Palace and 888.
I don't think I ever tried Fuk Yuen, but I have been to Zen and it was very good.
How funny that you know Russell Wong. What is he like? I'm asking because I had the opportunity to meet him that night, and I found him to be kind of distant. I had been a fan of his, but not so much after meeting him.
irvinehomeowner
Well-known member
I saw Russell Wong in a recent Ikea commercial.
I thought he was going to be an action movie star.
I thought he was going to be an action movie star.
irvinehomeshopper
Well-known member
During the late 80's and early 90's the interracial audience were fond of Amy Tan's novels that shed insight into the Chinese custom. Both China and HK were still in their infancy of the international film market. He filled the role that was lacking in Hollywood. That was a talking role that Jackie, Jet and Chow could not do. The American Chinese storylines did very well in niche markets in metropolitan cities and even landed some Oscar accolades but the box office record was lack lustre. Hollywood dropped him for action packed films and hired HK stars to target Far East and domestic distribution.
He left the US and went to HK for opportunities. He is well received there. Hapa star is rare and he made regular TV appearances. After marrying a scholar in the industry he achieved an instant status in HK where he resides.
He is very reserved and keep a distant to his fan. That is what made him special because he is mysterious and arouse women's curiosity. He is loyal to his friends and family. He keep his private life away from the press. The last time he was here he was shooting a commercial for IKEA.
He is religious and even starred in a Christian film.
He left the US and went to HK for opportunities. He is well received there. Hapa star is rare and he made regular TV appearances. After marrying a scholar in the industry he achieved an instant status in HK where he resides.
He is very reserved and keep a distant to his fan. That is what made him special because he is mysterious and arouse women's curiosity. He is loyal to his friends and family. He keep his private life away from the press. The last time he was here he was shooting a commercial for IKEA.
He is religious and even starred in a Christian film.
traceimage
New member
irvinehomeshopper said:
Well, I guess it didn't work on me, because I found his distance off-putting. I don't think famous people are obligated to hug their fans and share all the details of their private lives, but I think that they do owe us a smile and a simple "Hello, nice to meet you" or something like that (as long as the fan approaches them respectfully and at an appropriate time).
irvinehomeshopper
Well-known member
Was the encounter before 9/2003? His wife Flora is older than him and his HK fans were really upset over this. He is very respectful of Flora and avoid any body language that may mislead the public. He is genuinely a really nice person.
traceimage
New member
irvinehomeshopper said:
Yeah, this was around 1994-95, when I was in college.
How did you meet him, btw?