Okay, so I hit up Chinatown the other day, craving some good dim sum. I’ve been to a few spots before, but this time I wanted to find the absolute best. Let me tell you, it was a journey.
First, I did a little online digging, just to see what people were saying. Checked out a few lists, you know, “best dim sum in Chinatown” kind of stuff. Saw a bunch of names popping up: House of Joy, Golden Unicorn, and this place called Nom Wah Tea Parlor that seemed pretty historic.
Started my day at House of Joy. Walked in, and it was bustling, just like I like it. Carts everywhere, ladies pushing them around, shouting out the dishes. The atmosphere was on point. I grabbed a few classics – har gow, siu mai, some BBQ pork buns. They were decent, I gotta say, but nothing mind-blowing.
Next up, I headed over to Golden Unicorn. This place is huge, like a banquet hall. It was packed, even on a weekday. I managed to snag a table and ordered a bunch of stuff. Their rice noodle rolls were pretty good, and I tried this fried taro dumpling that was interesting. Overall, not bad, but still not the “wow” experience I was looking for.
Then I remembered Nom Wah Tea Parlor. It’s been around since, like, the 1920s, so I figured it must be doing something right. Found it tucked away on this little street, and it felt like stepping back in time. It’s not cart service here; you order from a menu. I got their original egg roll, some roast pork buns, and a few other things. And let me tell you, this was it. The flavors were just so much more intense, the ingredients tasted fresher. The egg roll was crispy and flavorful, and the pork buns were fluffy and delicious.
I also tried this place called Dim Sum Palace. They’re doing their own thing, and everything was just a little different in the best way. They’ve got these egg yolks that are baked and savory, instead of the usual sweet kind, which is a game-changer. Their regular dim sum’s good, but if you go, you gotta try those buns. It’s worth the trip to Chinatown just for that.
Explored a couple more spots, like Jing Fong and Mei Lai Wah Bakery, but honestly, after Nom Wah and Dim Sum Palace, nothing else really compared. Oh, and I stumbled upon Wo Hop, which is open super late. Didn’t get to eat, but I made a mental note for next time I have those midnight munchies.
- House of Joy: Lively, classic cart service, but the food was just okay.
- Golden Unicorn: Huge place, good rice noodle rolls, but nothing special overall.
- Nom Wah Tea Parlor: Historic, old-school vibe, and the food was amazing – definitely a winner.
- Dim Sum Palace: More modern but not stuffy, and those baked egg yolk buns are a must-try.
- Wo Hop: Open late, might be good for a late-night dim sum fix.
Conclusion
So, after a full day of eating my way through Chinatown, I found my favorite dim sum. Nom Wah Tea Parlor, hands down. And for something a bit more out-of-the-box, I’m all about Dim Sum Palace. Those two are the real deal. It’s worth the trip for sure. I might go back this weekend, now that I think about it…