Okay, so I finally made it out to Dim Sum King the other weekend. Been hearing about this place for ages, friends keep mentioning it, so I thought, right, gotta check it out myself.
Getting There and First Look
Drove down there on a Saturday morning. Honestly, expected parking to be a nightmare, but I lucked out and found a spot not too far away after circling for maybe five minutes. Walking up, you could tell it was a popular spot. Lots of people milling around outside, some waiting, some just finishing up.
Stepped inside, and yeah, it was bustling. Exactly what you’d expect from a busy dim sum joint. Noise level was up there – chatter, plates clanking, carts rolling. It had that classic, slightly chaotic dim sum energy, you know? Not fancy, but functional. Looked like they focused on getting food out fast.
The Main Event: Ordering and Eating
We got seated pretty quickly, which was a nice surprise. They still use the traditional pushcarts here, which I always enjoy. It’s fun seeing the dishes roll by, trying to snag what looks good before the cart moves on. The ladies pushing the carts were efficient, maybe a little brisk, but they got the job done.
So, what did we get? Had to start with the staples:
- Har Gow (Shrimp Dumplings): These were decent. Shrimp tasted fresh, but the wrapper was maybe a tiny bit on the thick side for my liking. Still good, though.
- Siu Mai (Pork Dumplings): Pretty solid. Packed with filling, good flavour. Couldn’t complain about these.
- Steamed BBQ Pork Buns: Fluffy buns, generous filling. Sweet and savoury, just like they should be. A definite comfort food item.
- Turnip Cake (Lo Bak Go): Got this pan-fried. Had some nice crispy edges, soft inside. Tasted good, had bits of sausage in there.
- Sticky Rice in Lotus Leaf (Lo Mai Gai): This was a big one. Unwrapped the leaf, and the aroma hit you. Rice was cooked well, lots of goodies inside – chicken, mushroom, sausage. Very satisfying.
We also grabbed some Cheung Fun (rice noodle rolls) with shrimp. The noodle was smooth, sauce was spot on. Everything came out hot and fresh from the carts.
The Vibe and Service
Like I said, it was loud and busy. Don’t come here expecting a quiet, intimate meal. It’s about fast turnover and getting your dim sum fix. Service was efficient, if not overly friendly. They refilled our teapot quickly, cleared empty baskets promptly. They’re focused on keeping things moving, which is fine for this kind of place.
You wave down a cart, point at what you want, they stamp your card, and off you go. It works.
Wrapping Up
Paid the bill at the counter. Price-wise, it felt pretty reasonable for Toronto dim sum. Standard pricing, maybe slightly on the cheaper end depending on what you get. Left feeling full and satisfied.
Overall, Dim Sum King delivered a very classic, straightforward dim sum experience. It’s not gourmet, it’s not fancy, but it’s solid, tasty, and does the job well if you’re craving traditional cart-style dim sum. Would I go back? Yeah, probably. It’s a reliable spot when you just want that bustling, no-frills dim sum feed.