The Dim Sum Dilemma That Started It All
Alright so last Sunday, my stomach was yellin’ at me for dumplings by 11 AM. Scrolled through Instagram saw ads for that new “Golden Palace” place downtown braggin’ about their JUMBO dim sum. Shrimp dumplings bigger than your fist? Char siu buns like softballs? Had my eyebrow raised right away. “Too good to be true,” I mumbled to my cat Sir Loaf. But hey, research calls.
Deep Dive Into the Jumbo Hype
Hopped onto Google first thing Monday morning. Typed in “Golden Palace giant dim sum legit?” Sorted reviews by “Newest.” Man, it was a mess. Page one:
- User “MikeD1987” posted: “Portions HUGE! Shao mai could feed two! But… pork tasted like rubber?? WTF.”
- “FoodieSarahLoves2Eat” gushed: “OMG PHOTOGENIC! Worth every penny for the Insta! 🥟🔥 #FoodPorn”
- “CheapEatsSteve” ranted: “£35 for six massive items!? Give me three STEAMERS of normal har gow instead!”
Confusing right? Split straight down the middle. Some yelled about value, others cursed the texture. Needed to try it myself. Booked for Thursday lunch.
Walkin’ In & The Order-Up Gamble
Place looked fancy – red lanterns, gold dragons, the whole shebang. Felt like I shoulda worn a suit. Grabbed a corner table. Server handed me a menu thicker than my thumb. Flip, flip, flip… Nope. Found the “Signature Jumbo Platter” tucked away: £38 for one giant dim sum each (6 types total). Went all in. Prayed I wouldn’t regret it.
Ten minutes later? Bamboo steamers bigger than my head landed on the table with a thud. Felt my jaw drop. The char siu bao was bigger than my actual fist – I kid you not. Lifted the lid… steam punched me in the face. Could barely see Sir Loaf across from me! Used my fork for scale photos – looked ridiculous. Entire table laughed.
The Taste Test: Size vs. Substance
Here’s the real tea:
- The Giant Har Gow (Shrimp Dumpling): Shrimp inside? Fresh, juicy, tasted great. But the wrapper? Thick like a damn dumpling blanket. Needed twice the chew. Flavor got kinda lost halfway through.
- Jumbo Siu Mai (Pork & Shrimp): My god, the size. Could barely fit one in my mouth. Meat inside? Honestly… mushy. Like blended too fine? Texturally meh. Flavor wasn’t bad, but weirdly smooth.
- Char Siu Bao (BBQ Pork Bun): Showstopper! Fluffy cloud exterior, sweet sticky char siu chunks inside leaking sauce. This worked. Felt worth the hype. Wanted another but was already getting full.
Washed it down with lukewarm jasmine tea. By item three? Seriously struggling. Food coma setting in hard. Felt like I’d done cardio. Left half a giant shrimp dumpling and most of a gluey turnip cake. Heartbreaking waste.
Verdict? Size Isn’t Everything, Mate.
Paid the bill (£42 with tea!) and waddled out. Happy? Yeah, for the spectacle and that amazing char siu bun. Satisfied belly? Not as much as I’d hoped. Texture let some stars down BADLY.
My Take: If you’re going for pure volume shock or bragging rights? Sure, grab your squad, take silly photos, split one platter between three people MAX. But if you actually crave GOOD dim sum? Walk two blocks to “Lucky Star.” Smaller bites, cheaper price, ten times better flavors and texture. Your taste buds (and wallet) will thank you. Guess CheapEatsSteve had a point after all.
P.S. Dropped a piece of giant turnip cake taking leftovers home. Nearly broke a toe. True story.