Okay, so folks kept telling me about Dim Sum Garden. Heard the name floating around quite a bit. You know how it is, someone says “soup dumplings” and my ears perk up. Had some time last Tuesday, figured I’d finally check it out myself.
Finding the place wasn’t too bad, tucked away a bit, but manageable. Looked pretty busy from the outside, which I usually take as a good sign. Or maybe just a sign it’s gonna be loud. Went inside.
First Impressions
Yeah, it was packed. Definitely got that bustling, slightly chaotic dim sum vibe. Lots of chatter, plates clinking, steam rising from carts – or well, not carts here, they bring it from the kitchen. It felt authentic, I guess? Not fancy, more like a place focused on getting food out fast. Got seated pretty quickly despite the crowd, which was a plus. Table was small, kinda crammed in, but that’s often part of the deal with popular dim sum spots.
Ordering and the Food
They gave us one of those paper menus with the little pencils. You just tick off what you want. I always liked that system, feels efficient. We went a bit overboard, probably ordered too much, but wanted to try a variety.
- Soup Dumplings (Xiao Long Bao): This is what everyone talks about, right? They came out piping hot. Gotta be careful with these. The skin was decent, held together okay. Broth inside was flavorful, good pork filling. Pretty solid, I see why they’re popular.
- Siu Mai: Standard pork and shrimp dumplings. These were good. Nice texture, tasted fresh. Can’t really mess up siu mai too badly, but these were definitely above average.
- Har Gow: Shrimp dumplings. Skin was a little thick maybe, but translucent enough. Big chunks of shrimp inside, which I appreciate. Tasted clean.
- Scallion Pancakes: These were alright. A bit greasy for my liking, but crispy on the edges. Good flavor, just wish they weren’t swimming quite so much.
- Sticky Rice in Lotus Leaf: This was a hefty one. Packed with goodies – chicken, sausage, mushroom. Flavorful, rice was cooked perfectly. Always a comforting choice.
Food came out pretty staggered, which is normal for dim sum. Service was efficient, maybe a little rushed? They weren’t chatty, just focused on getting orders in and food out. Dropped the plates, refilled water quickly, cleared empty baskets. No complaints there, really. It’s not fine dining, you know? You’re there for the grub.
The Vibe and Final Thoughts
It’s loud. Like, really loud. Don’t expect a quiet, intimate meal. It’s energetic, bordering on frantic sometimes. People coming and going constantly. We ate pretty fast, felt like the table was needed, you know?
Overall? Yeah, I get the hype. The food, especially the soup dumplings, was definitely worth trying. It’s not the best dim sum I’ve ever had in my life, let’s be real, but it’s very good for what it is. Good value too, didn’t break the bank even though we ordered a ton.
Would I go back? Probably. If I was craving soup dumplings specifically and didn’t mind the noisy, crowded atmosphere. It delivers on the food front. Just gotta be prepared for the experience that comes with it. It’s a bustling spot, does what it says on the tin – serves up decent dim sum, fast. Worth checking out if you’re in the area and haven’t been. Just maybe don’t plan a first date there unless you both enjoy shouting.