Right, so I got this real hankering for dim sum the other day. You know how it is, sometimes you just need those little steamy baskets of goodness. Living in Dublin, though, finding proper dim sum isn’t always the easiest thing. It’s not like back home where it’s everywhere.
So, first thing I did was ask around. Texted a few mates, asked colleagues if they knew any decent spots. Got a couple of suggestions, some were a bit vague like “that place near Parnell Street” or “somewhere in Chinatown,” which, let’s be honest, isn’t super helpful but it’s a start.
Then I spent a bit of time just looking things up. Trawling through different sites, reading opinions. You get loads of different views, makes it hard to pick. Some places looked fancy, others more like a canteen. I wasn’t after anything posh, just good, honest dim sum.
Eventually, I zeroed in on one place that kept popping up. Seemed like it had a decent reputation, not too expensive. Decided, right, this is the one I’ll try first. Put on my jacket, checked the bus times, and headed out.
Getting there was easy enough, just a short bus ride into the city centre. Found the street, walked up and down a bit because I wasn’t exactly sure where it was. Spotted it eventually – looked pretty unassuming from the outside, which I took as a good sign sometimes.
Walked in, and it felt pretty authentic. Busy, noisy, lots of families speaking Cantonese, trolleys rattling around (though not as many trolleys as some places I’ve been to). Got seated pretty quickly, which was a bonus. They gave me a paper menu where you tick off what you want. Love those.
What I actually ate
I went for the classics, you have to, right? Needed to benchmark the place.
- Har Gow (Prawn Dumplings): These are always my first test. They were pretty good! Skin wasn’t too thick, prawn was juicy. Decent start.
- Siu Mai (Pork Dumplings): Another must-have. These were solid too. Good flavour, nice and meaty.
- Char Siu Bao (BBQ Pork Buns): Got the steamed ones. Fluffy bun, good amount of filling, maybe a tiny bit sweet for my liking but still tasty.
- Cheung Fun (Rice Noodle Rolls): Tried the prawn one. The noodle was smooth, soy sauce was right. Happy with that.
- Lo Bak Go (Turnip Cake): Pan-fried, crispy edges. Yeah, quite enjoyed this one.
Ordering was straightforward, just ticked the boxes and handed the sheet over. The food came out reasonably fast, basket by basket. The tea pot was refilled without asking, always appreciate that.
It wasn’t mind-blowing, world-class dim sum, let’s be real. But was it good? Yeah, it absolutely hit the spot. It satisfied that craving I had. Felt like proper comfort food. The whole experience felt quite genuine, not overly westernised.
Paid the bill, wasn’t too painful on the wallet either. Walked out feeling satisfied. It’s good to know there’s a reliable option here in Dublin when the dim sum need strikes. Definitely worth the effort of seeking it out.